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.
| iPhone 16e | iPhone 14 Pro | |
| Weight | 5.88 ounces | 7.27 ounces |
| Chip | A18 | A16 Bionic |
| Button | Action button | Ring/Silent switch |
| Apple Intelligence | ✅ | ❌ |
| Battery | 26 hours video | 23 hours video |
| Charging | USB-C port | Lightning port |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB |
| MagSafe | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ultra Wideband | ❌ | ✅ |
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 16e | iPhone 14 Pro | |
| Size | 6.1 inch | 6.1 inch and 6.7 inch |
| Tech | Super Retina XDR (OLED) | Super Retina XDR (OLED) |
| Cutout | Notch | Dynamic Island |
| ProMotion | ❌ | ✅ |
| Always-On | ❌ | ✅ |
| Brightness | 800 nits typical, 1200 HDR | 1000 nits typical, 1600 HDR, 2000 outdoor |
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.
| iPhone 16e | iPhone 14 Pro | |
| Main Camera | 48MP Fusion ƒ/1.6 aperture | 48MP ƒ/1.78 aperture |
| More Rear Cameras | ❌ | Ultra Wide and Telephoto |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| LiDAR Scanner | ❌ | ✅ |
| Photos | Smart HDR 5 | Smart HDR 4, Night mode portraits |
| Video | Audio Mix and wind noise reduction | Cinematic mode, Action mode, Macro video |
| ProRAW | ❌ | ✅ |
| Flash | True Tone | Adaptive True Tone |
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.
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