You're not alone in that. I did the same thing and then re-read it.
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iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16e Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared
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Sticky Post it twice if the topic is an Apple product with "Mini" in the name
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But the 15 and 15 Plus don’t have Macro photography.
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 now sit at the bottom of Apple's iPhone lineup at $599 and $699, respectively. While the 16e shares many important features with the iPhone 15, there are still 30 significant differences between the devices to be aware of–not least Apple Intelligence support.
There is a merely $100 price difference between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16e. To justify this, the iPhone 16e misses out on features such as the Dynamic Island and MagSafe connectivity. However, there are some areas where the 16e is actively better than the 15, such as the Action button, chip, and battery life. Here's everything that's different:
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus (2023) iPhone 16e (2025) Dynamic Island "Notch" 6.1- or 6.7-inch display 6.1-inch display 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) 800 nits max brightness (typical) 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor) Color-infused glass back Glass back Available in Black, Pink, Yellow, Blue, and Green Available in White and Black Ring/Silent switch Action button 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera 0.5x, 1x, or 2x optical zoom options 1x or 2x optical zoom options Sensor-shift optical image stabilization Optical image stabilization Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control Portrait mode with Depth Control Macro photography Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps) Action mode Wind noise reduction Audio Mix Stereo recording Spatial Audio and stereo recording A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU A18 chip with 4-core GPU Apple Intelligence support Visual intelligence Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem Apple C1 modem Thread connectivity Ultra Wideband chip for Precision Finding 20- or 26-hour battery life 26-hour battery life MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W with 20W adapter or higher Compatible with MagSafe cases, wallets, wireless chargers, and more Starts at $699 and $799 Starts at $599
Choosing between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16e is not a wholly straightforward decision. While the iPhone 15 is $100 more expensive than the iPhone 16e, it misses out on the Action button, Wind noise reduction, Audio Mix, Spatial Audio recording, the A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, Visual intelligence, the C1 modem, and six additional hours of battery life.
Instead, the $100 jump is seemingly justified by the Dynamic Island, brighter display, Ultra Wide camera, sensor-shift image stabilization, next-generation portraits, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, Action mode, Thread and Ultra Wideband connectivity, MagSafe, and color options–which may not be important to some customers.
The iPhone 15's lack of Apple Intelligence support is a major omission and it is difficult to recommend a device that is more expensive, less powerful, and less future proof. The iPhone 16e is a better long-term investment since it is likely to support future Apple Intelligence features, offering a better long-term experience and more desirability in the second-hand market. Its markedly better battery life is also worth noting when it comes to the long-term view of using the device. The iPhone 16e is almost a year and a half newer than the iPhone 15.
If the large display of the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus is essential, then it is likely still worth opting for this option over the iPhone 16e. Likewise, if an Ultra Wide camera or MagSafe are absolutely essential, the iPhone 15 is the only way to go. Otherwise, most customers should save the $100 and buy the iPhone 16e.
Article Link: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16e Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared
For consumers who were anticipating the iPhone 16e (formerly the iPhone SE), I recommend considering the iPhone 15 Pro Max instead.
While the 15 Pro Max is slightly larger, it offers significantly more in terms of performance and features. Its processor is exceptionally powerful, handling everything I’ve thrown at it with ease. The percentage improvements Apple advertises in chip performance are often imperceptible to the average user unless engaging in high-performance tasks like gaming. With current carrier deals, you can secure a feature-rich, future-proof device for only a bit more than a comparable 256GB iPhone 16e.
Last November, after growing tired of waiting for the fourth-generation SE, I found an unbeatable deal on the 15 Pro Max and haven’t regretted it for a moment. For context, my previous phone was a second-generation iPhone SE.
If you can justify the slightly higher cost and it meets your needs, the 15 Pro Max is well worth considering.
Sometimes, the best savings come from waiting and shopping recent models as an alternative—newer isn’t always better.
While the 15 Pro Max is slightly larger, it offers significantly more in terms of performance and features. Its processor is exceptionally powerful, handling everything I’ve thrown at it with ease. The percentage improvements Apple advertises in chip performance are often imperceptible to the average user unless engaging in high-performance tasks like gaming. With current carrier deals, you can secure a feature-rich, future-proof device for only a bit more than a comparable 256GB iPhone 16e.
Last November, after growing tired of waiting for the fourth-generation SE, I found an unbeatable deal on the 15 Pro Max and haven’t regretted it for a moment. For context, my previous phone was a second-generation iPhone SE.
If you can justify the slightly higher cost and it meets your needs, the 15 Pro Max is well worth considering.
Sometimes, the best savings come from waiting and shopping recent models as an alternative—newer isn’t always better.
I have no experience with that model and cannot provide insight.
Additionally, the deal I found priced the 15 Pro Max lower than the 15 Pro.
One could say that I got the Max for the minimum. Wasn't that TJ Maxx's old ad tagline? Yes, I'm that old.
Which you won't find for 600. If you do it'll be beat up or have poor battery life. Plus it's much heavier and bigger.
One shouldn't bother and just buy a 15 Pro, you're absolutely correct
In Natural Titanium, Amazon also has the 1TB 15 Pro for $710
The iPhone 15 Pro Max base model and my previous 2nd-generation iPhone SE both had 256GB of storage, so keeping the same capacity was important to me. After discounts, my 15 Pro Max cost $755.
The new iPhone 16e (256GB) is priced at $699. And while you might anticipate issues with condition or battery life, my 15 Pro Max was brand new, and the deal was excellent.
For a small additional cost, I opted for a larger screen and greater capabilities, and I’m completely satisfied with my decision.
Probably should update the table to include the RAM difference between the 15 (6 GB) and the 16e (8 GB), the kind of thing that last year made the 15 persona non grata in this forum and others.
You're probably in the minority on this
Better cameras and "my battery life isn't what it used to be" seem to be the most consistent reasons folks replace their iPhones
if I didn’t need the ability to find the Apple TV remote lost in the couch cushions on a daily basis, I’d get the 16e all day every day. I can’t believe they left out the UWB chip!
perhaps, in my case better pay 599 than 1099 again
"Different priorities" would be a better way to phrase it
Strange can work, but most people associate a bit of a negative connotation with that term being used in such a context
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