Apple’s latest "budget" contender, the iPhone 16e, lands at $599. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15, originally $699, now often drops to $650 or less during sales. So, which one’s the smarter buy for you? I’ve been mulling this over, and it’s not as simple as picking the shiny new thing.
Let’s start with the screens. Both the iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 come with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. The difference? The iPhone 15 hits 1,600 nits of peak brightness, while the 16e tops out at 1,200 nits. I’ve used phones in bright sunlight before, and that extra brightness on the 15 makes a real difference. Plus, it has the Dynamic Island — a slick upgrade over the 16e’s notch. It’s not just about looks; it feels more intuitive for notifications.
Performance is where the iPhone 16e flexes its muscles. It’s got the new A18 chip and 8GB of RAM, compared to the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic and 6GB. Apps should open faster, and multitasking should feel smoother on the 16e. It also supports Apple Intelligence — think AI tricks like Genmoji — which the 15 skips entirely. That’s a big deal if you’re like me and love messing with new tech.
But in all honesty, Apple Intelligence if quite forgettable at the moment. I've been using an iPhone 16 for a couple of months and I've only used its AI a handful of times, mostly just to see what is it all about. So yeah, I wouldn't buy the iPhone 16e solely for Apple Intelligence.
Camera-wise, the iPhone 15 might have a slight upper hand thanks to its dual setup (48MP main + 12MP ultra-wide). The iPhone 16e’s single 48MP lens while great, isn't really that big of a step up from the iPhone 15. I remember snapping wide-angle shots on vacation last year — losing that option with the 16e would sting. So it all boils down to personal preference.
For more details on the camera, I'd recommend checking out the details shared by @Sankew06 on X:
PSA!
— Sankew (@Sankew06) February 20, 2025
The iPhone 16e’s Single Fusion Camera is not the same as the iPhone 16’s Fusion Camera, in fact it’s actually worse than the iPhone 16, and it's gonna perform similarly to an iPhone 13 or 14
I’ve already seen a lot of people confuse them and consider them the same as the… pic.twitter.com/WnwlIHQazu
Battery life tips toward the 16e, with 26 hours of video playback versus the 15’s 20 hours. That’s a lifesaver on long trips. Charging’s a tie — both use USB-C — but the 15 has MagSafe for wireless convenience, which the 16e skips.
Now, the wallet factor. At $599, the 16e is fresh but pricey for a “budget” phone. The iPhone 15, dipping below $650 with discounts, delivers more polish — brighter screen, extra camera, MagSafe — for touch more. I’d snag the 15 if I could get a sweet deal, especially since it still feels premium. But if you’re hooked on the latest AI tricks and battery life, the 16e might tempt you. For most, though, the 15’s the better deal right now.
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