iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16e: Which gadget should you get?
It's that time again when Apple enthusiasts think about upgrading their phones now that the tech giant has announced its latest smartphone, the iPhone 16e.
The new model was introduced during a Feb. 20 (Philippine time) event in Cupertino, California.
For those who already have an iPhone 16, one question may be on your mind: Is it time to upgrade to this newer version of the phone?
For your convenience, PhilSTAR L!fe has compiled a detailed comparison of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e models to help you make your choice.
Appearance
Looks-wise, the iPhone 16e is limited to only two colors, black and white. The older model, which also comes in the same hues, offers more options with vibrant shades of ultramarine, teal, and pink.
The Pro lineup meanwhile has Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium for colors.
The iPhone 16e, however, has a similar appearance as the iPhone 14, making it the first iPhone SE to have Face ID and a notched screen.
Both models also boast a Ceramic Shield front cover that is "tougher than any smartphone glass and the toughest back glass in a smartphone."
Display and performance
Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e is still powered by the A18 chip, allowing it to have the same benefits as the iPhone 16 lineup such as fast and smooth performance and power efficiency.
It has likewise inherited the capability to support Apple Intelligence, which uses generative AI to create text and images and offers tools like Clean Up to erase distracting elements in photos.
This is what makes the iPhone 16e stand out from older iPhones like the base iPhone 14 and 15 as these older models don't support Apple Intelligence.
AI aside, the iPhone 16e has the same 6.1-inch display as the base model of iPhone 16.
If you want a bigger display, you may want to stick with the Plus and Pro models. The Plus has a 6.7-inch screen while the Pro base model comes with a 6.3-inch display. The Pro Max has an even larger 6.9-inch display.
The older models are also equipped with the Dynamic Island, a feature that allows for more convenience regarding your activities and gives more screen-to-body ratio.
Through this, you can easily see the next direction in Maps, control music, as well as get real-time updates on food delivery, ride-sharing, sports scores, travel plans, and more.
The 16e only sticks to the standard notch, and it also doesn't have the new Camera Control button like its siblings.
Camera
iPhone's quality camera is arguably the feature that most Apple users look forward to.
The 16 lineup comes with a 48MP fusion camera with a faster quad-pixel sensor that enables 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision.
It also has .5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options but gets more photography features like macro shooting, spatial photos and videos, and new photographic styles.
Meanwhile, the Pro models are touted to have the highest resolution and frame-rate combination "ever available on iPhone."
Apart from the 48MP fusion and 48MP ultra-wide lenses for higher-resolution photography, including macro it also has a 5x Telephoto camera, and studio-quality mics to record more true-to-life audio.
The video capabilities are also boosted as they are capable of shooting 4K videos at 120 fps, perfect for cinematic slow-motion shots.
The 48MP Fusion camera can still be seen in the iPhone 16e, but is only limited to 2x Telephoto that can still zoom in with optical quality to get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot
It's also capable of shooting 4K videos with Dolby Vision, but only at 60 fps.
Battery
When it comes to how long the gadgets can last, the iPhone 16 standard version boasts video playback of up to 22 hours and up to 27 hours for the Plus and Pro models.
The Pro Max version, meanwhile, has 33 hours of video playback.
The iPhone 16e is somewhere in the middle with its battery life that can last for up to 26 hours of video playback.
Nevertheless, it still lasts up to six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than all generations of iPhone SE.
It also adopts wireless charging and USB-C unlike phones older than the iPhone 14, which still uses the Lightning connector.
Verdict
While the iPhone 16 and 16e models carry lots of similarities with each other, they differ most prominently in the display and camera features.
The 16 has more options when it comes to colors, brightness, and display buttons, as well as having more photography and video perks.
Ultimately, everything still depends on your budget and use case. In terms of the price, the 16e is the clear winner as its starting price is much more budget-friendly than its predecessors.
Prices
Here's how much the phones are for each model:
iPhone 16e
- 128GB - P39,990
- 256GB - P46,990
- 512GB - P58,990
iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 - P54,990
- iPhone 16 Plus - P62,990
- iPhone 16 Pro - P69,990
- iPhone 16 Pro Max - P84,990
