Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 16e Is it an "upgrade" from an iPhone 15 to 16e?

jpsmith76

jpsmith76

macrumors regular
Original poster
So I was just checking and I am eligible to "upgrade" my company supplied phone.

I currently have an iPhone 15 and the only model they are currently offering is the iPhone 16e.

I did some quick comparisons, and I think I am better off keeping the 15. Looks like I would lose a camera and the Dynamic Island, but gain Apple Intelligence.

But, since this is a restricted company phone, they have disabled most Apple Intelligence features through MDM.

I think I am better off just keeping the iPhone 15......anyone have any opinions?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tsepz and FreakinEurekan
The 16e will have the newer A18 chip with 8gb of RAM & Apple Intelligence vs the A16 with 6gb or RAM on the 15. You probably won’t notice a huge difference there.

Also the 16e will have better battery life, even more so if your 15 battery health is degraded.

The downsides will be as you mentioned. Back to the dated notch with no Dynamic Island and you’ll be more limited in the camera department with the lack of the ultra wide camera, that depends if you use that camera much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ClaraStahlbaum
Personally, the biggest drawback to the 16e is the lack of magsafe magnet, no really for the charging but just for the accessories, e.g. I use a magnetic holder in the car. For the 16e I have to then make sure I get a case with magsafe.

I still don’t get why Apple omitted the magsafe magnet.

Anyway, all this to say you might as well keep your 15 I guess? 🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: Channan and 1rottenapple
This would be a sideways move with likely no noticeable impact to you other than the loss of a camera. I wouldn’t bother. This coming from the guy with a 15Pro looking to go e or Air next upgrade (still years away), just to put my advice in context.
 
  • Like
Reactions: svendobbelaere and rui no onna
svendobbelaere said:
Personally, the biggest drawback to the 16e is the lack of magsafe magnet, no really for the charging but just for the accessories, e.g. I use a magnetic holder in the car. For the 16e I have to then make sure I get a case with magsafe.

I still don’t get why Apple omitted the magsafe magnet.

Anyway, all this to say you might as well keep your 15 I guess? 🙂
Click to expand...
I agree I love MagSafe. I don't have a car mount or home mount but I use it for my MagSafe slim wallet. I don't think I want a phone without MagSafe. I don't have a case on my iPhone and it's actually nice to slap the wallet on certain points for extra grip. but not all the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: svendobbelaere
I've been using the 16e for a year now. No downsides for me whatsoever, other than the stupid notch at the top. Seriously, the notch is the worst part of this phone.
 
jpsmith76 said:
So I was just checking and I am eligible to "upgrade" my company supplied phone.

I currently have an iPhone 15 and the only model they are currently offering is the iPhone 16e.

I did some quick comparisons, and I think I am better off keeping the 15. Looks like I would lose a camera and the Dynamic Island, but gain Apple Intelligence.

But, since this is a restricted company phone, they have disabled most Apple Intelligence features through MDM.

I think I am better off just keeping the iPhone 15......anyone have any opinions?
Click to expand...
Yeah given that it’s a company phone I would stick with the 15 and maybe see if they bring on the 17e later this year which should be worthwhile.
No point in losing a Camera if you cannot even use Apple Intelligence that you gain in the 16e which is the main reason for its upgraded RAM.

What would be a great upgrade is the battery life, as the 16e has a much larger 4000mAh battery.

With the above being said, I would recommend holding out until the 17e lands.
 
svendobbelaere said:
Personally, the biggest drawback to the 16e is the lack of magsafe magnet, no really for the charging but just for the accessories, e.g. I use a magnetic holder in the car. For the 16e I have to then make sure I get a case with magsafe.

I still don’t get why Apple omitted the magsafe magnet.

Anyway, all this to say you might as well keep your 15 I guess? 🙂
Click to expand...
Agreed. I feel like Apple can’t be saving that much money by excluding MagSafe, and it’s the number one thing I wish it had. I’d honestly take MagSafe over Dynamic Island, AOD, and ProMotion.
 
Channan said:
Apple can’t be saving that much money by excluding MagSafe
Click to expand...
They can because the 16e is really an iPhone 13. If they had kept the good battery life and kept Magsafe they wouldn't have been able to re-use iPhone 13 parts and reusing parts from older iPhones is how Apple keeps costs down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: leifp
okkibs said:
They can because the 16e is really an iPhone 13. If they had kept the good battery life and kept Magsafe they wouldn't have been able to re-use iPhone 13 parts and reusing parts from older iPhones is how Apple keeps costs down.
Click to expand...

Of course not. The iPhone 16e is completely different internally. The iPhone 13 opens from the front. You open the 16e from the back.

Everything from the battery to the camera sensor is different.
 
JPack said:
Of course not. The iPhone 16e is completely different internally. The iPhone 13 opens from the front. You open the 16e from the back.

Everything from the battery to the camera sensor is different.
Click to expand...
Oh man, now you’re going to make me check! Or I would, if I cared enough. Can you believe the internet isn’t a reliable source of knowledge?!
 
That’s not correct, parts are still used from the iPhone 13, the display is the same part (hence the 16e being the only iPhone in the current lineup that still uses the old notch) and the housing is thus the same, with Apple choosing to remove MagSafe in order to make space for the redesigned internals. Of course the internals are new, otherwise with the missing MagSafe and second camera lens it would be worse than an iPhone 13 if it didn’t have the modernized internals. I am not saying it’s literally the iPhone 13, if you read my comment like that you are clearly arguing in bad faith.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: geta and HouseLannister
Stick with what you have. The "e" has worse wifi/bluetooth, no magsafe, one less camera, etc. You are not missing much with Apple Intelligence and can always just use the Gemini app, which does more. At least wait until they offer you a 17e and see if that gets any substantial upgrades.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back