iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: which is the true cut price?

Apple has launched the iPhone 16e, and with it a brand new period of entry-level smartphone choices. It’s way more trendy than the outgoing iPhone SE, but additionally way more costly.

It’s been fastidiously constructed to be inferior to its brother the iPhone 16 in a variety of methods, however what concerning the iPhone 15? Does the largest problem to the iPhone 16e’s entire worth proposition come from a little bit additional again within the iPhone’s household historical past?

We’ve spent a good period of time with these two telephones at this level, and have rendered a full verdict on each. With the iPhone 15 evaluation scoring a little bit greater, it is truthful to say that it made a much bigger impression on us than the newer telephone did in our iPhone 16e evaluation.

But how about now? Does the iPhone 15 stay a greater price range possibility than the iPhone 16e, or are the generational enhancements of the latter value handing over good cash for?

Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at how these two telephones examine. By the top of this head-to-head, we assure that we’ll have a definitive winner for you.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: specs comparability

Before we focus on how these two telephones examine, let’s check out their core specs. As you possibly can see, they’re fairly intently matched on paper.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: value and availability

The iPhone 16e hit cabinets on February 28, 2025. That’s an excellent 17 months on from the iPhone 15’s arrival on September 22, 2023.

Apple’s new entry level begins from simply $599 / £599 / AU$999 for 128GB, transferring as much as $699 / £699 / AU$1,199 for 256GB. You can even go for the range-topping 512GB variant for $899 / £899 / AU$1,549.

At launch, the iPhone 15 got here with a beginning value of $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 for 128GB of storage. Upgrading to 256GB would set you again $899 / £899 / AU$1,699 on the time, whereas the 512GB mannequin got here in at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049.

Comparing launch costs, the iPhone 16e is clearly less expensive. However, that launch value now not applies. Apple nonetheless sells the iPhone 15 model new, however at a decrease beginning value of $699 / £699 / AU$1,249 for 128GB. The 256GB mannequin now prices $799 / £799 / AU$1,449, and the 512GB mannequin prices $999 / £999 / AU$1,799.

In right this moment’s cash, then, the iPhone 15 is just $100 / £100 / AU$250 dearer. Meanwhile third-party sellers are providing the iPhone 15 for even cheaper, and that is not even mentioning the in depth refurb market.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: design

Apple has moved on from the dated designs of the iPhone SE period, and has adopted its present flat-edged search for the iPhone 16e. As a outcome, it seems to be loads just like the iPhone 15.

Measuring in at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm and weighing 167g, it is solely a fraction smaller and lighter than the iPhone 15, which is 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm and 171g.

Both are solidly constructed from an aluminum body and Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass, and each profit from IP68 mud and water resistance certification.

There are some design variations, nevertheless. While the iPhone 16e will get Apple’s newest Action Button, which might be mapped to no matter operate you want, the iPhone 15 nonetheless has the previous ring / silent mode swap.

That’s about the one clear benefit for the iPhone 16e, although, and a few will choose the tactile simplicity of the iPhone 15’s bodily swap.

The iPhone 15, for its half, has Apple’s newest Dynamic Island characteristic, which replaces the ugly notch nonetheless paraded by the iPhone 16e.

Not solely does the Dynamic Island look nicer and unlock extra display house for content material, it additionally comes with a intelligent little heads-up widget system that reveals you timers, at present enjoying media and the like.

There’s one other clear distinction if you flip the 2 telephones over. While the iPhone 15 shows two diagonally stacked digital camera modules, the iPhone 16e simply has the one discrete unit.

Also notable is the larger vary of color choices with the iPhone 15. It is available in Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink, in addition to Black. The iPhone 16e, against this, solely is available in Black or White.

All in all, there is not a lot in any respect between these two designs, however we’ll give the sting to the iPhone 15 for its Dynamic Island and superior color choices.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: show

It’s an identical case with the shows on these two telephones. They’re broadly related, however the iPhone 15 has the slight edge.

Both screens are 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panels with meagre 60Hz refresh charges (critically Apple, type it out). Thanks to the iPhone 15’s extra compact Dynamic Island, nevertheless, it technically has a barely sharper decision.

We’re solely speaking 2556 x 1179 in comparison with 2532 x 1170, so you will not discover the distinction. The greater repercussion is that you just will not discover the iPhone 15’s notch a lot when enjoying full-screen media content material.

The primary benefit for the iPhone 15 display over the iPhone 16e is brightness. While the newer telephone hits a decent 800 nits in excessive brightness mode and 1,200 nits in peak HDR circumstances, the iPhone 15 can handle 1,000 nits and a pair of,000 nits respectively.

Still, each telephones help True Tone, Wide coloration (P3), and a 2,000,000:1 distinction ratio, so it is hardly an evening and day distinction.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: cameras

We’ve already talked about the easy numerical distinction between these two digital camera methods. While each telephones have 48MP f/1.6 primary cameras, solely the iPhone 15 provides you a 12MP ultra-wide as properly.

