As the owner of the pride of an iPhone 15 for almost two years, I had no problem with the handset since purchasing me. It runs perfectly for my needs – music, youtube, texting and Targetless dumcrolling Social media – and originally integrated with my other apple devices.
In addition to its pro -siblings and a handful of Android contestants, the iPhone 15 topped the line when I bought it. I was just paid, so I dropped AU $ 1,499 ($ 799 / £ 799) to buy it to replace my broken iPhone 12 mini.
(This is a purchase that I crawl after experiencing the price on the proposal from the best phone, but I digest …)
The iPhone 16 marked a larger upgradation compared to general thanks to apple intelligence on its anterior – even though its launch is less than smooth, is still upgraded to the air with several parts of the promised Siri upgrade.
Nevertheless, iPhone 15 is an excellent smartphone in 2025, which is why it caught my eye when I found it for AU $ 1,077 in Australia, where I am based (which converts to $ 692 / £ 519). There are similar seductive deals abroad, as in America, where it is just $ 100 while switching on T-Mobiles.
However, in February, Apple threw a curball at the iPhone 15, when he introduced another option for Cupertino Lylists, who was looking to save on the upgrade, when he launched the iPhone 16E for $ 599 / £ 599 / AU $ 999.
Like the iPhone 5C and Three iPhone SE models, this new ‘budget’ Apple handset has given small concessions to keep the price low, while still allows buyers to actually buy a new iPhone that can use the latest iOS features. The iPhone 16E is of course more seductive than its se forebears, as it gives the apple intelligence power to handle.
This creates an interesting puzzle – if I need a new phone and do not want to go to the iPhone 16, which device is a better option: iPhone 15, or iPhone 16E?
Techradar has an entire iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 15 comparative article based on this question and concludes that, for most people, it is worth spending a little extra and going to the old iPhone 15.
But after spending a week with the iPhone 16E, I disagree.
Better battery, baby
For many smartphone buyers, camera quality is important – but for me, battery life is far more important and the iPhone 16e dominates the iPhone 15 in this category.
While the Apple does not disclose the accurate battery capacity, third-party reporting suggests that the iPhone 16E has a 3,961mAh battery compared to the iPhone 15’s 3,349mAh.
This is not just such a large size that lasts 16E for a long time. C1 cellular chip of iPhone 16E – which is exclusive to the device – performs more efficient power process, resulting in much better stamina.
With this, it was very noticeable in my time. Di, the capacity of my iPhone 15 battery is reduced by 91% these days, but I limit charging overnight to stop at 85%. As a result, after listening, watching, scrolling and texting, my iPhone 15 often sits at less than 30% till 9:30 pm.
This is 3:30 pm because I write it, and over the same battery settings and normal screen-on time, the iPhone 16e that I am currently using is sitting at 44%.
My experience completely supports Apple’s claims, with the brand that the iPhone 16e provides a 26 -hour video playback – 15% better than the iPhone 16 hours and 23% increase on iPhone 15 than 22 hours.
Apple Intelligence is already very smart, really
We are still waiting for AI Siri – and Apple may have to exchange Siri for the option of another default voice assistant party – I wondered how much I enjoyed Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16E, IPHONE 15 is lacking.
Visual intelligence is helpful, so that you can search quickly or ask chat about anything. And the clean up feature is useful for removing photo bombers or objects from any image, such as Samsung -similar object was found on the latest Galaxy device as remover tools.
And, when I rarely used them, I (mostly) appreciated the creative AI-related messages answers and smart fencing suggestions. Highlighting your written text opens an array of AI-operated options by clicking on Apple Intelligence logo (or ‘writing tools’). In any app it can write your lesson for more favorable, professional or abbreviated sound.
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In addition, and especially when writing the notes, helpful, the text has the ability to form a major points, a list or a table. You also have the option to make lessons with chat.
However, I think my favorite thing about Apple Intelligence is my ability to make my own emoji. Called Genmojis, it lets you turn on anything – like my own face and other regularly in my camera roll, or a highland cow is surrounded by flowers – in an emoji or sticker.
As someone is someone who uses emotional to a great extent, I am now a genmoji-making dynamo. While the AI equipment and characteristics of the iPhone 16 family are away from revolutionary, they are both fun and generally useful. This is a small but significant advantage for the iPhone 16E on the iPhone 15.
bring the action
I think the final small feature puts 16e above 15, the action button. This, like Apple Intelligence, is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone 16 series.
This easy small button replaces muted/silent switch from old iphones. There is nothing revolutionary here: all of this is that silent mode, focus, camera, visual intelligence, torch and Instagram such as any other apps offer shortcuts for commonly used features.
Personally, I did not find myself by using any of those preset options, and instead set the action button to control my do not disturb mode.
This is such a small difference – after all, unlocking the device, bringing control center and activating the focus is hardly a laborious task. However, this is a small quality life change that I have appreciated well-lets me turn it directly without looking at my phone.
Winner
The iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 15 competition is not a knockout by new models in any way. There are two main reasons that the older iPhone may be better options for some people: performance and camera.
The iPhone 16E has only one single 48MP fusion camera, while the iPhone 15 has a 48MP main camera with 12MP ultravide lens which is equally useful for grand nature shots and is trying to fit the whole family into a photo. Even more importantly, 16E’s single lens means that you cannot take silly photos of your friends or dog with 0.5x zoom.
The 15 also has a (small) lead at 16E in terms of performance, as back to the noted display of iPhone 14 instead of Dynamic Island found on subsequent appliances. Personally, I have no objection, but for some users it may be the reason for spending a little more for the iPhone 15. The latter performance is bright and (slightly) high REs – 1179 x 2556 16E’s 1170 x 2532 and 1,200 NITs with a maximum glow of 2,000 NITs.
Magsafe charging is also missing from the iPhone 16E. It was rumored that it was to make space for the C1 chip, but since then it has been denied by Apple. McWorld16e can still charge wirelessly, but it lacks magnets.
I did not need magsfe until I recently bought a magnetic power bank – which is now useless with the iPhone 16E. And users who have a magnetic car mount will probably miss this functionality.
The iPhone 15 still has a place, then, and it is a wonderful purchase if you can get it close to the same price as the iPhone 16E.
It is still more expensive than its new brother -in -law, though – and until you In fact A telephoto lens requires, I think the iPhone 16E is the budget iPhone.
