Latest news with #iPhone16E
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: How Apple's Budget Phone Compares to the Baseline Model
The $599 iPhone 16E is Apple's most affordable iPhone, and it shares many features with the $799 iPhone 16. But there are also some sacrifices you'll need to make for that $200 discount. While some core components like the A18 chip, iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence are the same for both devices, there are notable differences across the phones' cameras, designs and batteries. Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now Here's how the more budget-friendly iPhone 16E compares to the baseline iPhone 16. Now Playing: iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: Spec Breakdown 05:44 Display and build The iPhone 16E is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, just like the iPhone 16. Apple/CNET The iPhone 16E and iPhone 16 both have a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The 16E has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, while the 16 reaches 2,000 nits. A ceramic shield front and glass back are featured on each phone. The devices have an aluminum design and are about as heavy as each other, with the iPhone 16E weighing in at 167 grams and the iPhone 16 at 170 grams. Both phones also have an Action button, but only the iPhone 16 has a Camera Control button. The Dynamic Island feature is also limited to the pricier model. The devices each have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Apple drops the home button on its new budget phone in favor of Face ID, just like the iPhone 16. Both devices also have a USB-C port, and neither has a headphone jack. The iPhone 16E comes in black and white, while the iPhone 16 comes in black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine. Battery and storage The iPhone 16E has Apple's C1 modem, which Apple says is the most efficient modem in an iPhone, and this should help lengthen battery life. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Both the iPhone 16E and 16 come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options. Apple boasts that the 16E can get up to 26 hours of video playback and 21 hours of streamed video playback, while the 16 will last for up to 22 hours of video playback and 18 hours of streamed video playback. One of the reasons behind the cheaper iPhone's longer battery life is because it runs on Apple's very first 5G modem, called C1. The company says its C1 modem is the "most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone" and as a result helps increase the phone's battery life. They each support 20-watt wired charging. The iPhone 16E supports 7.5W Qi wireless charging, while the iPhone 16 is capable of 15W Qi2 charging, as well as MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher. Cameras at a glance The iPhone 16E is the only phone Apple sells with a single rear camera. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET You'll find a 48-megapixel wide camera on both the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16, as well as a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the 16. To make up for its lower camera count, the 16E uses sensor cropping to get a 2x magnification for better zoomed-in shots (as does the iPhone 16). Both phones have a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. You can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second on each device. On the iPhone 16, you can shoot 1080p spatial video, but only at 30 frames per second. Apple Intelligence for all The iPhone 16E has the same Apple Intelligence features as the iPhone 16. Apple One of the biggest upgrades to Apple's lower-priced iPhone is the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, which was previously confined to iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 lineup. Now you can spend less and still get access to features like a smarter Siri, writing tools and the Clean Up tool in photos. This move signals Apple's eagerness to get its AI suite into more people's hands, and indicates that AI is now a core component of any iPhone, from the cheapest option to the most premium. Check out the spec chart below for more details on each phone.
CNET
3 days ago
- Health
- CNET
iPhone Battery Draining Fast? Here's 8 iPhone Battery Tips to Make it Last All Day
A brand-new iPhone can easily last all day, but that wanes over time as parts age. But newer software takes its toll too, as the latest iOS 18 software and apps, including Apple Intelligence AI, can drain them quickly. Shooting photos and videos, playing games and watching shows and movies can deplete the battery, too. But before you consider buying a new Apple phone, like the new iPhone 16 or the more affordable iPhone 16E, give these battery hacks a try to make your long-lived iPhone a bit more daytime before needing to recharge it. Some of the causes of battery drain are easy to control, like features turned on by default that can be switched off. Others might require a lifestyle change as you switch up how you use your iPhone throughout the day, breaking habits and going without some minor perks. In all cases, it's helpful to keep a pocketable power bank in your pocket or bag just in case. Here are eight tips for diagnosing and extending your iPhone's battery life. 1. Find what's draining your battery Celso Some apps drain more of your iPhone's battery than others, and it's no surprise that the biggest offenders are those that track location, stream video or generate graphics (games, for example, especially fast-paced online ones). If it makes your phone heat up a bit, it's probably running down your battery faster than casual use. There's a way to specifically check which apps are draining your battery the most. Head to Settings > Battery and scroll down to see which apps are the worst culprits for taking the biggest percentage of your screen time. Also, don't skip the Insights and Suggestions section, as it does all the analysis for you and shows you which apps and settings to change. Note that these are the biggest uses of your battery, but you'll have to parse through them to see which are big battery drainers, like YouTube or TikTok. In my case, Safari takes the biggest chunk of my use, which represents a lot of endless scrolling of sites and forums -- but YouTube is in second. 