iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: After testing both, it's clear the iPhone 16e is a better value for most people

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It's a common debate each time Apple releases a new iPhone. Is the older, more premium phone a better value than the newer, less premium model? Identifying your priorities can solve the iPhone 16e versus iPhone 15 debate. Do you want the best performance and the latest Apple Intelligence features? Or do you want an ultrawide camera in exchange for an older processor and no Apple Intelligence? Without upgrading to the more premium iPhone 16, you can't have it all.

Unless your biggest priority is taking ultrawide photos, the iPhone 16e is the best iPhone for most people between these two models. Despite missing some features, like an ultrawide camera, connectivity for the fastest 5G networks, and MagSafe compatibility, it's still an excellent option with amazing performance relative to its $600 price. Plus, you'll get the latest Apple Intelligence features.

The iPhone 15 is also a worthwhile phone that offers a fuller flagship feature set than the iPhone 16e, but not Apple Intelligence. Its ultrawide camera distinguishes it from the iPhone 16e. Yet, its older processor is a trade-off that struggles to justify the $100 price premium over the new entry-level model.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Specs

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Design and buttons

The iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 look and feel very similar, save for minute differences in dimension (the iPhone 15 is slightly taller).

The main visual difference is the iPhone 16e's somewhat dated static display notch, which houses its Face ID sensors and front camera, compared to the iPhone 15's sleeker Dynamic Island, a convenient shape-shifting module for interacting with apps and notifications. The iPhone 16e also has a single camera on the rear, whereas the iPhone 15 has a dual camera system.

The black borders around the iPhone 16e's display are also slightly thicker than those on the iPhone 15. Still, the iPhone 16e looks like a modern premium phone.

The iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 have exactly the same buttons, including the Action button that replaced the iPhone's signature silent switch with the iPhone 15 series.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Performance

In our benchmark results, the iPhone 16e running on Apple's latest-generation A18 processor is more powerful than the iPhone 15's two-year-old A16 processor. But in day-to-day use, the difference will not be perceivable.

That said, the iPhone 16e's quick performance will likely last at least a year longer than the iPhone 15's due to its newer processor. The iPhone 15 might start to open and run apps somewhat slower in about three years, whereas we might expect slower iPhone 16e performance in four.

Considering Apple's usual seven-year support window for the iOS operating system, we'd expect the iPhone 16e to be supported until 2032. The iPhone 15, released in September 2023, will likely stop getting support in 2030.

For gaming, the iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 score about the same in benchmark tests. They also play games as well as each other at similar graphics settings and frame rates. However, the iPhone 16e supports AAA games in the App Store, as well as ray tracing (enhanced lighting effects), while the iPhone 15 doesn't.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Apple Intelligence

Only the iPhone 16e supports Apple Intelligence features thanks to its A18 processor. The iPhone 15 doesn't support Apple Intelligence.

There's no reason to rush or force an iPhone purchase for the sake of Apple Intelligence, especially if the iPhone 15 has features you want that the iPhone 16e doesn't have — namely, the ultrawide camera. Writing Tools and other Apple Intelligence features aren't going anywhere, and every iPhone Apple sells will likely support Apple Intelligence in a year or two.

Plus, Apple Intelligence is still in its early stages, and it's continually improving with new features being added over time.

The feature that will most likely enhance your iPhone experience is ChatGPT's integration with Siri. If you've previously abandoned Siri for getting answers to questions, the ChatGPT integration with Apple Intelligence will change that.

With that said, the ChatGPT app is available on any iPhone that runs iOS 17 or later, so you can run it on the iPhone 15 with a similar effect as the iPhone 16e with Apple Intelligence. Instead of using Siri to access ChatGPT, you can use the ChatGPT app itself, which also lets you use your voice to ask questions. You can even set the iPhone 15's Action button as a shortcut for ChatGPT voice functionality.

Beyond ChatGPT's integration with Siri, the Writing Tools feature is useful for writing emails for you based on short, descriptive prompts. It's incredibly handy, but it's not a reason on its own to "downgrade" to the iPhone 16e or upgrade to the iPhone 16.

As noted in our iPhone 16e review and iPhone 16 review, the rest of the current slate of Apple Intelligence features have less overall impact and could use refinement. Read our iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16 guide for a comparative breakdown of the models.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Displays

Both iPhone models use Apple's 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with essentially the same resolution and features, like a 60Hz refresh rate and first-generation Ceramic Shield glass.

The biggest difference on paper is the iPhone 16e's 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness compared to the iPhone 15's 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness and even 2,000 nits peak brightness outdoors. Despite the iPhone 16e's lower brightness panel, it's just as bright under direct sunlight as the iPhone 15.

