WhenTim Cook said to expecta new extremity of the family , he really meant it . February 19 pick up the reveal of an whole new breed of iPhone — the “ vitamin E ” variant . The newest iPhone on the auction block is theApple iPhone 16e , slotting neatly into fiscal place beneath theiPhone 15 , and replacing the now - defunctiPhone SE 3as the least expensive iPhone you’re able to buy . It may not be an iPhone SE , but it continues the spirit of that good example , sporting a top - of - the - business line flagship mainframe , paired with the looks of an older iPhone . In this case , the iPhone 16e proudly bears the notch presentation we thought had died with theiPhone 14 , while also sway the A18 central processing unit of theiPhone 16 . It ’s a powerful blast from the past that ’s hoping to rule the $ 600 market place .

Another major benefit of the iPhone 16e is that it supportsApple intelligence operation : something that is n’t true of the next iPhone up the totem pole , the iPhone 15 . With a more modern flair and more photographic camera Lens , but an older processor and no AI , can the $ 700 iPhone 15 stand against the newest shaver on the block ? If the iPhone 15 is your current phone , should you be thinking of trade it in for the chance to get AI ? Or should you snub the iPhone 16e , and go on without AI ? It ’s still early days as far as the iPhone 16e is concerned , but we still bump our decision surprising .

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: specs

Front : 12MP

Front : 4 K at up to 60 fps , and FHD at up to 240 Federal Protective Service

Front : 4 K at up to 60 Federal Protective Service , and FHD at up to 120 Federal Protective Service

20W fast charging

15W MagSafe institutionalise

15W Qi2 wireless charging

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: design

well aspect have always been near the top of Apple ’s agenda when it come to designing iPhones , so it ’s no surprise to say both of these are well designed smartphones . The iPhone 15 is arguably the more innovative of the two , eschew the dissentious notch , and being the first of the canonical iPhones to have the newDynamic Island — a cutout at the top of the display that houses the front - face camera and sensor , and expands and contract to show contextual selective information . It ’s a not bad use of space that would otherwise be wasted , and it ’s unquestionably a step up from the notch ascertain on previous iPhones . Speak of the nick , it ’s here on the iPhone 16e , as the newest iPhone is now the only iPhone to add up with the once iconic cutout . It ’s voiceless to argue it ’s anything but senior , though some may like the look , and while we ca n’t go as far as to call it “ retro ” , its old status as the iPhone ’s silhouette means some will love it .

lastingness - wise , you ’re look at a like history . Both phones have an IP68 - rating for detritus and water - resistance , so either will survive an inadvertent dunk in the puddle . Just do n’t take them in on purpose ; it ’s insurance policy , not a feature film . In damage of drops , well , try not to drop either of them . Smartphone enduringness is a lot better than it used to be , but ice is still glass , and it ’ll only take so many accidents before it breaks . Slap aniPhone 15oriPhone 16e caseon whichever one you purchase , and keep it safe .

sweetheart is always in the eye of the beholder , but for us , the iPhone 15 is the better look of the two . We were never really fans of the notch , so to see it come back in the iPhone 16e is unfortunate .

Winner : Apple iPhone 15

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: display

There are some diminished differences tell these two panels , but ultimately , these are mostly indistinguishable display , and there ’s really not much to separate them . The iPhone 15 has a lilliputian amount of spare pixels , thanks mostly to change from a notch to the Dynamic Island , but it ’s so miniscule that it ’s not deserving mentioning , except as an fun little detail . alas , that lack of deviation also continue to therefresh rate , which stay snare at 60Hz . This is by far the worst part of Apple ’s late iPhones , as every iPhone not classified as a “ Pro ” does n’t get the encouragement in refresh charge per unit that almost every Android phone now catch . Admittedly , in this setting it think fiddling , because both headphone have the same helplessness — but it ’s worth keeping this in mind when look to purchase either of these .

The only major difference of opinion is the Dynamic Island that we ’ve cite before , and since we ’ve already taken that into account in the Design surgical incision , we ca n’t really quote it again here . However , the iPhone 15 does have an ace in the kettle of fish that ’s worth head out : Brightness . The older iPhone has a higher extremum luminance than the new phone , especially where outside is concerned . This means it ’s objectively easy to view thing on the iPhone 15 when it ’s smart out , and honestly , that ’s a massive deal . It come through , even if it ’s a slender winnings .

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: performance

Here ’s where we see some remainder , but again , it ’s relatively minor . The most straightaway and obvious difference is the upgrade from the A16 C.P.U. in the iPhone 15 to the A18 in the iPhone 16e . On composition , the iPhone 16e is the more powerful of the two , right-hand ? Well , sort of . While the A18 is the newer of the two of the microchip , the 16e ’s chip is a slighty pared - down version of the central processor you ’ll find in the iPhone 16 . More specifically , it drop from five GPU cores to four , mean it has one less GPU nitty-gritty than the iPhone 15 ’s A16 . The A18 will still in all likelihood have stronger benchmarks , but it probably wo n’t intend much where your solar day - to - day economic consumption is concern . Both are stupendously sinewy , and will easy finagle any app or game you throw at them .

Storage options are the same ; both start at 128 GB , with 256 GB and 512 GB options available . The iPhone 16e bumps its RAM up to 8 G , but that ’s to admit for its Apple Intelligence features more than anything else , and you credibly wo n’t observe a huge difference based on RAM alone . With that , we ’re alling this one a association .