2. Drop the battery-draining apps Robert Rodriguez/CNET Let's face it -- whether it's Instagram, TikTok or something else, one or two apps are probably draining an outsized chunk of your battery every day. If you want longer battery life, remove the app by long-pressing its icon on the Home Screen and clicking the "x" in the corner. Yes, you could try to limit your use before wiping these apps from your phone. If you believe in your willpower, you could just stick the offending app in a folder to keep it out of sight, out of mind. But if you need some help from your iPhone itself, you can set a time limit for individual apps or whole categories. Go to Settings > Screen Time and tap App Limits. From there tap the Add Limit button to select by entire categories or specific apps. 3: Turn down your screen brightness Patrick Holland/CNET You can save battery by turning down your iPhone screen's brightness. This one's pretty easy: tap-and-drag from the top-right corner to bring up the Control Panel and manually lower the brightness bar. Alternatively, you can find these controls in Settings > Display & Brightness or if you prefer to be verbose, you can ask Siri to reduce the brightness. While you're in the Display & Brightness sub-menu, tap Auto-Lock to set your phone to have a shorter time before locking itself. That way you won't be draining battery if you put your phone down and paying attention to something else. 4: Turn on Low Power Mode Apple's Low Power Mode helps conserve iPhone battery life. Sarah Tew/CNET Whenever you dip below 20% battery, your iPhone will ask if you want to extend your remaining battery life by turning on Low Power Mode. But you can also manually activate it at any time, either by opening up the Control Panel (if a shortcut has been set there) or by going to Settings > Battery and switching it on there. Low Power Mode is a catch-all setting that ekes out more battery life by reducing drain from several active and passive sources. It dials down background activity like downloads and mail fetching, lowers the screen brightness; as well as turns off the Always On Display. 5: If your 5G signal is bad, switch to 4G LTE d3sign / Getty Images While carriers have built out their 5G networks over the years, some phone owners will struggle to get a strong signal in areas with poor coverage -- or in places 5G struggles to reach, like within buildings and underground. Your iPhone burns a lot of battery trying to stay connected, so if you don't have a great connection, it might be best to manually revert to 4G LTE. To do so, head to Settings > Cellular, then tap on Cellular Data Options. If you don't see Cellular Data Options, select the SIM or eSIM that you're currently using. On the next screen, tap Voice & Data and select LTE. You'll only use 4G LTE to connect to mobile networks, which should be more widely available among carriers. You should also be aware that downloading data drains battery, too, so manually restricting that could extend your battery life. To do so, head to Settings > Cellular, then tap on Cellular Data Options. If you don't see Cellular Data Options, tap on the SIM or eSIM that you're currently using. On the next screen, tap Data Mode then tap Low Data Mode, which will pause automatic updates and background tasks. 6: Selectively disable location services Sarah Tew/CNET Tracking your location drains battery, so turning it off when possible is a good idea if you don't need it. Triangulating your position actually takes multiple sensors, so it's not an insignificant amount of battery saved -- your iPhone uses GPS, Bluetooth, and crowdsourced Wi-Fi to narrow down where you are. To see which apps track your location, tap Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and tap through to tweak each individually. But you can also turn off Location Services entirely with the toggle at the top of the screen. It's worth nothing that Location Services are required for Apple's Find My feature, so if you want to track down another object linked to your account, you'll need Location Services turned on. Likewise, you'll need it turned on if you ever lose the iPhone you're using, so make sure to reactivate it later. 7: Turn off Always On Display You can also turn off your lock screen's wallpaper to make the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display black. Patrick Holland/CNET Introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro series in 2023 and only available on the newest Pro and Pro Max models, Always On Display does what it says: It keeps a dimmed version of your lock screen on. This allows you to check the time, on-screen widgets and how many notifications you have without needing to fully unlock your phone. But it also saps your battery by having that low-light version of your display constantly activated. If you can live without having that quick info at a glance, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and turn it off. It may not be a huge power saver, but it's one of the features on the newer iPhone Pro models that seemingly counteracts any battery increase Apple ekes out of the phones. Under the Always On Display settings, you can also disable the Wallpaper and Notifications for a more minimal version that only shows the date and time against a black background. 8: Install a new battery A new battery can go a long way toward making your phone feel like new. iFixit Over years of use, your iPhone's battery will degrade and it simply won't be able to hold as much juice as it could when brand-new. Thankfully Apple has made it easy to check how your battery is doing -- just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and you'll get an easy diagnosis, an estimate of its maximum capacity on a full charge and how many full recharge cycles it's gone through. Now Playing: iPhone 16 Review: All About the Buttons 10:04 Apple generally recommends replacing your battery when it dips below 80% maximum capacity. Keep in mind that it's not just the maximum battery life that might suffer if you don't swap out for a new battery -- the quality might degrade so much that the battery itself could swell and warp enough to damage sensors and internal parts of the iPhone -- which is rare. Apple offers in-store battery replacement for $99 for the newest iPhone 15 models, which drops down to a minimum of $69 for the oldest iPhone SE and iPhone 5 models the company still supports. Third-party phone repair shops may offer their own rates for replacing batteries, and iFixit has a guide if you want to boldly order a new battery and attempt the swap yourself -- just keep in mind that it may violate any AppleCare agreement if you go outside Apple's repair ecosystem.
