The iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 now sit on the backside of Apple’s iPhone lineup at $599 and $699, respectively. Whereas the 16e shares many vital options with the iPhone 15, there are nonetheless 30 important variations between the gadgets to concentrate on–not least Apple Intelligence help.
There’s a merely $100 worth distinction between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16e. To justify this, the iPhone 16e misses out on options such because the Dynamic Island and MagSafe connectivity. Nevertheless, there are some areas the place the 16e is actively higher than the 15, such because the Motion button, chip, and battery life. Here is all the things that is totally different:
| iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus (2023) | iPhone 16e (2025) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Island | “Notch” |
| 6.1- or 6.7-inch show | 6.1-inch show |
| 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) | 800 nits max brightness (typical) |
| 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) |
| 2,000 nits peak brightness (out of doors) | |
| Shade-infused glass again | Glass again |
| Obtainable in Black, Pink, Yellow, Blue, and Inexperienced | Obtainable in White and Black |
| Ring/Silent swap | Motion button |
| 12-megapixel Extremely Huge digicam | |
| 0.5x, 1x, or 2x optical zoom choices | 1x or 2x optical zoom choices |
| Sensor-shift optical picture stabilization | Optical picture stabilization |
| Subsequent-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Management | Portrait mode with Depth Management |
| Macro images | |
| Cinematic mode for recording movies with shallow depth of area (as much as 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient at 30 fps) | |
| Motion mode | |
| Wind noise discount | |
| Audio Combine | |
| Stereo recording | Spatial Audio and stereo recording |
| A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU | A18 chip with 4-core GPU |
| Apple Intelligence help | |
| Visible intelligence | |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem | Apple C1 modem |
| Thread connectivity | |
| Extremely Wideband chip for Precision Discovering | |
| 20- or 26-hour battery life | 26-hour battery life |
| MagSafe wi-fi charging as much as 15W with 20W adapter or increased | |
| Suitable with MagSafe instances, wallets, wi-fi chargers, and extra | |
| Begins at $699 and $799 | Begins at $599 |
Selecting between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16e will not be an entirely simple resolution. Whereas the iPhone 15 is $100 costlier than the iPhone 16e, it misses out on the Motion button, Wind noise discount, Audio Combine, Spatial Audio recording, the A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, Visible intelligence, the C1 modem, and 6 further hours of battery life.
As a substitute, the $100 soar is seemingly justified by the Dynamic Island, brighter show, Extremely Huge digicam, sensor-shift picture stabilization, next-generation portraits, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, Motion mode, Thread and Extremely Wideband connectivity, MagSafe, and shade choices–which might not be vital to some prospects.
The iPhone 15’s lack of Apple Intelligence help is a serious omission and it’s tough to suggest a tool that’s costlier, much less highly effective, and fewer future proof. The iPhone 16e is a greater long-term funding since it’s more likely to help future Apple Intelligence options, providing a greater long-term expertise and extra desirability within the second-hand market. Its markedly higher battery life can be price noting in the case of the long-term view of utilizing the machine. The iPhone 16e is sort of a 12 months and a half newer than the iPhone 15.
If the massive show of the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus is crucial, then it’s seemingly nonetheless price choosing this selection over the iPhone 16e. Likewise, if an Extremely Huge digicam or MagSafe are completely important, the iPhone 15 is the one option to go. In any other case, most prospects ought to save the $100 and purchase the iPhone 16e.
