Technologies

iPhone 16E vs. iPhone SE (2022): Comparing Apple’s New and Old Budget Phones

A higher price tag also brings new features and capabilities. Here’s how the phones stack up.

Apple’s latest budget phone, the iPhone 16E is finally out, three years after the launch of the third-generation iPhone SE. That’s a relatively long time for mobile developments to evolve — and for the sticker price to rise alongside those improvements.

The 2022 iPhone SE had a $429 starting price, and the iPhone 16E starts at a notably higher $599. Apple has removed the older, cheaper iPhone SE from its store, so you’ll have to buy it secondhand or head to a third-party seller before the phone is out of stock. The iPhone 16E is available now, and you can check out a list of the best deals here.

So, what improvements will you find on the iPhone 16E, and how does it compare with its predecessor? Here’s everything you need to know.

Display and build

While the 2022 iPhone SE had a 4.7-inch LCD display, the iPhone 16E levels things up with a 6.1-inch OLED display (still with a 60Hz refresh rate, though; sorry). With the 16E, you still won’t get some features found on Apple’s pricier flagship phones like Dynamic Island or a Camera Control button, but you will get an Action button.

Perhaps the biggest design change is that, with the switch to a full front screen, Apple has scrapped the home button on the iPhone 16E, opting instead for Face ID to match the rest of its current phones. The 16E has also been upgraded to a USB-C port, spelling the end for Lightning. Neither phone has a headphone jack.

Both the iPhone SE and iPhone 16E have aluminum frames, with the larger size of the 16E giving it a bit more weight: 167 grams, versus the SE’s 144g. The iPhone SE has an IP67 rating for water resistance, while the 16E bumps that to an IP68 rating.

The iPhone SE comes in black, white and Product RED. The iPhone 16E comes in black and white.

Camera comparison

The iPhone SE and iPhone 16E each have one rear camera: a 12-megapixel wide camera on the SE and a 48-megapixel wide on the 16E. The 16E also upgrades the front-facing camera from 7 megapixels to 12 megapixels.

Both phones shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second.

Battery and charging

Apple has been touting improved battery on the iPhone 16E, which the company says can support up to 26 hours of video playback, versus 15 hours on the iPhone SE. That longer battery life is largely due to the iPhone 16E packing Apple’s first-ever 5G modem, called the C1. The company calls it the «most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone.»

Both phones support 20-watt wired charging and 7.5-watt wireless charging.

Processor, Apple Intelligence and storage

The 2022 iPhone runs on the A15 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 16E is powered by the A18 chip — just like the $799 iPhone 16. That means Apple’s latest lower-priced phone can also support Apple Intelligence, just like the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro models. It also supports Emergency SOS and satellite connectivity, so you can message emergency services and your loved ones, even when you don’t have a cellular connection.

While the iPhone SE comes with 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of storage, the iPhone 16E offers a larger 512GB storage option, as well as 128GB and 256GB options. Neither phone has expandable storage.

Check out the spec chart below for more details on each phone.

iPhone 16E vs. iPhone SE (2022)

	Apple iPhone 16E	Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate	4.7-inch LCD; (1,334×750 pixels); 60Hz
Pixel density	460ppi	326ppi
Dimensions (inches)	5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in.	5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in.
Dimensions (millimeters)	146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm	138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	167g (5.88 oz.)	5.09 oz.; 144g
Mobile software	iOS 18	iOS 15
Camera	48-megapixel (wide)	12-megapixel (wide)
Front-facing camera	12-megapixel	7-megapixel
Video capture	4K at 60fps	4K
Processor	A18	Apple A15 Bionic
RAM/storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Expandable storage	No	No
Battery	Up to 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging	Battery NA (20W wired charging — charger not included), 7.5W wireless charging
Fingerprint sensor	No, Face ID	Home button
Connector	USB-C	Lightning
Headphone jack	No	None
Special features	Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, IP68 resistance	5G-enabled; supports 25W wired fast charging; Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging
US price starts at	$599 (128GB), $699 (256GB), $899 (512GB)	$429 (64GB), $479 (128GB), $579 (256GB)
UK price starts at	£599 (128GB), £699 (256GB), £899 (512GB)	£419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB)
Australian price starts at	AU$999 (128GB), AU$1,199 (256GB), AU$1,549 (512GB)	AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB)

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Rideable Horse Robot Viral Video: The Real Story Behind It

Kawasaki’s Corleo robot horse is just a concept right now, but a thrilling hype video makes it look like a blast to ride.

If you’ve ever watched a video featuring a Boston Dynamics Spot robot dog and wanted to saddle it up and ride it, then Kawasaki has a concept robot that’ll make your heart flutter — and it’s part horse, part leopard, part robot and all wild. Too bad you can’t actually buy one.

The Kawasaki Corleo is a four-legged rideable robot, the answer to the question: «What if we put legs on an all-terrain vehicle instead of wheels?» Kawasaki released a video showing what the concept would look like if it were fully realized.

The trippy video features the Corleo and riders galloping through a forest, running across a field, leaping over rocky terrain and trotting across a snowy landscape. The video appears to be primarily computer generated with Lord of the Rings-worthy scenery.

Kawasaki is known for its motorcycles and ATVs, but the international company has its hands in everything from railcars to industrial equipment and robotics.

Kawasaki unveiled the forward-thinking Corleo for the Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan. It’s a 2050 concept model for a future mode of transportation. The expo’s theme is «designing future society for our lives.» The event officially opens on April 13.

Corleo incorporates some nifty design ideas, including independent legs, a hydrogen engine and steering through weight shifting.

«While preserving the joy of riding, the vehicle continually monitors the rider’s movements to achieve a reassuring sense of unity between human and machine,» Kawasaki said.

Kawasaki didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on its plans for Corleo.

For now, Corleo is just a model capable of limited movement, so your sci-fi dreams of riding across rugged mountains on a kick-butt robo-steed will have to be put on hold. Perhaps 2050 will bring us a world full of leggy, rideable robots. Somehow, that feels more achievable than a bunch of flying cars.