iPhone 16e
Xiaomi 15
🏆 Verdict
Xiaomi 15 is the better pick overall by 29.2 points, leading in Charging, Display and Camera. The gap is large; iPhone 16e only makes sense for a lower price or one specific feature.
iPhone 16e offers more for the money ($599 vs $1,079 at launch).
By category
Performance
Xiaomi 15 is faster with the Snapdragon 8 Elite (performance index 100 vs 82). You notice it in heavy games and video editing, less in daily use. Xiaomi 15 has more RAM (16 GB vs 8 GB), which helps multitasking.
Camera
Xiaomi 15'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 Xiaomi 15 has an optical 2.6× telephoto; the other relies on digital zoom. Only Xiaomi 15 has an ultrawide lens. Xiaomi 15 has the higher-resolution selfie camera (32 MP vs 12 MP).
Battery
Xiaomi 15's battery is 1,235 mAh larger (5,240 vs 4,005 mAh), about 31% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
Xiaomi 15 charges faster over cable (90W vs 20W). Wireless charging is faster on Xiaomi 15 (50W vs 7.5W).
Display
Xiaomi 15 has the larger screen (6.36" vs 6.1"). Xiaomi 15's display is smoother at 120Hz vs 60Hz. Xiaomi 15's screen gets brighter (3,200 vs 1,200 nits), which shows outdoors.
Build & durability
iPhone 16e is 24 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 | Xiaomi 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple A18 | Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| 8 GB | RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB | Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| 6.1" OLED | Display | 6.36" LTPO AMOLED |
| 60 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 2532×1170 (457 ppi) | Resolution | 2670×1200 (460 ppi) |
| 1,200 nits | Peak brightness | 3,200 nits |
| 48 MP | Main camera | 50 MP |
| None | Ultrawide | 50 MP |
| None | Telephoto | 50 MP · 2.6× |
| 12 MP | Front camera | 32 MP |
| 4,005 mAh | Battery | 5,240 mAh |
| 20 W | Wired charging | 90 W |
| 7.5 W | Wireless charging | 50 W |
| IP68 | Water & dust rating | IP68 |
| aluminium | Frame | aluminium |
| 167 g | Weight | 191 g |
| 6 years | OS updates (estimated) | 3 years |
| $599 | Launch price | EUR 999 (≈ $1,079) |
| 2025-02 | Released | 2024-10 |
iPhone 16e
Pros
- Light at 167 g
- 6 years of updates
- Lower price ($599)
Cons
- Slower chip
- No optical telephoto
- No ultrawide lens
- Smaller battery
Xiaomi 15
Pros
- Faster chip (Snapdragon 8 Elite)
- 16 GB RAM
- 2.6× optical zoom
- 5,240 mAh battery
- 90W charging
Cons
- Heavier (191 g)
- Shorter update window
- Pricier ($1,079)
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.