CNET
7 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Should You Buy the iPhone 16E Now or Wait for the iPhone 17?
Apple's newest phone, the $599 iPhone 16E launched in February and offers a unique appeal: Get some of the iPhone 16's best features (a 48-megapixel camera, iOS 18 and an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence) for $200 less than the $799 iPhone 16. But the iPhone 16E isn't the only phone Apple will release this year. We expect the rumored iPhone 17 to debut in September, rumors are indicating that it might get a new ultra-thin design. The iPhone 16E is basically a scaled-down version of the iPhone 16 that lacks certain features, like MagSafe charging and a second rear camera to help keep the price low. But September is just a few months away, and it could bring several new iPhones with it. Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now So that begs the question: Should you buy an iPhone 16E now or wait four months for the iPhone 17? Unfortunately, the answer isn't black and white -- it depends. Watch this: iPhone 16E Review 07:20 iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: today The iPhone 16E is meant to be a slightly more affordable version of the iPhone 16. Apple/CNET The iPhone 16E has the distinction of being Apple's most affordable phone (before carrier discounts and deals) despite costing $170 more than the company's previous cheap phone, the iPhone SE from 2022. The 16E is aimed at those who want to get the newest cheapest iPhone with all the Apple perks they expect, like a good camera, services like iMessage and FaceTime, and years' worth of software upgrades. The iPhone 16E carries the iPhone SE's old mantle and uses parts of old iPhones to create an affordable one. For example, the 16E's screen and body are similar to the iPhone 14 and it has the same processor that the iPhone 16 has. On paper, the 16E is an upgrade in nearly every way to the last iPhone SE. The iPhone 16E releases at the end of February. But if you want the iPhone 17, you're going to have to wait because it doesn't exist. Apple hasn't announced the iPhone 17, and you can't preorder it yet. The next iPhone is just a bunch of rumors that paint the picture of a mythical newer phone that's better than what's available now. But the chances are high that Apple will release an iPhone 17 in September, just months from now. For me, I haven't encountered a phone that is worth waiting four months for, so I wouldn't wait for the 17. iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: September 2025 The iPhone 17 hasn't been announced yet. In this picture, we used an iPhone 16 Pro and put the number 17 behind it since there aren't any photos from Apple of its unreleased phone. Apple/Viva Tung/CNET What will the iPhone 17 have that the new iPhone 16E doesn't? I have no idea because Apple hasn't announced anything yet. But we can look at some of the many iPhone 17 rumors and postulate why it may or may not be worth waiting four months for. The biggest rumor is that Apple might debut a new iPhone model with an extremely thin design, as reported by The Information. Nicknamed the iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, it would have the usual year-to-year additions, like a new processor and new software, but its main appeal will likely be its new design. Every phone Apple has launched since 2020 has looked similar to the iPhone 12 and had flat sides, except for the iPhone SE. That same iPhone 12 design can seen in the iPhone 16 series including the new iPhone 16E. And while many Apple enthusiasts want an iPhone with a truly new design, there is logic to Apple keeping what works for its large base of iPhone users. The iPhone 17 Air's thin design could have a large 6.6-inch display that slots in-between the 6.1-inch screens on the iPhone 16 and 16 E and the 6.9-inch display on the 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Air is also expected to have Apple's C1 5G modem, the same one that debuted in the iPhone 16E according to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. But even if the iPhone 17 were out today, it's meant for a different person compared with the affordable iPhone 16E. iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: Budget or flagship? The iPhone 16E is the only phone Apple sells that has a single rear camera. