With the release of the new phone, everyone’s question is which iPhone to buy—the 16, 15, or 16e, and to answer your question, here we’re comparing two budget ones, iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15.
After a two-year gap, Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16e, an affordable addition to the iPhone 16 lineup. While it is a budget-friendly phone, it is packed with flagship-grade features. iPhone 16e’s pricing directly competes with the now-discontinued iPhone 15, setting up an interesting comparison for prospective buyers.
However, if you already own an iPhone 15, would you still go for the new iPhone 16e? Here, we’ll compare iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 to help you answer this question. This question becomes important because, with the launch of the iPhone 16e, the price of the iPhone 15 has been reduced to around Rs 60,000, which is in the same price range as the iPhone 16e.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15
Here we've covered:
Design and display: Can Dynamic Island be a deal breaker?
At first glance, the iPhone 16e resembles the iPhone 15, featuring the same 6.1-inch OLED display. However, it takes a design cue from the iPhone 14 with sharper edges rather than the rounded ones found on the iPhone 15. One of the most notable visual differences is the rear camera setup — the 16e houses a single camera compared to the dual-camera system on the iPhone 15.
The display specifications remain largely unchanged, with both models sporting a 60 Hz refresh rate. However, the iPhone 15 takes the cake when it comes to brightness. The peak brightness of the now-discontinued iPhone 15 is 1,600 nits, while the iPhone 16e maxes out at 1,200 nits.
A third notable change is introducing the Action Button on the 16e, replacing the traditional mute switch, a feature carried over from the premium iPhone 16 lineup.
When it comes to the notch, the iPhone 16e features the notch that we had earlier in the iPhone 14, while the iPhone 15 sports the Dynamic Island notch, which offers better multitasking.
Performance and software: Can AI be the game changer?
Perhaps the most compelling reason to consider the iPhone 16e is its upgraded performance. The device runs on the latest Apple Silicon A18 chip with 8 GB of RAM, compared to the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic with a 6 GB RAM configuration.
This means the iPhone 15 lacks the necessary hardware to support AI features. If you like and use AI daily, the iPhone 16e may be the right choice.
Apple Intelligence brings a host of AI-powered capabilities, including a smarter Siri, ChatGPT integration, Genmoji, AI-driven writing tools, and the new Image Playground app.
What’s most interesting is that the iPhone 16e marks Apple’s first venture into using an in-house modem — the Apple C1. While Apple claims it is the most efficient modem in any iPhone to date, its real-world performance remains to be seen.
Camera: Single or dual?
The iPhone 15 might be a better option for camera enthusiasts than the iPhone 16e. A major trade-off on the iPhone 16e is its single-camera system, as Apple removed the 12 MP ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 15. However, the primary sensor remains a 48 MP shooter, capable of capturing detailed images and utilising sensor cropping for improved zoom quality.
Then again, while the lack of an ultra-wide camera may disappoint some users, the powerful processor and AI-driven enhancements could make up for it. The iPhone 15 certainly seems the right choice for users wanting a more powerful camera.
Battery life: How much battery is enough?
Apple states that the new iPhone 16e offers an estimated 26 hours of video playback, six hours more than the iPhone 15, representing a 30% improvement.
However, interestingly, the device lacks MagSafe support, which is a surprising commission from Apple. Wireless charging is available in iPhone 16e but is limited to 7.5W, slower than the Magsafe-enabled iPhones, including the iPhone 15.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15: Should you ditch iPhone 15 for iPhone 16e?
It looks like Apple unleashed some excellent features, such as the introduction of Apple Intelligence, improved battery performance, and the powerful A18 chip in the iPhone 16e, while compromising on features like camera and wireless charging.
The iPhone 15, on the other hand, sports an ultra-wide 12 MP lens, which is missing from the iPhone 16e. It also has a MagSafe charger, which might be a deal breaker for users wanting to switch to iPhone 16e.
In conclusion, if you like camera versatility, dynamic island, or MagSafe charging, keeping the iPhone 15 is the best option. However, for AI enthusiasts who also want better battery life, the iPhone 16e is the way to go.
Here’s a tabular representation of iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15.
| Feature | iPhone 16e | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz, 1,200 nits | 6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz, 1,600 nits |
| Notch | Standard notch (like iPhone 14) | Dynamic Island |
| Action button | Yes | No (Mute switch) |
| Chipset | A18 chip | A16 Bionic |
| RAM | 8 GB | 6 GB |
| AI features | Yes (Apple Intelligence) | No |
| Modem | Apple C1 (in-house) | Qualcomm X70 modem |
| Camera | 48 MP (single camera) | 48 MP (main) + 12 MP (ultra-wide) |
| Battery Life | 26 hours video playback | 20 hours video playback |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W (no MagSafe) | MagSafe support |
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