Apple has withdrawn its iPhone SE back after five years of service and replaced it with a brand new model, iPhone 16E that boasts a larger screen, a faster chip, better camera, but a pretty big price increase. So is the new device worth the extra money or do you have to stick to your smaller iPhone a little longer?
For more advice on which iPhone to buy, look at our iPhone comparison diagram where we compare each iPhone, or read our iPhone -purchasing guide. We also compare iPhone 16E VS iPhone 16 and iPhone 16E with iPhone 15 to see if it is worth saving money or spending more.
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE (2022): Tech Specs
Here is an overview of the technical specifications of both devices:
| iPhone 16e | iPhone SE (2022) | |
| Show | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED DISPLAY, 2532 × 1170 pixel resolution at 460 PPI, 2,000,000: 1 contrast ratio, HDR, real tone, wide color (P3), Haptic Touch, 800 NITS Maximum Brightness (typically) or 1,200 Nit of HDR top light. | 4.7-inch retina HD LCD IPS screen, 1334 × 750-pixel resolution, 326 PPI, 1400: 1 contrasting ratio, true tone, wide color (P3), Haptic Touch, 625 Nit’s Maximum Brightness |
| Chassis | Aluminum with glass left | Aluminum with glass left |
| Check | Action button, volume buttons, on / off button | Home -button, volume buttons, mute switch |
| Processor | A18 CHIP (6-CORE CPU, 4-CORE GPU, 16-CORE NEURAL MOTOR) | A15 Bionic (6-Core CPU, 4-Core GPU, 16-Core Neural Engine) |
| Rear cameras | 2 -in -1 camera system (48MP fusion) | 12MP f/1.8 |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | No |
| Video recording | 4K Dolby Vision Video -Shooting at 24 FPS, 25 FPS, 30 FPS OR 60 FPS | 4K video recording at 24 FPS, 25 FPS, 30 FPS OR 60FPS |
| Front camera | Treatedepth Front Camera | Treatedepth Front Camera |
| Approval | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Cellular | 5G Superfast 5G Cellular | 5g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Battery | Up to 26 hours of video playback | Up to 15 hours of video playback |
| Connection | USB-C | Lightning |
| Magsafe/Wireless Charging | Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W | Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W |
| Other features | Enjoyed SOS via satellite, crash detection | Enjoyed SOS |
| SIM card | Dual SIM (two active ESIMs or Nano-SIM and ESIM) | Dual SIM (two active ESIMs or Nano-SIM and ESIM) |
| Available colors | Black, white | Midnight, starlight, (product) red |
| Capacity | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Size and weight | 146.7 mm (5.78 inches) x 71.5 mm (2.82 inches) x 7.8 mm (0.31 inches); 167g | 138.4 mm (5.45 inches), 67.3 mm (2.65 inches), 7.3 mm (0.29 inches); 144g (5.09 ounces) |
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE: Design
It is reasonable to say that iPhone SE has become something of an anachronism on the smartphone market. SPORTS ONE OF THE LEAST SCESS AVAILABLE (4.7 inches), it still manages to look a little bulky because of the relatively huge top and bottom frames. The bottom is to support the physical home button, the last iPhone that has one with a lightning gate, touch -id and a mute switch. If you want any of these features, keep your iPhone SE.
Apple
The iPhone 16E is not based on the iPhone 6, but it is also not based on the iPhone 16. It is something of a hybrid of old and new parts and is more in line with the design change introduced with iPhone 12. The curved edges on SE are gone and replaced with flatter, square sides that offer a little more grip.
Apple
The iPhone 16E has a larger body compared to SE, all to accommodate the 6.1-inch display. As such, it’s also a little heavier. To compare the two devices with regard to size and weight:
- iPhone SE: 138.4 mm (5.45 inches), 67.3 mm (2.65 inches), 7.3 mm (0.29 inches); 144g (5.09 ounces)
- iPhone 16E: 146.7 mm (5.78 inches), 71.5 mm (2.82 inches), 7.8 mm (0.31 inches); 167g (5.88 ounces)
Like the last two generations, the iPhone 16E Lightning Connector falls and moves to the move Universal USB-C. There is an extra button on the page that takes the place for Mute Switch: An adaptable action button that can instantly start the camera, turn on the flashlight, silent the ringtone or perform a number of other tasks. On the back you will find a single camera lens.
Waterproofing also gets an upgrade as the newer device has an IP68 assessment compared to SE’s IP67 assessment.
Finally, 16E is available in black and white, while SE was available in (product) red, starlight and midnight.
Foundry
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE: Display
The most obvious change with 16E is a larger 6.1-inch screen that has been standard on most iPhones in the last few years. Unlike the rest of the iPhone 16 line, you won’t get a dynamic island; Rather, there is a notch at the top of the screen to accommodate the front camera, the recipient and Face ID sensors. The screen has also been upgraded to OLED over LCD, which will deliver sharper images and richer colors with deeper black.
The new display is also brighter, with the maximum (typical) lighting reaching 800 nits, which best 625 nits of SE. If you see HDR content, the maximum brightness of the 16E tops is out on 1,200 NITs. (IPhone SE does not support HDR.)
