Apple's latest phone, the $599 iPhone 16e, will be released on Friday, February 28 as the company's usual September release schedule breaks. Actually, you can book 16e right away. The new iPhone offers a unique appeal: Get some of the best features of the iPhone 16 (48-megapixel camera, Apple smart chips for iOS 18 and A18), $200 less than the $799 iPhone 16. This makes the iPhone 16e basically zoomed – a version of the iPhone 16 that lacks certain features, such as MagSafe charging and a second rear camera to keep the price low.
But the iPhone 16e is not the only phone Apple has released this year. We expect the iPhone 17 to be launched in September. Rumors suggest it may get a new ultra-thin design. This raises the question: Should you buy the iPhone 16e now or wait for six months to buy the iPhone 17?
Unfortunately, the answer is: it depends.
Watch the following: iPhone 16e is here
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 17: Today
The iPhone 16e was originally the cheaper version of the iPhone 16.
The difference between the iPhone 16e is that despite being $170 more than the company’s previous cheap phone (the iPhone SE in 2022), it’s Apple’s most affordable phone (before carrier discounts and deals). The 16e's goal is for those who want to get the latest and cheapest iPhones with all the Apple privileges they expect, such as a great camera, services like iMessage and FaceTime, and years of value for software upgrades.
The iPhone 16e carries the old mantle of the iPhone SE and uses part of the old iPhone to create an affordable price. For example, the 16e's screen and body are similar to the iPhone 14 and have the same processor as the iPhone 16. On the surface, the 16E is almost an upgrade to the previous iPhone SE. The iPhone 16e was released at the end of February. However, if you want the iPhone 17, you have to wait because it doesn't exist.
Apple has not announced the iPhone 17 yet, and you cannot pre-order it yet. The next iPhone is just a bunch of rumors that draw a picture of a fabulous new phone that is better than what is available now. However, Apple will release the iPhone 17 in half a year from now in September. For me, I haven't come across a call worth a six-month wait, so I'm not going to wait 17.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 17: September 2025
The iPhone 17 has not been announced yet. In this photo, we used the iPhone 16 Pro and put the number 17 behind it because there are no photos of Apple's unreleased phones.
The new iPhone 16e for iPhone 17 won't? I don't know, because Apple hasn't announced anything yet.
But we can look at some of the many iPhone 17 rumors and assume why it might be worth it or not to wait for six months. The biggest rumor is that Apple may play new iPhone models with extremely thin designs, as reported by the information. Nicknamed the iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, it will have the usual annual additions such as new processors and new software, but its main appeal may be its new design.
Every phone released by Apple looks similar to the iPhone 12 since 2020, with Apple's side flat except for the iPhone SE. The same iPhone 12 design can be seen in the iPhone 16 series, including the new iPhone 16e. While many Apple enthusiasts want an iPhone with a truly new design, Apple can still provide jobs for its large iPhone users.
The thin design of the iPhone 17 Air may have a large 6.6-inch display, between the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 16 and 16 E and between the 6.9-inch display on the 16 Pro Max. According to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have Apple's C1 5G modem, which debuted in the iPhone 16e.
But even if the iPhone 17 is out today, it works for an affordable iPhone 16e.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 17: Budget or flagship?
The iPhone 16E is the only phone Apple has to have a single rear camera.
The real complex factor in determining between Apple’s new cheap iPhone and its next unnotified flagship model is: Do you want to have a budget exchange for the iPhone 16? Or do you want one of Apple's most expensive premium models? If so, then the real question should be whether you want an iPhone 16 or wait for an iPhone 17?
While the only thing we know about the iPhone 17 series is based on rumors, it may have a regular base model that starts at about $800, while the better Pro model starts at $1,000. Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 has different value propositions and may target users who are different from the iPhone 16E.
It's unclear whether Apple will release an affordable version of the iPhone 17 in 2026 – maybe the 17E? Compared to the annual updates received by Apple's flagship lineup, the iPhone SE series is updated every two to three years.
Buy a phone number when needed
There is no doubt that the iPhone 16e will be the most affordable way to get an iPhone before carrier discounts and transactions.
Ultimately, if your current phone is broken or the screen is broken and you need to buy the phone right away, do it. Apple's regular iPhone 16 is an amazing choice, and although we haven't tested the iPhone 16e yet, on paper, it's a stable budget phone for most people.
If you are upgrading your carrier, things can get even more tricky. The six-month wait is long, especially for phones, which Apple didn't even announce or tell us. However, if your current phone is working properly, keep upgrading until September and then reevaluate your situation.
Apple iPhone 16e Specs vs. iPhone 16, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 15
| Apple iPhone 16e | iPhone 16 | iPhone SE (2022) | iPhone 15 | |
| Display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED display; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 4.7-inch LCD; 1,334×750 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460ppi | 460ppi | 326ppi | 460ppi |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 5.78×2.82×0.31 | 5.81×2.82×0.31 | 5.45×2.65×0.29 | 2.82×5.81×0.31 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 146.7×71.5×7.8 | 147.6×71.6×7.8 | 138.4×67.3×7.3 | 71.6×147.6×7.8 |
| weight | 167g (5.88 oz) | 170g (6 oz) | 144g (5.09oz) | 171G (6.02oz) |
| Mobile software | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 15 | iOS 17 |
| camera | 48 megapixels (width) | 48 megapixels (width), 12 megapixels (speeding) | 12 megapixels (width) | 48 megapixels (width), 12 megapixels (speeding) |
| Front camera | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels | 7 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Video Capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| processor | Apple A18 | Apple A18 | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A16 Bionic |
| RAM/Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Scalable storage | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing |
| Battery | Up to 26 hours of video playback, 21 hours of streaming video playback, and 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W QI wireless charging | Up to 22 hours of video playback; up to 18 hours of video playback (stream). 20W wired charging. Magsafe wireless charging up to 25W with adapters of 30W or higher; QI2 up to 15W | Battery size not disclosed (excluding charger; wireless charging is supported) | Not disclosed; Apple says up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours of streaming) |
| Fingerprint sensor | No (face ID) | No (face ID) | Home button | No (face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | lightning | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing |
| Special features | Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Smart, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, Satellite Connection, IP68 Resistor | Apple Smart, Action Buttons, Camera Control Buttons, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 column display brightness range, IP68 resistor. Color: black, white, pink, blue, super master. | 5G enabled; supports 25W wired fast charging; waterproof (IP67); dual SIMS functions (nano SIM and E-SIM); wireless charging | Dynamic Island; 5G (MMW/sub6); magsafe; waterproof (IP68); wireless charging; Esim; satellite connectivity |
| US prices from | $599 (128GB), $699 (256GB), $899 (512GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) |
| UK prices from | £599 (128GB), £699 (256GB), £899 (512GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) |
| Australian prices from | AU $999 (128GB), AU $1,199 (256GB), AU $1,549 (512GB) | AU $1,399 (128GB), AU $1,599 (256GB), AU $1,949 (512GB) | AU $749 (64GB), AU $829 (128GB), AU $999 (256GB) | AU $1,499 (128GB), AU $1,699 (256GB), AU $2,049 (512GB) |
