iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Everything you need to know

The iPhone 16e has officially launched and, while it wasn't exactly what we expected, there's a lot to compare it to the recent iPhone 15.

Recently, we compared the iPhone 16e to the iPhone 16 and found that they were surprisingly close. However, if you just bought an iPhone 16, you’re unlikely to consider changing devices just yet. If you happen to be using an older device like the iPhone 15, however, then there is a lot more to consider.

The iPhone 15 has always been slightly awkward compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 series. While the phone features a great battery life, excellent cameras, and the A16 chip, it lacks access to certain features that were some of its main selling points.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 16e comes with everything that the iPhone 16 featured, at a slightly lower price point. We have compiled all the differences that we know about to see if it is worth upgrading or not.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Rumored specs sheet

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: availability and price

Apple officially announced the iPhone 16e on February 19, with pre-orders going live on Friday, February 21. Apple has stated that the iPhone 16e will officially be released on February 28.

One of the surprising revelations was that the iPhone 16e is going to be a fair bit pricier than the older models. The base iPhone 16e with 128GB of memory costs $599, while the 256GB model will cost $699 and the 512GB model will cost $899.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 originally launched for $799 for the 256GB model, the 128GB model cost $699 and the 512GB model cost $999. For the most part, those prices haven't changed when buying from Apple's store, although there are some great iPhone 15 deals if you know where to look.

So, what that means, is that the base iPhone 15 is roughly $100 more than the iPhone 16e, regardless of what memory option you buy. However, what are actually getting for that extra $100?

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Design and display

The iPhone 16e, for the most part, looks very similar to the current generation of iPhones. You have the same 6.1-inch display, rounded corners and flattened sides. However, there are some differences between the two models.

The most noticeable is that the iPhone 16e does not feature a dynamic island, instead, it has the notch that we saw in the iPhone 14. As such, you won't have access to all of the features available to the dynamic island, including offering directions and showing your timer counting down.

However, while it might lack the dynamic island, the iPhone 16e does come with the Action button introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Action button can be changed to perform different functions, from turning on the torch to silencing the phone.

What this means is that, when comparing the two iPhones, you're getting access to more buttons but lose out on having more information displayed on the screen

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Cameras

The iPhone 15 was one of the standout camera phones of its time, especially the improved 48MP main camera and the 12MP-ultrawide. When we compared it to the Galaxy S24 in a 200-camera shootout we saw Apple's phone take the prize, although it faltered in lower light.

The iPhone 16e is a bit more lacking when it comes to cameras, as it only has one 48MP wide lens on the device. However, the camera does also allow for 2x telephoto images as well. While we haven't had a chance to test the camera, it would make sense that the images would be at least comparable in quality.

While the iPhone 16e might not have better cameras, it does have access to Apple Intelligence, which includes several features that could help to push it ahead.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Performance

The iPhone 15 launched with the A16 chip and managed to get the most out of it at the time, even with the lower RAM. For instance, when we tested it we found that the chip outperformed the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which has the same A16 chip.

Usually, in our tests, Apple's chips score much higher in the single-core score. The iPhone 15 managed to outscore every other device at the time with ease, and only really fell behind the Galaxy S24's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in multicore scores. However, the iPhone 15 still suffered at only having a middling 6GB of RAM.

The iPhone 16e, meanwhile, comes with the improved A18 chip and up to 8GB of RAM. While we don't have the official Geekbench scores, we do know how the two chips compare thanks to the iPhone 16.

As you can see, the iPhone 16 is a fair bit more powerful than the older iPhone 15, and we expect the same from the iPhone 16e thanks to the expanded RAM.

The iPhone 16e also has a 16-core Neural Engine on board for enabling Apple Intelligence features. This is also the first iPhone with Apple’s own C1 5G modem. Apple says it’s the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, but it doesn’t seem to support mmWave connectivity.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Battery and Charging

Unfortunately, Apple tends to avoid reporting on the full battery capacity of its iPhones. However, we do know that the iPhone 16e will last as much as 12 hours longer than older models. Meanwhile, in our tests, the iPhone 15 lasted 11 hours on average.

What is upsetting is that, while the iPhone 16e does support wireless charging, it does not feature any MagSafe support. As such, the charging options are a bit more limited, but on the plus side, both models make use of a USB-C charging cable.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Software and Apple Intelligence

Both the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16e have access to iOS 18, but there's little doubt that the 16e has the advantage here thanks to Apple Intelligence.

For reference, the iPhone 15 lacked the RAM that was reportedly needed to make use of Apple Intelligence. Meanwhile, Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 16e will have access to all the Apple Intelligence features seen in modern iPhones. That includes features like Genmoji, Writing Tools and the new and Improved Siri to name a few.

The reality is that you are paying for Apple Intelligence when you buy the iPhone 16e, as it is the biggest difference between the two.

iPhone SE 4 vs iPhone 15: Outlook

Comparing the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 15 is interesting, if only because the iPhone 15 represents the end of the non-AI Apple phones. For the most part, the major difference between the two phones is how invested you are in Apple Intelligence as a function.

If, for instance, you want to be at the forefront of the AI revolution then you could do worse than save $100 on an upgrade. However, if you just want a phone and aren't that interested in upgrading then there's little reason to consider moving on just yet. While the iPhone 16e does feature a more powerful chip, you won't see that much difference in overall performance.

However, we won't know exactly how much of an improvement the iPhone 16e is until we have a chance to test it ourselves. So, keep an eye out for our iPhone 16e review, and to see if it finds a place as one of the best phones of 2025.

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