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The true complicating factor between deciding between Apple's brand-new cheap iPhone and its next unannounced flagship model is just that: Do you want a budget-version of the iPhone 16? Or do you want one of Apple's more expensive premium models? And if so the real question should be do you want an iPhone 16 or wait for an iPhone 17? Even though the only things we know about the iPhone 17 series are based on rumors, it will likely have a regular base model that starts around $800 and a more premium Pro model that starts at $1,000. Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 has a different value proposition and will likely be aimed at a different user than the iPhone 16E. It's also unclear if Apple will release an affordable version of the iPhone 17 in 2026 -- maybe the 17E? The iPhone SE series got updates every two to three years compared with the annual updates that Apple's flagship line gets. Buy a phone when you need it The iPhone 16E will no doubt be the most affordable way to get an iPhone before carrier discounts and deals. Apple/CNET Ultimately, if your current phone is broken or has a cracked screen and you need to buy a phone now, then do so. Apple's regular iPhone 16 is an amazing option and, if you're looking to buy Apple's cheapest phone, go with the iPhone 16E. If you are due for an upgrade from your carrier, then things get more tricky. Four months is a long time to wait, especially for a phone Apple hasn't even announced or told us about. But if your current phone is working fine, hold onto that upgrade until September and reevaluate your situation then.
CNET
26-05-2025
- CNET
I Tested the $599 iPhone 16E and Was Surprised by All the Features You Don't Get
When I reviewed the iPhone 16E I was charmed by its simplicity and frustrated by its $599 price. The phone is $200 less than the iPhone 16 but $100 more than rivals like the $499 Pixel 9A (and Google's cheap phone comes with two rear cameras). The iPhone 16E has many of the iPhone 16's best features, like an A18 chip, a 48-megapixel main camera, iOS 18, Apple Intelligence and access to Apple services like Facetime, iMessage and Emergency SOS via Satellite. What more could you want, right? Well, as with other affordable phones, compromises were made to get to that lower price. These omissions tell you a lot about what Apple values -- like Apple Intelligence, for example. I've reviewed more budget phones than I can count, and the best ones always offer far more than just their low sticker price. It's a pleasant surprise when a company like Motorola, OnePlus or Google nails the balance of what to keep and what to omit. Let's take a look at the features you don't get on the iPhone 16E. And just because this Apple phone lacks a feature doesn't make it bad… unless it's a feature you want. Watch this: iPhone 16E Review 07:20 MagSafe and Qi2 MagSafe has become a popular aspect of being an iPhone owner, and it's wild that the iPhone 16E doesn't have it. MagSafe debuted in 2020 on the iPhone 12 and uses magnets inside the phone to help it wirelessly charge by ensuring it's in the optimum position. The magnets have an added benefit because they let you attach magnetic accessories to your iPhone, like a wallet or battery pack, as well as secure your phone to mounts, like one in a car. The iPhone 16's MagSafe supports 25-watt wireless charging speeds. But the iPhone 16E only supports 7.5W wireless charging, the original Qi standard -- not even Qi2 speeds of 15W. Ultrawide, macro camera Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The iPhone 16E has something of a rarity in 2025: a single rear camera. But as I've said before, in other stories and reviews, I'd rather have one really good camera than the two or three mediocre ones that can often be found on sub-$300 phones. The 16E's main camera has a 48-megapixel sensor, which has enough resolution for sensor cropping to offer a 2x magnification -- not quite the same as having a second camera, but close. Sensor cropping can't replace having a dedicated ultrawide camera, which on the iPhone 16 doubles as a macro camera, letting you focus on close-up subjects, like for food photos. 