One of many largest promoting factors of Apple’s $599 iPhone 16E is that it affords glorious bang for the buck. It’s Apple’s most inexpensive iPhone, nevertheless it nonetheless has most of the identical options because the $799 iPhone 16, corresponding to the newest A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, which introduces generative emoji, smarter notifications and, finally, an improved Siri.
Watch this: iPhone 16E Overview
But, it may be price wanting on the firm’s older iPhones, such because the iPhone 15 Professional. It won’t be as low-cost because the iPhone 16E, nevertheless it has a lot better options, corresponding to a nicer digital camera and higher charging capabilities. These additional options may be well worth the larger value. Plus, you possibly can probably get it at a cheaper price than the iPhone 16 in the event you purchase it refurbished.
How do these telephones examine? We have outlined a couple of options so that you can discover out which one is the finest iPhone for you.
The iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Professional each have 6.1-inch shows, however the Professional has a couple of extra perks.
Show
The iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Professional function the identical 6.1-inch dimension display screen at an identical show decision, however there are nonetheless a couple of variations. The iPhone 16E runs at a 60Hz refresh fee — much like the entire non-Professional iPhone fashions — and it could actually attain a 1,200-nit peak brightness. It additionally has an identical show notch to the iPhone 14, and doesn’t help the Dynamic Island that serves up contextual data on different iPhone 15 and 16 fashions. It is practical and may work superb whether or not you’re utilizing the telephone indoors or open air, however the Professional’s display screen has a number of further perks.
The iPhone 15 Professional (proper, seen right here with the 15 Professional Max), contains the Dynamic Island round its show cutout.
The iPhone 15 Professional’s show can run at a variable refresh fee between 10Hz and 120Hz, altering based mostly on what exercise you’re doing. You may anticipate to see the smoother 120Hz refresh fee when scrolling by way of web sites, taking part in video games and different functions that profit from smoother animations. Based on Apple, it is going to hit the decrease finish of that vary to preserve battery life if you aren’t utilizing the telephone. The show additionally hits a better 2,000 nits of peak brightness (open air) and contains the Dynamic Island that reveals data just like the music participant or countdowns across the house of the front-facing digital camera’s show cutout.
Each the iPhone 16E (seen right here) and the iPhone 15 Professional can play extra graphically-intense video games corresponding to Resident Evil 4 Remake.
Processor
The iPhone 15 Professional has the A17 Professional chip, which is a six-core CPU with two efficiency and 4 effectivity cores that makes it nice for graphics and gaming. The iPhone 16E, alternatively, ships with the newest A18 chip, which supplies it a contact extra energy and velocity. In apply, the A17 Professional remains to be a really succesful chip that can serve you nicely for years to come back. The A18 chip, nonetheless, will seemingly obtain software program and new function updates for a barely longer time frame. Each processors are able to operating Apple Intelligence and extra superior iPhone video games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Demise Stranding.
The iPhone 16 has a Clear Up device that may take away undesirable parts from pictures.
Apple Intelligence
One of many iPhone 16E’s largest highlights is that it helps Apple Intelligence, which was beforehand solely out there in Apple’s high-end choices just like the iPhone 15 Professional and the iPhone 16. Apple Intelligence affords loads of advantages corresponding to good writing instruments, a Clear Up device that removes undesirable parts from pictures and a probably smarter Siri on a future replace. The iPhone 15 Professional, as talked about, has had this from the beginning, so the 2 are pretty equal on this division.
The iPhone 16E has a single 48-megapixel primary digital camera.
Digital camera
The largest visible distinction between the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Professional is that the latter has three cameras as an alternative of 1. The iPhone 15 Professional has a 48-megapixel large lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It additionally has a big 48-megapixel sensor that helps immensely in low gentle. The iPhone 16E, alternatively, solely has a single 48-megapixel rear digital camera. It has to depend on sensor-cropping for improved zoomed-in pictures. Each have 12-megapixel front-facing cameras.
The iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max have three cameras on the again.
Charging
One other draw back to the iPhone 16E is that it lacks help for MagSafe wi-fi charging, and is barely appropriate with Qi charging capped at 7.5W. The iPhone 15 Professional, alternatively, helps 15W MagSafe charging. Not solely can it wi-fi cost at twice the velocity, it additionally helps a complete vary of magnetic equipment that the iPhone 16E will not be capable to use except it has a third-party MagSafe-compatible case.
Each telephones use USB-C for wired charging, with Apple citing that each can recharge their battery to 50% in half-hour when linked to a 20W adapter. In CNET’s overview testing for the iPhone 16E and iPhone 15 Professional, each telephones examined barely higher than this. The iPhone 16E recharged from 0% to 59% in half-hour, and the 15 Professional recharged from 0% to 62% after being up to date to iOS 17.0.3.
Each the iPhone 16E and the 15 Professional cost over USB-C.
Pricing (and a word on shopping for refurbished)
Clearly, the iPhone 16E affords the cheaper price because it retails for simply $599. Apple, nonetheless, is now formally promoting a refurbished model of the 15 Professional for simply $759, which is cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16. Certain, that is costlier than the 16E, however the Professional’s additional options may be price a better value for you. Moreover, whereas shopping for telephones in a secondary market has its points (the telephone won’t at all times be in nice form), Apple’s official refurbished program has a wonderful status that’s akin to purchasing the product new.
Try the next chart to see how the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Professional stack up in different facets.
Apple iPhone 16E vs. Apple iPhone 15 Professional
Apple iPhone 16E | Apple iPhone 15 Professional | |
---|---|---|
Show dimension, decision | 6.1-inch OLED show; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh fee | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 120Hz adaptive |
Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
Dimensions (inches) | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in. | 5.77 x 2.78 x 0.32 in |
Dimensions (millimeters) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm |
Weight (ounces, grams) | 167g (5.88 oz.) | 187g (6.6 oz) |
Cell software program | iOS 18 | iOS 17 |
Digital camera | 48-megapixel (large) | 48-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (3x telephoto) |
Entrance-facing digital camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
Video seize | 4K | 4K |
Processor | Apple A18 | A17 Professional |
RAM/Storage | RAM unknown + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Expandable storage | None | None |
Battery/Charger | As much as 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wi-fi charging | Undisclosed; Apple claims as much as 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed) |
Fingerprint sensor | None, Face ID | None (Face ID) |
Connector | USB-C | USB-C (USB 3.0) |
Headphone jack | None | None |
Particular options | Motion button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Protect, Emergency SOS, satellite tv for pc connectivity, IP68 resistance | 5G (mmw/Sub6), Motion Button, All the time-On show, IP68 ranking, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x optical zoom (120mm equal), satellite tv for pc connectivity, eSIM, Thread networking know-how |
Value off-contract (USD) | $599 (128GB) | $999 (128GB, $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) |
Value (GBP) | £599 (128GB) | £999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB), £1,499 (1TB) |
Value (AUD) | AU$999 (128GB) | AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$2,049 (256GB), AU$2,399 (512GB), AU$2,749 (1TB) |