Apple has retired its entry - level iPhone SE after five age of service , interchange it with an entirely young example , theiPhone 16e , which boasts a bigger covert , a faster chip , good camera , but a rather large price hike . So , is the new gadget worth the extra money , or should you stick with your smaller iPhone for a little longer ?
For more advice about which iPhone to buy take a look at ouriPhone comparison chart where we liken every iPhone , or read ouriPhone buying guide . We also equate theiPhone 16e vs iPhone 16and theiPhone 16e with the iPhone 15to see if it ’s deserving preserve money or spending more .
iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE (2022): Tech specs
Here ’s a breakdown of the technical specification of both devices :
iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE: Design
It ’s fair to say that theiPhone SEhas become something of an anachronism in the smartphone market . sport one of the smallest screens useable ( 4.7 - inch ) , it still do to front a fleck bulky due to the relatively enormous top and bottom bezel . The downcast one is to support the physical Home push button , the last iPhone to have one , along with a Lightning port , Touch ID , and a mute switch . If you need any of these features , you ’ll need to keep your iPhone SE .
Apple
The iPhone 16e is n’t based on the iPhone 6 , but it ’s not based on the iPhone 16 either . It ’s something of a hybrid of old and new parts and is more in melody with the design change Apple introduced with theiPhone 12 . The curving edges of the SE are gone and replaced with flatter , squared - off sides that pop the question a second more grasp .
The iPhone 16e has a larger body equate to the SE , all to accommodate the 6.1 - inch video display . As such it ’s also a minuscule heavier . Here ’s how the two devices compare in condition of sizing and exercising weight :
Like the retiring two generations , the iPhone 16e cast off the Lightning connector and moves to the move universal USB - C. There ’s an extra clit on the side that take on the spot of the mute shift : a customizable Action push button that can straightaway establish the camera , turn on the flashlight , silence the ringer , or do any figure of other job . On the back , you ’ll find a single camera lens of the eye .
sealing bugger off an upgrade too , as the New machine have an IP68 rating compared to the SE ’s IP67 evaluation .
Finally , the 16e is uncommitted in black and white , while the SE was available in ( Product ) RED , Starlight , and Midnight .
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iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE: Display
The most obvious change with the 16e is a larger 6.1 - inch blind that ’s been standard on most iPhones for the preceding few years . Unlike the rest of the iPhone 16 melodic line , you wo n’t get a Dynamic Island ; rather there ’s a notch at the top of the silver screen to adapt the front television camera , receiver , and Face ID sensors . The cover has also been upgraded to OLED over LCD , which will render crisper images and richer colors with deeper blacks .
The unexampled showing is also brighter , with the maximum ( typical ) illumination pass 800 nits , which scoop the 625 nits of the SE . If you ’re watching HDR content , peak brightness on the 16e tops out at 1,200 nits . ( The iPhone SE does n’t support HDR . ) As expected , the overall resolution is gamey as well , with the 16e provide 2,532 x 1,170 ( 460ppi ) and the SE coming in at a lower 1,334 x 750 ( 326ppi ) .
Apple iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE: Processor and specs
The iPhone SE had the newest A15 Bionic chip when it launched in 2022 , and the same is true of the iPhone 16e , which has Apple ’s latest A18 processor . It ’s slightly modified as compared to the iPhone 16 , with a 6 - gist central processing unit ( 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores ) and a 4 - nucleus GPU ( versus 5 on the iPhone 16 ) , but the A18 is still a terrific chip .
With 8 GB of RAM onboard circuit card , the A18 also opens up Apple Intelligence , the AI tools that come iniOS 18 , which is n’t available on the SE . With this in intellect , the 16e is a more future - test copy alternative , with undertake updates for years to come and you wo n’t be miss out on the features Apple shout loudest about .
Storage alternative have changed as well , with Apple start out at 128 GB on the 16e with 256 GB and 512 GB pick . Apple burden an extra $ 50 for 128 GB with the iPhone SE , so you ’re beat a little extra time value with the 16e .
Also new on the iPhone 16e is theC1 , Apple ’s first in - house 5 M modem . On theme , the new headphone supports the same wireless connectivity as the SE ( 4G / LTE and sub-6Ghz 5 G ) , but Apple sound out the new modem is more efficient and helps in areas with spotty service .
iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE: Camera
In keeping with the entryway - storey offerings of the yesteryear , Apple ’s iPhone 16e still has a single camera lens on the back . But it ’s much improved over the 12Mp f/1.8 mental faculty in the SE . The iPhone 16e has a 48MP f/1.6 Fusion camera , cope with the main photographic camera in the iPhone 16 . Apple call it a 2 - in-1 camera system , which means it will crop the 48Mp range of a function to 24Mp to get ahead a 2x telephoto image .
