iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16e: is the cheaper one enough?

buy the iPhone 16e unless you want a second camera or MagSafe. Both phones use the same A18 chip, the same 6.1-inch OLED screen and 8GB of memory, so day to day they feel alike. The iPhone 16e is £599 and the iPhone 16 is £799 at the time of writing, so the 16 has to earn that £200.

The differences at a glance

Camera

This is the biggest practical gap. Both phones have the same 48MP main camera, and in good light the photos look very similar. The iPhone 16 adds a 12MP ultrawide, which is the lens you use for big group shots, cramped rooms and buildings. The 16e does not have one. If you take a lot of photos indoors or while travelling, you will miss it. If most of your pictures are of one person or one thing, you won't.

Battery and charging

The 16e has the larger battery, 4005 mAh against 3561 mAh, and Apple rates its video playback at 26 hours against 22 hours for the 16. Charging is where the 16 pulls back: it supports MagSafe, so magnetic chargers, wallets and car mounts snap on, and it charges faster wirelessly. The 16e charges wirelessly on a normal Qi pad, more slowly, and magnetic accessories will not hold on without a case that has magnets built in.

Design

The 16 has the Dynamic Island and the Camera Control button on the side, which gives quick access to the camera. The 16e keeps the older notch and has no Camera Control, though it does have the Action button. It comes in black and white only; the 16 comes in five colours.

What is the same

• The A18 chip and 8GB of memory, so speed and Apple Intelligence support are the same.
• A 6.1-inch OLED screen with Face ID.
• USB-C, 5G and eSIM.
• IP68 dust and water resistance.
• 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options.

Which should you buy?

Choose the iPhone 16e if you want a current iPhone for the lowest price and you mainly shoot with the main camera. It also has the bigger battery.

Choose the iPhone 16 if you use the ultrawide camera, want MagSafe accessories, or care about the colours and the Dynamic Island. If you are comparing it against older phones too, our guide to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 covers that gap.

Common questions

Will the iPhone 16e get updates for as long as the iPhone 16?

Apple does not publish a fixed number of years. Both phones use the same A18 chip, so there is no technical reason for the 16e to be dropped earlier. Recent iPhones have typically been supported for around six years.

Does the iPhone 16e work with MagSafe cases?

It fits them, but there are no magnets in the phone, so they will not attach firmly and MagSafe chargers will not align. Use a Qi charging pad or a cable instead.

Is the iPhone 16e a downgrade from the iPhone 16?

In two places, yes: the camera count and the charging. In speed, screen size and battery it is level or ahead.