iPhone 16e
Phone (3)
🏆 Verdict
Phone (3) is the better pick overall by 25.5 points, leading in Display, Camera and Charging. The gap is large; iPhone 16e only makes sense for a lower price or one specific feature.
Phone (3) offers more for the money ($799 vs $599 at launch).
By category
Performance
Phone (3) is faster with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (performance index 86 vs 82). You notice it in heavy games and video editing, less in daily use. Phone (3) has more RAM (16 GB vs 8 GB), which helps multitasking.
Camera
Phone (3)'s main camera is 50 MP vs 48 MP. More pixels help cropping and digital zoom, but final quality depends on sensor size and processing. Only Phone (3) has an optical 3× telephoto; the other relies on digital zoom. Only Phone (3) has an ultrawide lens. Phone (3) has the higher-resolution selfie camera (50 MP vs 12 MP).
Battery
Phone (3)'s battery is 1,145 mAh larger (5,150 vs 4,005 mAh), about 29% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
Phone (3) charges faster over cable (65W vs 20W).
Display
Phone (3) has the larger screen (6.67" vs 6.1"). Phone (3)'s display is smoother at 120Hz vs 60Hz. Phone (3)'s screen gets brighter (4,500 vs 1,200 nits), which shows outdoors.
Build & durability
iPhone 16e is 51 g lighter.
Updates
iPhone 16e should get OS updates for longer (6 vs 3 years, per the maker's policy at launch).
Specifications
| iPhone 16e | Phone (3) | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple A18 | Chipset | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 |
| 8 GB | RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB | Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| 6.1" OLED | Display | 6.67" LTPO AMOLED |
| 60 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 2532×1170 (457 ppi) | Resolution | 2800×1260 (460 ppi) |
| 1,200 nits | Peak brightness | 4,500 nits |
| 48 MP | Main camera | 50 MP |
| None | Ultrawide | 50 MP |
| None | Telephoto | 50 MP · 3× |
| 12 MP | Front camera | 50 MP |
| 4,005 mAh | Battery | 5,150 mAh |
| 20 W | Wired charging | 65 W |
| 7.5 W | Wireless charging | 15 W |
| IP68 | Water & dust rating | IP68 |
| aluminium | Frame | aluminium |
| 167 g | Weight | 218 g |
| 6 years | OS updates (estimated) | 3 years |
| $599 | Launch price | $799 |
| 2025-02 | Released | 2025-07 |
iPhone 16e
Pros
- Light at 167 g
- 6 years of updates
- Lower price ($599)
Cons
- No optical telephoto
- No ultrawide lens
- Smaller battery
- Slower charging (20W)
Phone (3)
Pros
- 16 GB RAM
- 3× optical zoom
- 5,150 mAh battery
- 65W charging
- 120Hz display
Cons
- Heavier (218 g)
- Shorter update window
- Pricier ($799)
How is the score calculated?
Each phone gets 0–100 points in seven categories (performance, camera, battery, charging, display, build, updates), computed only from its published specs, then combined with fixed, published weights. A gap under 2.5 points counts as a tie. The performance index is an estimate based on benchmark results published at launch.
Figures come from the manufacturers’ official pages. Some specs vary by market. We do not sell devices or earn commissions.