Winner : Tie

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: battery and charging

The iPhone 16e storm us with the largest iPhone battery to engagement . It dwarf the 3,349 mAh battery of the iPhone 15 with its 4,005 mAh one , and it bear witness . Our commentator reported up to 39 time of day of runtime and 10 hours of cover on clock time , which means the 16e has the honor of being the first iPhone with multi - day assault and battery liveliness . It use Apple ’s newC1 modemto help attain this , while older iPhones before it all apply Qualcomm . The iPhone 15 fall inadequate as a solidly one - day smartphone , but it undeniably beats the 16e in one category : charging .

Both have a USB - C port , marking the official destruction of the Lightning interface . Apple is n’t clear about how fast wire charging is on either phone , but they both hit similar speeds of around 20W , which is low for a flagship phone . There ’s a grownup gulf in wireless commit velocity though . The iPhone 15 has up to 15W fast wireless charging , as well as sustenance for MagSafe and Qi2 charging . The iPhone 16e simply … does n’t . It limps along at a 7.5W wireless bang rate , with no Qi2 support , and strangely , no MagSafe either . If you ’ve induct intemperately inMagSafe accessary , then the iPhone 16e is one to miss .

The iPhone 16e has the bigger battery that can last into two days , but the iPhone 15 has faster wireless charging and MagSafe . We ’ll call this one a link , but the winner really depends on what mattes to you most : battery or wireless charging .

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: cameras

We ’ll start up with the iPhone 15 . It ’s fit with a three-fold - lens of the eye setup on the back of the phone , comprising a 48 - megapixel main lens and a 12MP ultrawide sensor . As ever with Apple , it ’s excellent . It takes fantastic shots across a range of situations , and it ’ll rarely let you down . The iPhone 16e inherits this headphone ’s fantabulous 48MP main lens system , but adds Fusion trademark to it . In material usance , this does n’t add too much , as the much trumpeted “ two - in - one ” effect is basically Apple cropping a 48MP image to make a 2x rapid climb at 12MP and was useable on the iPhone 15 too . As expected , the 16e ’s principal genus Lens is just as expert as the one on the iPhone 15 . The newfangled iPhone does misplace a crystalline lens though , and that ’s a second of a trouble . The iPhone 16e also loses some of the additional focal point controls for Portrait mode that the iPhone 15 got — another freehanded red for many snapper . The iPhone 16e does get Visual Intelligence as part of Apple Intelligence , but we ’ll be covering that subsequently , so we wo n’t let the New phone list on it here .

It ’s another profits for the iPhone 15 . While the 16e performed well than expected , it ca n’t beat the benefits of the iPhone 15 ’s few additional features and multiple lens .

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: software and updates

There are no surprises where the software package is interest ; you ’ll get the latest variation of iOS 18 on both of these phones , and will in all likelihood get it for a recollective metre too . Apple does n’t state an upper limit for its software update , but history shows us it is capable and willing to proceed supporting a telephone for long after most other manufacturers have turn over up . Recent alteration to Samsung ’s and Google ’s guarantees have close up this gap significantly , but Apple is still the king of updates . The iPhone 16e will get more update than the 15 , entirely because it ’s untried , but it ’s not something we ’d worry too much about .

But the iPhone 16e really sets itself asunder where AI is concerned . It ’s the least expensive iPhone to get access toApple Intelligence , and as you might expect , that ’s a large selling point . Buying the iPhone 16e will give you approach toSiri ’s combo with ChatGPT , tone suggestion that transfer the feeling of your committal to writing , alterations and edits to pic , and lots more . There ’s a luck of dubiousness as tohow utile most of these AI features really are , but if you ’re excited about try out Apple ’s twist on AI , then the iPhone 16e is the entryway to that world . The iPhone 15 simply ca n’t contend with the newer phone , and it gain ground this category neatly as a effect .

Winner : Apple iPhone 16e

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: price and availability

TheApple iPhone 16e is currently available for pre - order , and will loose on February 28 . Prices start from $ 599 , and rise to $ 699 for the upgrade to 256 sarin , and $ 899 for 512 GB of computer storage . As it ’s an iPhone , it ’ll be usable in most retailers where phones are sell , and from Apple itself .

TheiPhone 15 is currently available , and has had some price drops since its initial loss . you may witness it from $ 699 , and you ’ll pay off $ 100 extra for 256 GB , or $ 300 extra for 512 GB of storage . Again , it ’s uncommitted in most places .

Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: verdict

While it ’s deserving keeping in head that we still have to have hand - on fourth dimension with theiPhone 16e , these initial comparability do n’t seem to be coming out well for the iPhone 16e . The olderiPhone 15won in most of the categories , with the only exclusion being in Performance and Software . Really , what this shows is that the iPhone 16e , far from being the replacement to the iPhone SE line , is a vehicle for Apple Intelligence . Looking at the stats , spec , and throwing in a healthy dose of experience and meditation , the iPhone 15 is only the unattackable telephone in almost every way . In fact , if the iPhone 15 had accession to Apple Intelligence , we ’d be questioning what the point of the iPhone 16e actually is . Sure , you save $ 100 , but it scarcely seems worth it when you look at what you misplace : an surplus television camera genus Lens , MagSafe supporting , quicker charge , and the Dynamic Island .

This may all change when we ’ve had metre to play with the iPhone 16e a snatch . After all , the proof of the pudding is in the feeding , and Apple knows how to serve a genuinely opulent dessert . But for now , keep a hold of your iPhone 15 and do n’t succumb to pre - order rabidness . Or , if you ’re see to corrupt a whole newfangled telephone set , wait until the iPhone 16e ’s review are in , because this is not a all the way - cut verdict by any mean .