Another major difference is that the iPhone 16e is only available in a 6.1-inch version. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Plus with a 6.7-inch display is available if you prefer an analogous version of the iPhone 15 with a larger display.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Cameras

The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP camera, while the iPhone 15 has a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. Between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 15, you're only losing the ability to take ultrawide shots. Despite its ultrawide camera, the iPhone 15 doesn't support macro photography, like the iPhone 16's ultrawide camera does.

In day-to-day shooting, there isn't much difference in photo quality between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 15. Both phones can take optical-quality 2x zoom photos, too.

Yet, there are some minor differences. The iPhone 15 includes sensor-shift optical image stabilization compared to the iPhone 16e's basic optical stabilization. It's barely noticeable while taking photos, and videos taken with the iPhone 16e while you're in motion are only slightly jerkier.

The iPhone 15's superior stabilization is only truly appreciable with Action Mode, which isn't available on the iPhone 16e. Action Mode lets you take surprisingly smooth, jitter-free videos, even if you're moving a lot while recording, like while running.

The iPhone 15 also supports Apple's next-generation portraits, which include focus and depth control, whereas the iPhone 16e's portrait mode only supports depth control. If you take many portrait mode shots, you'll appreciate the extra control from the iPhone 15.

Unlike the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 15 includes Cinematic Mode video, which is basically a video portrait mode that records at up to 4K quality and 30 frames per second.

To note, the iPhone 16e supports wind noise reduction and Apple's Audio Mix feature, which lets you adjust individual sound levels in videos, while the iPhone 15 lacks either feature.

Front cameras are essentially identical 12MP lenses, except the iPhone 15 supports next-generation portrait mode and Cinematic Mode videos taken with the front camera, whereas the iPhone 16e doesn't.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: 5G networks

The iPhone 16e supports LTE, low-, and mid-band 5G networks but notably excludes the iPhone 15's support for high-band 5G networks, also known as mmWave 5G.

Verizon's mmWave 5G can reach speeds of up to 634 Mbps, while AT&T's can reach 474 Mbps and T-Mobile's 418 Mbps. Considering the high speeds that mmWave 5G networks can achieve, you'd think the iPhone 16e would offer a notably downgraded experience. Yet, it doesn't.

Low- and mid-band 5G networks are fast enough for almost anything most people do on their phones, whether that's streaming video or downloading huge games and files. On Verizon, these networks can reach advertised speeds of 143 Mbps, while AT&T's networks can reach 304 Mbps and T-Mobile's 357 Mbps.

Verizon is the only carrier where the iPhone 16e's lack of mmWave 5G support would make an appreciable difference. Even then, 35-143 Mbps is plenty fast for most people.

Those with any of Verizon's best cell phone plans will find more value in the iPhone 15's mmWave 5G support, while budget-minded iPhone 16e users may be better suited by one of the best cheap cell phone plans.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Battery life and charging

Both iPhone models have stellar battery lives for 6.1-inch phones, though the iPhone 16e clinched the overall win as the best phone for battery life of its size. It finished our intensive battery test with 68% remaining, compared to the iPhone 15's 66% result.

Both phones charge at the same speed (around 25W) via their USB-C ports, but they are not equal when it comes to wireless charging.

The iPhone 16e doesn't support Apple's MagSafe wireless charging (or accessories), which uses magnets to ensure optimal alignment between the phone and the charger. Instead, it only supports the base Qi wireless charging, which is comparatively slow at around 7.5W.

As detailed in our guide to the best iPhone 16e cases, you can mitigate the iPhone 16e's lack of MagSafe with a case that includes MagSafe magnets. That way, you can attach to MagSafe accessories and chargers to get proper alignment for optimal wireless charging. Still, charging speeds are limited to Qi's slower speeds.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 supports the first generation of MagSafe wireless charging with a 15W capacity. It's not the same 25W second-generation MagSafe wireless charging supported by the iPhone 16, but it's still better than the iPhone 16e's Qi charging in speed and convenience.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15: Which should you buy?

If you rarely use or don't care about ultrawide cameras, the iPhone 16e is the clear option due to its newer processor and better long-term performance. Its access to Apple Intelligence is a plus.

The iPhone 16e's single-camera system makes it less versatile than the iPhone 15, which features an ultrawide lens, but the new model takes high-quality flagship-level photos at 1x and 2x options.

The iPhone 15 supports some more advanced camera features, like Cinematic Mode for videos, focus control for portrait mode shots, and a superior stabilizer for shake-free videos. If these features sound useful or you'd rather have a Dynamic Island than a static display notch, the iPhone 15 is the better option. Just note you'd be sacrificing the latest processor and Apple Intelligence features.

For most people, who might not use these advanced features, we'd recommend the iPhone 16e.