This actually provides you a complete new perspective to play with, however the inclusion of a second sensor holds additional advantages. It additionally grants the iPhone 15 larger depth notion, bolstering Portrait photographs, although it would not have the additional macro and Spatial seize capabilities of the next-gen iPhone 16.

iPhone 15 digital camera samples

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But let’s again up a little bit, as a result of even the iPhone 16e’s solitary 48MP primary digital camera is not nearly as good because the iPhone 15’s. It has a smaller sensor dimension for one factor (as evidenced by that smaller digital camera bump), so it scoops up much less gentle.

It additionally has an inferior type of optical picture stabilisation, with the iPhone 15 packing a extra superior sensor-shift OIS.

These two factors mix to imply that the iPhone 15 takes superior photographs, particularly when the sunshine begins to drop.

Not that we now have many complaints concerning the iPhone 16e’s photograph high quality.

iPhone 16e digital camera samples

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Our reviewer discovered that it took “pretty photographs with beautiful element and the sort of coloration constancy I admire (in folks and skies particularly) in all kinds of eventualities”. It simply is not as much as the iPhone 15’s normal.

Both telephones provide you with a 12MP f/1.9 entrance digital camera, with the very important addition of autofocus for tremendous sharp selfies.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: efficiency and software program

If there’s one space the place the iPhone 16e demonstrates that it is the brisker product, it is when you think about uncooked efficiency. It runs on Apple’s very newest chip, the A18.

Sure, this can be a ‘binned’ model of the chip, which signifies that it options one much less GPU core (4 to be exact) than the chip present in the remainder of the iPhone 16 vary. But it is nonetheless extra superior and flat out sooner than the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic chip, which already felt prefer it was from a earlier era on the time.

Don’t get us mistaken, the iPhone 15 stays a extremely succesful chip. It continues to outperform the likes of the Pixel 9 Pro in benchmarking phrases, and it is greater than able to working high-end video games and different superior apps very fluidly.

It’s simply that in a straight efficiency shootout with the iPhone 16e, it loses each spherical.

The iPhone 16e additionally runs on 8GB of RAM to the iPhone 15’s 6GB.

We also needs to point out the one really distinctive a part of the iPhone 16e package deal – its Apple-made C1 modem. As properly as being extra environment friendly than earlier Qualcomm modems (like that of the iPhone 15), it permits satellite tv for pc texting, which is helpful for these no-signal eventualities.

Both telephones run on Apple’s newest working system, which at current means iOS 18. While the iPhone 16e will get updates for longer owing to its age, each of those telephones shall be supported for years to come back.

However, the iPhone 16e additionally has one trump card on this division: Apple Intelligence. Implemented throughout Apple’s suite of apps, it helps you to do issues like generate authentic emoji (Genmoji), summarize messages in notifications, and take away undesirable background components in Photos.

The iPhone 15 represents the reduce off level for receiving Apple Intelligence, so it is a win for the iPhone 16e, even when the characteristic would not but really feel important.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: battery life

Apple is not one to publish its battery sizes, however we all know from third-party reporting that the iPhone 16e packs the bigger cell.

It’s been reported that the iPhone 16e has a 3,961mAh battery, which is greater than 18% bigger than the iPhone 15’s 3,349mAh battery.

Combined with that extra environment friendly processor and the brand new power-sipping C1 modem, the iPhone 16e boasts a lot better stamina.

Apple claims that the iPhone 16e can handle 26 hours of steady video playback on a single cost in comparison with the iPhone 15’s 20 hours.

In our personal sensible testing, our reviewer known as the iPhone 16e’s battery life “excellent”, and awarded this side of the telephone full marks. The identical reviewer was much less complementary concerning the iPhone 15’s stamina, awarding it 4 out of 5.

The iPhone 15 hits again on the subject of the charging provision. While each can hit 50% in half-hour utilizing an acceptable wired USB-C charger, solely the iPhone 15 helps 15W MagSafe (and certainly Qi2) wi-fi charging.

Apple inexplicably stripped this handy provision from the iPhone 16e, that means it may well solely handle non-magnetised 7.5W Qi charging. A disgrace.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: verdict

With the iPhone 16e, Apple hasn’t a lot up to date its SE vary as retired it and changed it with one thing sleeker and extra trendy. It’s a really completed telephone, little doubt.

However, within the technique of giving us extra of what we wished, Apple has raised the worth significantly. As a outcome, the iPhone 16e immediately comes into vary of a category of barely older however extra premium iPhones that may be discovered for related cash. Phones just like the iPhone 15.

The uncomfortable truth for Apple is that the iPhone 15 is a greater telephone than the iPhone 16e in lots of the ways in which matter to folks. It’s acquired a extra vibrant design; a brighter display that is unobstructed by an unpleasant notch; handy MagSafe charging; and a a lot better, extra versatile digital camera system.

The iPhone 16e wins a few battles of its personal, most notably within the efficiency and battery life stakes. It additionally has entry to Apple’s early experiments with AI, that are tentatively promising, in addition to a flexible motion button.

Ultimately, although, an iPhone 15 for related or much less cash – whether or not model new or in licensed refurbished situation – might be the higher purchase for most individuals proper now.

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