Introduction
Apple has launched many great iPhones. Two of them are the iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation. Both are affordable iPhones. iPhone 16e is the latest model. They offer good features at a lower price. But which one is better? In this post, we will compare the the Latest 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation. Let’s look at the key differences between these phones.
Design

The design of both phones is simple. The iPhone 16e has a modern look. It is thin and light. The iPhone SE 3rd Generation is also compact. It has a small body that fits in your hand. The iPhone SE looks like older iPhones where 16e is closer to the upcoming iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models . iPhone SE 3rd Gen has a home button on the front. The 16e does not have a home button.
The 16e feels more modern. It is a bit bigger than the SE. Both phones are easy to carry. You can easily hold them in one hand.
Feature |
iPhone 16e |
iPhone SE 3rd Generation |
Dimensions |
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm |
138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
Weight |
164 grams |
144 grams |
Material |
Aluminum and Glass |
Aluminum and Glass |
Front Glass |
1st Gen Ceramic Shield |
Ion-strengthened glass |
Rear Design |
Dual camera setup, centered lens |
Single camera, centered lens |
Colors Available |
Black, White, Blue, Red, Green |
Black, White, (Product)Red |
Water and Dust Resistance |
IP68 (Water-resistant up to 6 meters) |
IP67 (Water-resistant up to 1 meter) |
Display Notch |
Notch (Full-screen design) |
No notch (Small bezels) |
Home Button |
No home button (Face ID) |
Yes, with Touch ID |
Edge Design |
Rounded edges, thinner design |
Rounded edges, compact form |
Buttons and Ports |
Action button, Volume buttons, side power button, Lightning Type-C port |
Volume buttons, side power button, Lightning port |
Key Differences:
- The 16e is larger, thinner, and heavier than the iPhone SE.
- The 16e has a more modern design with no home button, featuring Face ID.
- The iPhone SE keeps the classic home button with Touch ID.
- The 16e has IP68 water and dust resistance, better than the iPhone SE with IP67.
Display

When it comes to displays, both phones are good. The iPhone 16e has a nice Super Retina XDR screen. It has bright colors. The screen is big enough for most users. Watching videos and playing games is fun on it. However, the iPhone SE 3rd Generation has a smaller screen. It has a 4.7-inch display. It may feel a bit small for some people. But, if you like smaller phones, it is perfect.
Both phones offer decent screen resolution. The 16e has a better screen-to-body ratio. This means it uses more space for the screen and less for the edges.
Feature |
iPhone 16e |
iPhone SE 3rd Generation |
Display Size |
6.1 inches |
4.7 inches |
Display Type |
Super Retina XDR OLED |
Retina HD (IPS LCD) |
Resolution |
1170 x 2532 pixels |
1334 x 750 pixels |
Pixel Density |
460 ppi |
326 ppi |
Aspect Ratio |
19.5:9 |
16:9 |
Screen-to-Body Ratio |
85% |
65.4% |
Brightness |
800 nits (typical) |
625 nits |
HDR Support |
HDR10, Dolby Vision |
No HDR support |
True Tone |
Yes |
Yes |
Wide Color (P3) |
Yes |
Yes |
Glass Protection |
Ceramic Shield |
Ion-strengthened glass |
Key Differences:
- The iPhone 16e has a bigger and higher-quality OLED display.
- The iPhone SE 3rd Gen has a smaller Retina HD display but is still good for everyday use.
- The 16e has a better screen-to-body ratio and a higher resolution.
- 16e supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for richer colors and better contrast.
Camera

The iPhone 16e has a good camera. It has a 12 MP rear camera. The photos are clear in good light. At night, the pictures may not be perfect. But they are still good. The iPhone SE 3rd Generation also has a 12 MP camera. The pictures are nice too. It works well in daylight. The SE camera performs well in low light too.
Both phones offer a similar camera experience. But the iPhone SE has some extra features like portrait mode. The 16e, on the other hand, has a newer software that helps with better picture quality in different lighting conditions.
Feature |
iPhone 16e |
iPhone SE 3rd Generation |
Rear Camera |
2 in 1, 48 MP Fusion Camera |
12 MP (Wide) |
Camera Aperture |
f/1.6 (Wide) |
f/1.8 (Wide) |
Optical Zoom |
1x & 2x Optical Zoom, Digital Zoom up to 10x |
1x |
Night Mode |
Yes |
Yes |
Deep Fusion |
Yes |
Yes |
Smart HDR |
Smart HDR 4 |
Smart HDR 4 |
Portrait Mode |
Yes, with advanced bokeh and Depth Control |
Yes, with Depth Control |
Front Camera |
12 MP TrueDepth camera |
7 MP FaceTime HD camera |
Front Camera Features |
Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR |
Portrait Mode, Smart HDR |
Video Recording |
4K at 24, 30, or 60 fps, HDR video |
4K at 24, 30, or 60 fps |
Stabilization |
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) |
Digital Image Stabilization |
ProRAW/ProRes |
Yes |
No |
Key Differences:
- The iPhone 16e has a 2 in 1, 48MP Fusion camera setup while the iPhone SE has a single 12 MP Wide camera.
- The 16e has optical zoom and better low-light performance with its Ultra-Wide camera.
- The 16e supports ProRAW and ProRes video, which is missing in the iPhone SE.
- The 16e has a higher-quality 12 MP front camera with more advanced features.
- Both phones support Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and Smart HDR for enhanced photography
Performance

The iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation have good performance. The iPhone SE 3rd Generation uses the A15 Bionic chip. This is the same chip used in the iPhone 13. It’s fast and powerful. You can play games and run apps smoothly.
The 16e, on the other hand, has a slightly slower chip. It runs on the A18 Bionic chip. It is still a fast chip and performs well for most tasks. But the A15 chip in the SE 3rd Gen makes it a bit faster and better for gaming and heavy apps.
Feature |
iPhone 16e |
iPhone SE 3rd Generation |
Chipset |
A18 Bionic |
A15 Bionic |
CPU |
6-core (2 performance, 4 efficiency) |
6-core (2 performance, 4 efficiency) |
GPU |
4-core |
4-core |
Neural Engine |
16-core Neural Engine |
16-core Neural Engine |
RAM |
8 GB |
4 GB |
Storage Options |
128 GB, 256 GB, 256GB |
64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
Operating System |
iOS 18 |
iOS 16 (upgradable to IOS 18) |
Performance |
Faster with a more recent chip |
Optimal |
Gaming Performance |
Better for heavy gaming |
Good for casual gaming |
Battery Efficiency |
More efficient than older models |
Efficient, thanks to A15 chip |
Benchmark Scores |
Higher compared to A18 chip |
Lower due to the old A15 chip |
Key Differences:
- The iPhone 16e has the newer A18 Bionic chip, which is faster and more power-efficient than the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone SE 3.
- The 16e performs better in heavy tasks, including gaming.
- The 16e has a newer chip and provides faster performance overall
Battery Life
Both phones have good battery life. The iPhone 16e lasts through a full day of use. It can handle regular tasks like browsing and texting. The iPhone SE 3rd Generation also lasts all day. However, it may run out of power a little faster than the 16e. If you use the phone a lot, you may need to charge it halfway through the day. Overall, the battery life of both phones is good. But the 16e might last a bit longer with normal use.
Feature |
iPhone 16e |
iPhone SE 3rd Generation |
Battery Capacity |
3,700 mAh |
2,815 mAh |
Battery Life (Video Playback) |
Up to 26 hours |
Up to 15 hours |
Fast Charging |
50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter |
50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter |
Wireless Charging |
7.5W |
7.5W |
Charging Port |
Type-C |
Lightning |
Battery Life (Audio Playback) |
Up to 90 hours |
Up to 50 hours |
Standby Time |
Up to 10 days |
Up to 20 hours |
Key Differences:.
- The iPhone 16e lasts a lot longer with video playback and audio playback.
- 16e supports latest wireless charging, which is faster than the Qi wireless charging of the iPhone SE.
- Both phones support fast charging, with a 50% charge in 30 minutes using a 20W adapter.
Software

Both phones run on iOS. This means they get regular software updates. They are easy to use. iOS is known for being simple and smooth. The 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation both support the latest iOS features. They work well with apps from the App Store. Both phones are also secure. They offer privacy features to keep your data safe.
Because both phones run on iOS, they share many of the same features. They also get updates for several years. This ensures that the phones stay up to date with the latest software.
Price
Price is an important factor for many people. The iPhone 16e is more affordable than the iPhone SE 3rd Generation. The 16e offers good value for its price. It is a great option for people on a budget. The 16e is more expensive but offers better performance. It is better if you need a faster phone.
Both phones offer great value for money. The choice depends on your budget and what you need from the phone.
Storage
The 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation both offer different storage options. The iPhone SE 3rd Generation has storage options starting from 64 GB. It can go up to 256 GB. The 16e has similar storage options. However, it starts at a higher price for higher storage. The 16e also does not have expandable storage, so you will need to pick the right storage when buying. Both phones offer good storage options.
Conclusion
The iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation are both great phones. They offer good performance and features at an affordable price. The iPhone 16e is a better choice if you want a more modern design. It is also more affordable. On the other hand, the 16e has a more powerful chip and offers better performance. If you want the fastest iPhone on a budget, the 16e Generation is the better option.
Both phones are great for different reasons. Your choice will depend on your needs and budget. If you want a more affordable phone, the 16e is perfect. If you need a faster phone with better performance, the 16e Generation is the way to go.
FAQs
What is the price difference between the iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 3rd Generation?
The 16e is expensive than the iPhone SE 3rd Generation.
Which iPhone has better camera quality?
Both phones have good cameras. The iPhone 16e has some extra features.
Which phone has better performance?
The 16e is faster with the A18 Bionic chip.
Does the 16e have the latest features?
Yes, the 16e has the latest iOS features and has the latest action button.
Which phone has a bigger screen?
The 16e has a bigger screen than the iPhone SE 3rd Generation.
Is the iPhone 16e better for gaming?
The 16e is better for gaming due to the A18 chip.
How long does the battery last on both phones?
Both phones last a full day. The iPhone 16e lasts a bit longer.