When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
The arrival of theiPhone 16emarks the end of an era.
That raises an all-new and intriguing conundrum for Apple.
The new iPhone 16 lineup
Both phones fared well in ouriPhone 16e reviewandiPhone 16 review, but which should you buy?
Read on for our definitive verdict.
There are a lot of similarities here straight off the bat.
The range-topping 512GB variant costs $899 / 899 / AU$1,549.
However, its still markedly cheaper than the iPhone 16.
So, youre paying around a $200 / 200 / AU$400 premium for the iPhone 16.
Is it worth it?
Let’s find out.
This inevitably means that the iPhone 16e looks quite a lot like the iPhone 16.
The new iPhone 16 lineup
You saw it here first or rather, with the iPhone 12 in 2020.
Apple hasnt compromised on build quality for its new cheaper model, either.
What the iPhone 16e doesnt have are the same colour-infused finishes as the iPhone 16.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Perhaps the biggest design difference between the two phones relates to the look of their respective camera modules.
The iPhone 16e only has one, while the iPhone 16 has two.
Theres also a notable difference on the right-hand edge of these two phones.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
There are, however, some subtle points of difference between these two panels.
The more important difference relates to brightness.
Apple has, however, upgraded that single camera since the days of the iPhone SE.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Its now a 48MP Fusion lens, much like the main camera on the iPhone 16.
This basically means it can take superior nighttime shots and smoother videos.
Both run on Apples speedy A18 chipset and are backed by the same 8GB of RAM.
(Image credit: Future)
But thats not to say that theyre internally identical.
So, it really depends on how you plan to use your smartphone.
On the charging front, the iPhone 16 fares slightly better than the 16e.
(Image credit: Future)
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: verdict
So, where does all that leave us?
On paper, the gap between Apples two most affordable phones has never been narrower.
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 look very similar, and they perform at a similar level too.
(Image credit: Future)
The iPhone 16 does, however, continue to hold the edge in a couple of ways.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16e holds two advantages.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The iPhone 16e(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPhone 16(Image credit: Future)
The iPhone 16e(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPhone 16(Image credit: Future)
Playing Call of Duty: Mobile on the iPhone 16e(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPhone 16(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
The iPhone 16e, iPhone SE (2022), and iPhone 16