You also get the addition of a Night Mode , Smart HDR 5 , digital surge up to 10x , and Apple ’s photonic engine for better computational processing .
Other than that , the cameras apportion a lot of characteristic – 4K/60fps video ( although the 16e has support for Dolby Vision ) , Slo - mo video in 1080p/240fps , Time - lapse , optical persona stabilization , True Tone flash , Deep Fusion , and various portrayal and picture taking way . In brusque , you ’re drive an excellent daily camera even if it just has a single crystalline lens .
The front television camera also gets an upgrade , with the 7MP , f/2.2 sensor in the SE supplant with a 12MP , f/1.9 one in the 16e . The update also brings extra software program processing and 4 kibibyte picture , as well as Night Mode and support for Animoji and Memoji . If you take a mess of selfies , then the 16e will for certain palpate like an improvement .
iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE (2022): Battery and charging
One of the most important differences between the two devices amount in the bombardment section . With a smaller consistency and older tech , the iPhone SE struck a hard balance between functioning and battery life . It ’s not bad , but if you use it often throughout the 24-hour interval , you ’ll need a quick heraldic bearing at some point .
The 16e is quite the opponent . By compound a big battery with the efficiency in the A18 splintering and the C1 modem , the iPhone 16e boasts a 26 - time of day electric battery life , the longest over for a 6.1 - inch iPhone . By equivalence , Apple arrogate the iPhone SE live on for up to 15 hours .
Charing meter are comparable , with support for libertine charging up to 50 percent in around 30 minute of arc when using a 20W battery charger . Malus pumila supplies a charge cablegram in the box , which is USB - ampere-second - to - USB - C now that Lightning is gone . Qi wireless is also useable on both , though Apple did n’t include MagSafe charge on the iPhone 16e .
iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE (2022): Apple Intelligence and software support
As of the iPhone 16e launch , both good example were run iOS 18.3.1 and the iPhone SE will belike get iOS 19 in the drop . The iPhone SE should also receive iOS 20 in 2026 and iOS 21 in 2027 if Apple continues with its telling disc of supporting one-time gadget for up to six years . See : How long does Apple corroborate iPhones .
However , some feature already do n’t wo n’t work on the SE . The main is Apple Intelligence , Apple ’s suites of AI features , which requires an A18 C.P.U. and 8 GB of RAM . Apple is rolliong out feature throughout 2025 and will no doubt sum even more Apple Intelligence features iniOS 19 , so if feature of speech like Genmoji , write tools , ChatGPT , and the new , improved Siri interest you , you have to upgrade to the 16e . There will also surely be other feature that are n’t supported by the iPhone SE 3 over the next duo of long time , while the 16e is ensure to support the full slating of features for year to come .
iPhone 16e vs iPhone: Price
With the launching of the iPhone 16e , Apple has give up the $ 429/£429 slot engage by the iPhone SE . As of now , the iPhone 16e is the cheapest iPhone you may buy , starting at $ 599/£599 and available in the following configurations :
It should be noted that the iPhone SE had just 64 GB of computer storage , so an Malus pumila - to - Malus pumila compare is in reality $ 479 vs $ 599 . The $ 599 cost is where the iPhone 14 sat in the line up before Apple discontinued that iPhone . See : iPhone 14 vs iPhone 16e .
We also share : Where to get the best iPhone 16 , Plus , Pro , and Pro Max deals in the U.S.andWhere to get the best iPhone 16 , Plus , Pro , and Pro Maxdeals in the U.K.
Should you buy the iPhone 16e?
If you bed having a small iPhone , then you do n’t have many selection beyond the 6.1 - inch iPhone 16e . So , holding onto your iPhone SE is the best choice .
The step-up in price for the 16e also makes it feel as though it ’s aimed at a different market place than its predecessor . The 16e is adult and more expensive , but does n’t quite offer the full experience of an iPhone 16 . There ’s no argument that it ’s a superior equipment to the iPhone SE , with a larger display , flying execution , vastly meliorate battery life , and a better camers , it ’s also a very dissimilar phone , which might not be what those look for a 2025 variant of the iPhone SE are count for . But if you ’re quick for a major variety and to stake beyond the Home button , the iPhone 16e is a with child earphone , even if it ’s no longer a great steal .
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