3 grams The iPhone 16E weighs 167 grams, making it 3 grams lighter than the 170-gram iPhone 16. Hey, not all omissions are bad. Dynamic Island The iPhone 16E has a screen notch. Apple/CNET The iPhone 16E brings back the screen notch, a cutout at the top of the screen that houses the phone's selfie camera and FaceID technology. But it lacks the Dynamic Island cutout, which is a smaller, oval-shaped hole at the top of the display on the iPhone 16. Apple uses the screen space around the Dynamic Island cutout to show system alerts as well as background tasks, like when music is playing. Obviously the 16E's lack of a Dynamic Island won't prevent it from showing alerts, but it's still missing out on a clever software interface. Qualcomm 5G modem and mmWave The C1 modem is Apple's first in-house 5G modem. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET In its launch video, Apple proudly pointed out that the iPhone 16E has an in-house designed 5G modem called C1. The new Apple modem forgoes the Qualcomm 5G modems used in other iPhone models. Designing its own modem allows Apple to tailor the device for its phones. The new modem helps extend the iPhone 16E's battery life, which Apple says is longer than it is with other iPhone 16 models. But the C1 modem has one wrinkle: It doesn't support 5G mmWave (or ultra-wideband), which is the very fast flavor of 5G that you might experience in parts of some cities or at a stadium for an event. Color options The iPhone 16E comes in black or white. Apple/CNET When the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus launched, one of the best aspects was that they came in colors like ultramarine, teal and pink. The iPhone 16E comes in only black or white. Five GPU cores One of the iPhone 16E's biggest features is that, like the iPhone 16, it has the A18 chip and can run Apple Intelligence. But the chip isn't exactly the same. The iPhone 16's A18 chip has five GPU cores, while the 16E's has only four. So, what does that mean exactly? Well, the good news is that the difference doesn't have a noticeable effect on daily use with the iPhone 16E. But if you're someone who plays graphics-intensive games for hours on end, the iPhone 16 could have a slight edge. Camera Control button Here's the pop-up menu (top right) that appears as you're using the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16. Marc Ganley/CNET Apple's omission of the Camera Control button, which also triggers Visual Intelligence searches, makes sense, since the 16E has only a single camera. Those people who are likely to use a Camera Control button are probably going to get an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro, because those models have more cameras. Apple also smartly enabled the 16E's Action button to start a Visual Intelligence search. Ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi 7 and Thread The iPhone 16E lacks Apple's ultra-wideband chip, meaning you won't be able to use the Precision Tracking feature in Find My for AirTags. The phone supports Wi-Fi 6 but not the newer 6E or 7 standards. Wi-Fi 6 speeds are good, but as more Wi-Fi 7 routers come out, the 16E won't be able to take advantage of faster peak speeds. The 16E also lacks support for Thread radio and won't be able to directly connect to some smart home devices with a built-in Thread border router. Action, Cinematic and Spatial video modes The iPhone 16E's Camera app doesn't have: Action mode for stabilizing video recordings with lots of camera shake Cinematic mode for recording videos with a faux shallow depth of field Spatial mode for recording "3D" videos for the Vision Pro, which needs two cameras Other odds and ends The iPhone 16E has Photographic Styles, but not the newer ones that debuted on the iPhone 16 series. The 16E can take Portrait mode photos, but it lacks the ability to change focus after the fact like on the iPhone 16. The 16E's display is covered with Ceramic Shield, but not the newer, more durable version that's on the iPhone 16. Though this list of omissions is long, that doesn't mean the iPhone 16E is a bad phone. I look forward to getting my hands on one and testing it soon.
