Apple’s new iPhone 16e pitches itself as an iPhone 16, but with some small losses to achieve a lower $599 entry price.But depending on what model you’re upgrading from, some of those losses might seem significant.Here’s a full iPhone 16e vs iPhone 14 Pro comparison that aims to answer the question: is the 16e an upgrade or downgrade? General specs overview I’ll start out by listing out some general iPhone specs to compare the two models, then do a deep dive into two main areas of difference: displays and cameras.
As you can see, the iPhone 16e mostly wins this battle—with some exceptions.Perhaps most importantly, iPhone 16e has the chip and RAM requirements necessary to support Apple Intelligence features.It’s also lighter weight, has an Action button, gets better battery life, and has a USB-C port.
The only real negatives: it’s lacking the MagSafe support and Ultra Wideband chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro.Display This is one area where the winner is clear, with no asterisks or qualifications: it’s iPhone 14 Pro.iPhone 14 Pro beats or matches the iPhone 16e in every single relevant display category.
The trifecta of the Dynamic Island, 120Hz ProMotion, and Always-On could be especially hard to give up for anyone moving from a 14 Pro to the 16e.Screen brightness is in the 14 Pro’s favor too.Cameras Cameras offer another area where the iPhone 14 Pro largely beats the iPhone 16e.
Beyond simply offering a more robust three-camera system versus the 16e’s single camera, there are several other features you give up when moving from the 14 Pro.The only real 16e advantages are: lower aperture on the main camera, which should help produce better low-light photos and the new Audio Mix and wind noise reduction features for video iPhone 16e vs 14 Pro: Mixed bag If you’re an iPhone 14 Pro user considering buying the iPhone 16e, my recommendation is to buy a different model instead.You can get an iPhone 15 Pro refurbished for close to the same price as a new 16e.
That would enable Apple Intelligence support without giving up so many of the advantages of your current Pro model.It all comes down to what you care about most.If the iPhone 16e has the features you care about, it’s a solid option.
But if you can afford to jump up into an iPhone 16, 16 Pro, or a refurbished 15 Pro instead, that might be a better move.Do you plan to upgrade from an iPhone 14 Pro to iPhone 16e? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessories Anker 100W charging brick for fast charging MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone AirPods Pro 2 (now only $199, down from $249) 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack HomeKit smart plug 4-pack You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.
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