Share Apple launched iPhone 16e yesterday which is again a sleek and feature-packed addition to the iPhone 16 series. But obviously it made a strategic shift and instead of SE 4, the company out of nowhere launched a new addition to the iPhone 16 family.
To recall, Apple launched iPhone 16 last year in September including iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Here’s my detailed comparison of the iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 3 and an analysis of whether would it be really fine to compare both phones. Anyway, I did it!
One of the most essential things that captured anybody’s attention who is an iPhone lover is how vast the price difference is between iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 3. The iPhone SE 3 debuted at a price of $429 (Rs 43,900 in India), that offered an excellent value for money as compared to the iPhone 16e at $599 (Rs 59900 in India for the base variant of 128GB). The most expensive variant in iPhone 16e goes up to $899 that is Rs 89900 in India for the 512GB.
The iPhone SE 3 (2022) was much more a budget friendly option, providing great deal of features and enhancements at a much lower price. However in contrast the iPhone 16e lies at the higher price segment making it less affordable option and closer in the flagship iPhone models like iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.
As someone who has seen the evolution of iPhones, the difference between the models is quite evident, not just in display, but also in design. I won’t deny the fact that iPhone 16e offers much more advanced display and witness a noticeable leap from the 4.7-inch LCD found in the SE 3. The latest launched iPhone 16e boasts a 6.1-inch OLED screen, which again shattered the image of the compact SE 3. However, we don’t just see the upgrade in the display size but also in the quality and hence the iPhone 16e is equipped with the 1200 nits of HDR content, whereas, the SE 3 maxes out at 625 nits.
We also witness the substantial shift and improvement in the resolution with 16e delivering 2532 x 1170 pixels and SE 3 comes with 1134 x 750 resolution. Talking about the physical dimensions, I would surely say that I am not happy with the size of the iPhone 16e as it is noticeably bigger and measuring 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches as compared to the compact size of the SE 3 which is 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches.
Here comes one of the most essential part of the iPhone 16e is the processor and software in which the Apple has truly gone all in. The iPhone 16e is powered by the flagship A18 Po chipset, the same powerhouse that drives the energy of iPhone 16 series. The tech giant has not just added a chipset, but obviously an absolute beast- a second-gen 3nm mobile processor which has all the capability of handling multitasking with ease.
One of the other notable upgrade in the iPhone 16e from the SE 3 is the RAM. Apple has doubled the 4GB found in the SE 3 and gave 8GB to the latest launched iPhone 16e. This enhancement allows the 16e to perform at a level of efficiency that the SE simply can’t match. Talking about the storage, the iPhone 16e comes with 128GB and can goes up to 512GB as compared to SE 3 coming with 64GB and going up to 256GB.
It’s also surprising to see that iPhone 16e is fully supporting Apple Intelligence features including Visual Intelligence. To recall, Apple introduced the new camera control button with the iPhone 16 series that is helpful in receiving information about whatever subject the camera is focused on. Incredibly, this feature is available in iPhone 16e via the Action Button.
Looking at the timeline, obviously iPhone 16e is much better option for future proofing than the iPhone SE, while the later is still a solid device, but is a midway in its lifecycle and that leads to receiving fewer updates. I have seen this with previous iPhone models and it happens with every flagship smartphone that’s getting old. So I wouldn’t expect SE 3 to keep up the pace with the future software advancements. As someone who’s followed Apple’s pattern of updates closely, it’s clear that older models tend to get phased out more quickly.
With the support of Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16e will remain relevant in terms of receiving latest updates. It wouldn’t be left behind as the Apple ecosystem continues to evolve. For me, it’s about knowing that the 16e will stay up-to-date with all of Apple’s innovations, making it a far more future-proof choice.
Now the comparison reached where the iPhone SE 3 wouldn’t be able to match the iPhone 16e and that is the camera. One of the major disappointment that I had with the SE 3 was that it was equipped with the single 12MP main camera. While the smartphone still takes solid photos, but it still lacks the versatility, especially for people like me who are always on the look for complete camera experience.
However that’s still same with the iPhone 16e, but with the significant upgrade and features a 48MP Fusion camera and the company market it as the 2-in-1 system that will allow you to take 2x zoom image with optical image stabilization. It’s not quite like having two separate cameras, but the improvement is noticeable. The downside here is that you still don’t get an ultrawide lens, which would have been a nice touch for more expansive shots.
iPhone 16e really shines in terms of front camera as compared to iPhone SE 3. iPhone 16e comes with 12MP front selfie camera which is a huge step from the 7MP selfie camera on the SE 3. If you are someone who takes a lot of selfies and participate in video calls, then this is one of the major upgrade that will prove to be a game-changer.
As a long-time iPhone user, I have been witness to some of the most intriguing features released by Apple but this time I am towards more disappointing side. No doubt the iPhone 16e can prove to be a fantastic device, but one thing which grabbed my attention is the omission of MagSafe. Now, I know, this might seem a little thing to point out, but someone who has been using the Magsafe since its introduction with the iPhone 12, I can’t help but feel that the absence here is a big missing thing. Yes, the iPhone 16e does have a USB-C port, and it can charge wirelessly with any Qi charger, but that’s just not the same as the seamless, quick-charging experience that MagSafe provides.
I honestly don’t understand why Apple decided to miss the Mgasafe in iPhone 16e when it was one of the major signature features that sets apart Apple devices from Android phones. And yes, we shouldn’t be forgetting the charging that Magsafe deliver that too when Apple bumped up the charging speed to 25W last year. For those who’ve never used MagSafe, it might not seem like a deal-breaker, but for someone like me who’s come to rely on it for both convenience and speed, it’s a real letdown.
It seems unfair to compare iPhone 16e with iPhone SE 3 , as the later is outdated with several features missing. But it is even quite difficult to put the latest iPhone 16e in to the new cheap category. Truth be told, we still need to wait few more months to test the full capacity of the iPhone 16e and then only we will be able to make the right decision. Till then, take a step back or do a rethinking if you are planning to buy iPhone 16e!
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Author Name | Deepti Ratnam
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