Apple iPhone 16 vs Apple iPhone 16e
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 16 and the Apple iPhone 16e, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Our rating | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Battery | 3,561 mAh | 4,005 mAh |
| Wired charging | — | 20W |
| Storage (max) | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.1 in |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 170 g | 167 g |
| Released | Sep 2024 | Feb 2025 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 16e is ahead on battery, weight (lower is lighter).
Display
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR, True Tone, Wide color (P3), Haptic Touch | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Size | 6.1 inches (6.12 inches diagonally) | 6.1 inches |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 pixels (~460 ppi density) | 2532 x 1170 pixels |
| Brightness | 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HDR peak), 2000 nits (outdoor peak) | 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (peak HDR) |
| Features | Dynamic Island, Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | HDR display, True Tone, Wide color (P3), Haptic Touch |
| Pixel Density | — | 460 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | — | 60Hz |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| OS | iOS 18 (upgradable to iOS 26.6.1 as of August 2026) | iOS 18.3, upgradable to iOS 26 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Apple A18 |
| CPU | 6-core CPU (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) | 6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency) |
| GPU | 5-core GPU | 4-core |
| Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core |
| Modem | — | Apple C1 cellular modem |
| AI Features | — | Apple Intelligence support |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5X | 8GB |
| Internal Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB NVMe | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Card Slot | No | No |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Modules | Advanced dual-camera system | — |
| Wide | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm, sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm | — |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/1.6, 52mm (2x optical zoom equivalent via main sensor), sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels | — |
| Features | Photographic Styles, Spatial video capture, Smart HDR 5, Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control, Night mode, Panorama | 2x optical-quality zoom (sensor crop), Autofocus, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Dual-LED True Tone flash, Portrait mode, Night mode |
| Video | 4K Dolby Vision video up to 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60fps, 720p@30fps |
| Module | — | 48 MP Fusion, f/1.6, 26mm (wide) |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Modules | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide) | — |
| Features | Autofocus, Smart HDR 5, Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control, Cinematic video stabilization | Autofocus |
| Video | 4K video recording up to 60 fps | 4K@25/30/60fps, slow-motion video at 120fps |
| Module | — | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/1.9, 23mm (wide) |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Type | Li-ion, non-removable | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Capacity | 3561 mAh (13.84 Wh) | 4005 mAh (15.55 W·h) |
| Charging | MagSafe wireless charging, Qi2 wireless charging, USB-C fast-charge | Fast-charging (up to 50% in 30 minutes with 20W adapter, sold separately), Qi wireless (up to 7.5W) |
| Video Playback | — | Up to 26 hours |
| Audio Playback | — | Up to 90 hours |
Body
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 170 g (6.0 oz) | 167 g |
| Build | Aluminum design, color-infused glass back, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, glass back |
| Water & Dust Resistance | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) |
| SIM | — | Dual eSIM (US); Dual nano-SIM (mainland China); nano-SIM and eSIM (elsewhere) |
| Colors | — | Black, White |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be) tri-band, MIMO | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | — |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, NavIC |
| NFC | Yes (reader mode, Express Cards) | — |
| Radio | No | — |
| USB | USB-C | USB-C |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|
| Announced | September 9, 2024 | 2025, February 19 |
| Status | Available | Available. Released 2025, February 28. Discontinued March 2, 2026. |
| Released | September 20, 2024 | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 16 or Apple iPhone 16e?
Apple iPhone 16e — 3,561 mAh for the Apple iPhone 16 versus 4,005 mAh for the Apple iPhone 16e.
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 16 or Apple iPhone 16e?
Apple iPhone 16e — 170 g for the Apple iPhone 16 versus 167 g for the Apple iPhone 16e.
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 16 or Apple iPhone 16e?
Apple iPhone 16e — Sep 2024 for the Apple iPhone 16 versus Feb 2025 for the Apple iPhone 16e.
Is the Apple iPhone 16 or the Apple iPhone 16e rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 16 8/10 and the Apple iPhone 16e 8/10.
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