Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 16e Will you be upgrading from iPhone 16e to 17?
- Thread starter 42545
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Typically my primary iPhone each year is the latest Pro Max model. The large size with its beautiful display suits my needs and preferences. Weight isn't a deal breaker no matter what material it's made from. Because I'm out and about for long periods, it gets a lot of use for a wide variety of tasks, even though I also carry a MacBook Air.
That said I bought an iPhone 16e for use as a backup. Two factors influenced this purchase, first I was drawn to its minimal size, its basic functionality and single camera. Second as a long time Apple customer I was looking for a new experience.
Compared to my iPhone 16 Pro Max, it is quite a striking experience. I am impressed at how good it is if we limit our evaluation to using the phone, instead of obsessing over the specs. I rate this model highly.
The only "issue" even though it wasn't a deal breaker for me is the price. Easily $100 USD too much for what you get. Yet that's Apple, they're the masters at premium pricing. Carrying so much influence, supported by clever marketing, they've built an empire by milking our wallets.
That said I bought an iPhone 16e for use as a backup. Two factors influenced this purchase, first I was drawn to its minimal size, its basic functionality and single camera. Second as a long time Apple customer I was looking for a new experience.
Compared to my iPhone 16 Pro Max, it is quite a striking experience. I am impressed at how good it is if we limit our evaluation to using the phone, instead of obsessing over the specs. I rate this model highly.
The only "issue" even though it wasn't a deal breaker for me is the price. Easily $100 USD too much for what you get. Yet that's Apple, they're the masters at premium pricing. Carrying so much influence, supported by clever marketing, they've built an empire by milking our wallets.
No because I bought the 16e for what if offers. If I wanted a 17 personally I would not have bought one 3 months ago.
From a 16e to Air you only will get a slightly bigger display. That would be the worst choice of the 3
I just thought the upgrade to better cameras, better sound, and a bigger, brighter screen would be nice. The 16e is more than adequate in most respects. I'm not considering the Air model. Regular or pro. It seems like an unnecessary expense, I'm not sure. I live in Türkiye and it is more than twice as expensive here.
Who's still proudly sitting on their 16e?
I've tried out the 17 Pro and there's a lot to like there, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. Don't need the extra features often, so it it worth an extra $600 for the rare times I need them? To each their own. And I keep coming back to the simplicity of the 16e. I think iOS 26 made it feel a bit faster as well with the faster animations (making the 60hz not quite as much of an issue if you're someone who notices it).
Looking forward to some battery comparisons to the 17 line when they start coming out as well.
I've tried out the 17 Pro and there's a lot to like there, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. Don't need the extra features often, so it it worth an extra $600 for the rare times I need them? To each their own. And I keep coming back to the simplicity of the 16e. I think iOS 26 made it feel a bit faster as well with the faster animations (making the 60hz not quite as much of an issue if you're someone who notices it).
Looking forward to some battery comparisons to the 17 line when they start coming out as well.
While it's natural to "compare" various models, it's also important to evaluate and appreciate each individual model for its strengths.
With a plethora of top of the line, flagship smartphones in my collection, I also appreciate entry level models. An example is the iPhone 16e I purchased a few months ago specifically for the fun of having a small easily pocketed phone.
I'm here to say that I'm very impressed and happy with this phone. It’s far better than I anticipated. Activated on my secondary line, when I don't feel like carrying my iPhone 16 Pro Max this 16e is an ideal phone. I will be keeping it for the long haul.
My iPhone 16e gets incredibly long battery life. It outperforms my iPhone 16 Pro Max in real life usage.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in statistics, Apple and others comparison charts etc. However what matters to me is how the phone fits into my heavy usage patterns.
While my iPhone 16 Pro Max is essential for my work flow, my 16e is a fun alternative.
The 16e’s 4000 mAh battery while still being fairly light and compact is what made me choose it for my mom over the 15 and 16. She’ll never use that ultrawide camera but battery life is something she can appreciate particularly a couple of years down the line when batteries start noticeably degrading.
It didn’t hurt that it was only $216 ($6 x 36mo) on contract without trade-in. The 15 was the exact same price on contract at the time.
After thinking about it for a while and after someone insulted me in another thread, I gave up on it. It really is. The 16e is great. It's more than adequate. After the iOS 18.7 update, I sometimes go longer than two days without charging it.
17, 17 pro are very nice but not worth the expense of switching.
17, 17 pro are very nice but not worth the expense of switching.