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE: Processor and Specifications
IPhone SE had the latest A15 Bionic Chip when it was launched in 2022, and the same is the case with the iPhone 16E, which has Apple’s latest A18 processor. It is easily modified compared to the iPhone 16 with a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency kernels) and a 4-core GPU (against 5 on iPhone 16), but the A18 is still a great chip.
With 8 GB RAM Onboard Board, A18 also opens Apple Intelligence, AI tools that come in iOS 18, which is not available at SE. With this in mind, 16E is a more future -proof option, with guaranteed updates in the coming years, and you will not miss the Apple Shout features.
Storage options have also changed, with Apple starting at 128 GB of 16E with 256 GB and 512 GB options. Apple charged an extra $ 50 for 128 GB with iPhone SE, so you get a little extra value with 16E.
Also new on the iPhone 16E is C1, Apple’s first internal 5G modem. On paper, the new phone supports the same wireless connection as SE (4G/LTE and SUB-6 GHz 5G), but Apple says the new modem is more effective and helps in areas with spotted service.
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE: Camera
In accordance with the entrance level of the past, Apple’s iPhone 16E still has a single camera lens on the back. But this is much improved compared to the 12MP f/1.8 module in SE. The iPhone 16E has a 48MP f/1.6 fusion camera that matches the main camera in the iPhone 16. Apple calls it a 2-in-1 camera system, which means it will crop the 48MP image to 24MP to get a 2x telecommunications image.
You also get the addition of a night mode, Smart HDR 5, digital zoom up to 10x and Apple’s photonic engine for better calculation processing.
Apple
Apart from that, the cameras share a lot of features-4K/60FPS video (although 16E has support for Dolby Vision), SLO-MO video in 1080p/240fps, Time-Lapse, Optical Image Stabilization, Real Tone Flash, Deep Fusion and Different Portrait and Photography States. In short, you get an excellent everyday camera, even if it just has a single lens.
The front camera also gets an upgrade with 7MP, f/2.2 sensor in SE replaced with a 12MP, f/1.9 one in 16E. The update also brings extra software treatment and 4K video as well as night mode and support for Animoji and Memoji. If you take a lot of selfies, 16E will definitely feel like an improvement.
Apple
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE (2022): Battery and Charging
One of the most important differences between the two devices comes in the battery department. With a smaller body and older tech, iPhone SE hit a difficult balance between performance and battery life. It’s not bad, but if you use it often all day, you need a quick charge at some point.
16e is quite the opposite. By combining a larger battery with the efficiency of the A18 chip and the C1 modem, the iPhone 16e boasts a 26-hour battery life, the longest for a 6.1-inch iPhone. In comparison, Apple claimed the iPhone SE lasted for up to 15 hours.
CHARING TIMES are comparable with support for fast charging up to 50 percent of approx. 30 minutes when using a 20W charger. Apple delivers a charging cable in the box, which is USB-C-to-USB-C now that lightning is gone. Qi Wireless is also available on both, although Apple did not include Magsafe charging on iPhone 16E.
iPhone 16E vs iPhone SE (2022): Apple Intelligence and Software Support
From the iPhone 16E launch, both models drove iOS 18.3.1 and iPhone SE will probably get iOS 19 in the fall. IPhone SE will also receive iOS 20 in 2026 and iOS 21 in 2027 if Apple continues with its impressive registration of supporting older devices for up to six years. See: How long does Apple support iPhones.
Apple
However, some features do not work on SE. The most important thing is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suites of AI features that require an A18 processor and 8 GB of RAM. Apple is Rolliong Out features in 2025 and will undoubtedly add even more Apple Intelligence features in iOS 19, then if features like Genmoji, Writing Tools, Chatgpt and the new, improved Siri interest you, you need to upgrade to 16E. There will also certainly be other features that are not supported by the iPhone SE 3 over the next few years, while 16E is guaranteed to support the full slate of features in the coming years.
iPhone 16E vs iPhone: Price
With the launch of the iPhone 16E, Apple has disconnected $ 429/£ 429 -gap occupied by iPhone SE. Currently, iPhone 16E is the cheapest iPhone you can buy, starting at $ 599/£ 599 and available in the following configurations:
- iPhone 16E 128 GB: $ 599/£ 599
- iPhone 16E 256GB: $ 699/£ 699
- iPhone 16E 512GB: $ 899/£ 899
It should be noted that the iPhone SE had only 64 GB of storage, so a comparison of apples-to apples is actually $ 479 vs $ 599. The price of $ 599 is where the iPhone 14 sat in the line before Apple ceased with iPhone. SEE: iPhone 14 vs iPhone 16E.
We also share: Where you can get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro and Pro Max offers in the US and where you can get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro and Pro Max offers in the UK
Should you buy iPhone 16E?
If you love to have a small iPhone, you don’t have many choices beyond the 6.1-inch iPhone 16E. So holding on to your iPhone SE is the best options.
The increase in price for 16E also makes it feel as if it is aimed at a market other than its predecessor. 16E is bigger and more expensive, but does not quite offer the full experience of an iPhone 16. There is no argument that it is a superior device for iPhone SE, with a larger screen, faster performance, hugely improved battery life, and a better camer But if you are ready for a major change and to venture out over the home button, the iPhone 16E is a great phone, even if it is no longer a good deal.