CNET
20-05-2025
- CNET
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 15 Pro: What An Extra $160 Gets You
If the iPhone 16 and its $799 price tag is too expensive for you, there are a couple good options that are both cheaper and both have Apple Intelligence: the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro. Both have 6.1-inch displays, but the Pro has a few more perks. The 16E starts at $599 but Apple no longer sells the 15 Pro. However you can snag a used version of the 15 Pro for anywhere between $538 to $684 or get a refurbished one from Apple for $759. This guide will help you understand which one is worth it for you. One of the biggest selling points of the iPhone 16E is that it offers a decent bang for the buck. It is Apple's most affordable iPhone, but it still has many of the same features as the regular iPhone 16, such as the latest A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, which introduces generative emoji, smarter notifications and, eventually, an improved Siri. Yet, it might be worth looking at the company's older iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 Pro. A new iPhone 15 Pro isn't as cheap as the iPhone 16E, but it has much better features, such as a nicer camera, a higher resolution screen, a titanium body and better charging capabilities. But you can potentially get the 15 Pro at a lower price than if you buy it used or refurbished. How do these phones compare? We've outlined a few features for you to find out which one is the best iPhone for you. Watch this: iPhone 16E Review 07:20 The iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro both have 6.1-inch displays, but the Pro has a few more perks. Celso Bulgatti/CNET Display The iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro feature the same 6.1-inch size screen at a similar display resolution, but there are still a few differences. The iPhone 16E runs at a 60Hz refresh rate -- similar to all of the non-Pro iPhone models -- and it can reach a 1,200-nit peak brightness. It also has a similar display notch to the iPhone 14, and does not support the Dynamic Island that serves up contextual information on other iPhone 15 and 16 models. It's functional and should work fine whether you are using the phone indoors or outdoors, but the Pro's screen has several additional perks. The iPhone 15 Pro (right, seen here with the 15 Pro Max), includes the Dynamic Island around its display cutout. James Martin/CNET The iPhone 15 Pro's display can run at a variable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, changing based on what activity you are doing. You can expect to see the smoother 120Hz refresh rate when scrolling through websites, playing games and other applications that benefit from smoother animations. According to Apple, it will hit the lower end of that range to conserve battery life when you aren't using the phone. The display also hits a higher 2,000 nits of peak brightness (outdoors) and includes the Dynamic Island that shows information like the music player or countdowns around the space of the front-facing camera's display cutout. Both the iPhone 16E (seen here) and the iPhone 15 Pro can play more graphically-intense games such as Resident Evil 4 Remake. Celso Bulgatti/CNET Processor The iPhone 15 Pro has the A17 Pro chip, which is a six-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores that makes it great for graphics and gaming. The iPhone 16E, on the other hand, ships with the latest A18 chip, which gives it a touch more power and speed. In practice, the A17 Pro is still a very capable chip that will serve you well for years to come. The A18 chip, however, will likely receive software and new feature updates for a slightly longer period of time. Both processors are capable of running Apple Intelligence and more advanced iPhone games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Death Stranding. The iPhone 16 has a Clean Up tool that can remove unwanted elements from photos. Numi Prasarn/CNET Apple Intelligence One of the iPhone 16E's biggest highlights is that it supports Apple Intelligence, which was previously only available in Apple's high-end offerings like the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 16. Apple Intelligence offers plenty of benefits such as smart writing tools, a Clean Up tool that removes unwanted elements from photos and a potentially smarter Siri on a future update. The iPhone 15 Pro, as mentioned, has had this from the start, so the two are fairly equal in this department. The iPhone 16E has a single 48-megapixel main camera. Celso Bulgatti/CNET Camera The biggest visual difference between the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro is that the latter has three cameras instead of one. The iPhone 15 Pro has a 48-megapixel wide lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It also has a large 48-megapixel sensor that helps immensely in low light. The iPhone 16E, on the other hand, only has a single 48-megapixel rear camera. It has to rely on sensor-cropping for improved zoomed-in shots. Both have 12-megapixel front-facing cameras. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have three cameras on the back. James Martin/CNET Charging Another downside to the iPhone 16E is that it lacks support for MagSafe wireless charging, and is only compatible with Qi charging capped at 7.5W. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, supports 15W MagSafe charging. Not only can it wireless charge at twice the speed, it also supports a whole range of magnetic accessories that the iPhone 16E won't be able to use unless it has a third-party MagSafe-compatible case. Both phones use USB-C for wired charging, with Apple citing that both can recharge their battery to 50% in 30 minutes when connected to a 20W adapter. In CNET's review testing for the iPhone 16E and iPhone 15 Pro, both phones tested slightly better than this. The iPhone 16E recharged from 0% to 59% in 30 minutes, and the 15 Pro recharged from 0% to 62% after being updated to iOS 17.0.3. Both the iPhone 16E and the 15 Pro charge over USB-C. Celso Bulgatti/CNET Pricing (and a note on buying refurbished) Obviously, the iPhone 16E offers the lower price as it retails for just $599. Apple, however, is now officially selling a refurbished version of the 15 Pro for just $759, which is cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16. Sure, that's more expensive than the 16E, but the Pro's extra features might be worth a higher price for you. Additionally, while buying phones in a secondary market has its issues (the phone might not always be in great shape), Apple's official refurbished program has an excellent reputation that is akin to buying the product new. Check out the following chart to see how the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro stack up in other aspects.
