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Applehas released theiPhone 16e, and with it a new era of entry-level smartphone options.
It’s much more modern than the outgoing iPhone SE, but also much more expensive.
A shot with the main lens.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
But how about now?
Let’s take a closer look at how these two phones compare.
By the end of this head-to-head, we guarantee that we’ll have a definitive winner for you.
As you’re able to see, they’re quite closely matched on paper.
That’s a good 17 months on from the iPhone 15’s arrival on September 22, 2023.
Comparing launch prices, the iPhone 16e is clearly much cheaper.
However, that launch price no longer applies.
As a result, it looks a lot like the iPhone 15.
There are some design differences, however.
There’s another clear difference when you flip the two phones over.
Also notable is the greater range of colour options with the iPhone 15.
It comes in Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink, as well as Black.
The iPhone 16e, by contrast, only comes in Black or White.
They’re broadly similar, but the iPhone 15 has the slight edge.
The main advantage for the iPhone 15 screen over the iPhone 16e is brightness.
Not that we have many complaints about the iPhone 16e’s photo quality.
It just isn’t up to the iPhone 15’s standard.
It runs on Apple’s very latest chip, the A18.
Don’t get us wrong, the iPhone 15 remains a highly capable chip.
It’s just that in a straight performance shootout with the iPhone 16e, it loses every round.
The iPhone 16e also runs on 8GB of RAM to the iPhone 15’s 6GB.
We should also mention the one truly unique part of the iPhone 16e package itsApple-made C1 modem.
Both phones run on Apple’s latestoperating system, which at present meansiOS 18.
However, the iPhone 16e also has one trump card in this department:Apple Intelligence.
The same reviewer was less complementary about the iPhone 15’s stamina, awarding it 4 out of 5.
The iPhone 15 hits back when it comes to the charging provision.
It’s a very accomplished phone, no doubt.
A shot with the main lens.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Phones like the iPhone 15.
Using the 2x zoom(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Main lens in challenging lighting(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Main lens skyline(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Flowers with 2x zoom(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Flowers with 2x zoom(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Main lens(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Flower with 2x zoom(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Flower with 2x zoom(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Selfie with front facing camera(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Selfie that started as a regular photo but that I switch to portrait with a tap(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A photo that was initially not taken in portrait mode(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A challenging low-light photo(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 1x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera portrait mode(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 1x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x, night mode(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x, night mode(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 1x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 1x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 1x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Rear camera, 2x(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Playing Asphalt 9: Legends on the iPhone 15.
