In a surprising twist, Apple has expanded the iPhone 16 range months after launch with the new iPhone 16e. Unlike the iPhone SE it replaced, the iPhone 16e is a part of the “iPhone 16 family,” according to Tim Cook. That means you have a staggering five different iPhone 16 models to choose from: iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and they range from $599 unlocked to $1,199.
If you're planning to upgrade and aren't sure which model is right for you, don't worry, I'm here to help. I’ll break down the differences and similarities of each model in this guide so you can make a more informed choice about your next iPhone.
Updated February 2025: We've added details about the iPhone 16e and updated the carrier deals.
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Should You Upgrade?
Ah, the age-old question. Should you get the new iPhone? Our philosophy here at WIRED is that you should only upgrade if you need to. Is your current phone operating perfectly fine? If the experience is OK for the most part but maybe your battery life has deteriorated, try doing a battery swap first—Apple offers a battery replacement program for a modest fee—and this could breathe new life into your device. There are also more ways to repair an iPhone than ever before.
But if your current phone is frustrating to use, upgrade! Like the iPhone 15 range, the entire iPhone 16 lineup has a USB-C port. These devices can also take advantage of Apple Intelligence (alongside the iPhone 15 Pro)—if that's something you care about.
If you've decided to do it, read our guide on how to sell your iPhone. Make sure you back up your iPhone first, and factory-reset it to erase your data from the device. We also have tips on how to set up your new iPhone to get the most out of your new handset.
Which iPhone 16 Model Is Right for You?
The iPhone 16 range includes the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are identical except for screen size and battery life. The same is true for both Pro models. Between those two pairs, the decision comes down to whether you want a small or big phone.
How does the iPhone 16e compare? It's the same size as the iPhone 16, but since it's the cheapest, Apple has cut a few features to hit that $599 price. The design is notably different—there's no color-infused glass back here. It's powered by the A18 chip, but it lacks one GPU core for a total of four as opposed to the five-core GPU on the standard iPhone 16. That means a slight hit to graphics performance, impacting games and other demanding tasks. Unlike the rest of the range, this iPhone does not have the Dynamic Island floating selfie camera system but instead uses the notch camera design like on the original iPhone X.
The bigger iPhones tend to have the best battery life. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus handily gave me hours of extra run time over their smaller siblings. You can take the bigger phones into the morning of a second day on a single charge, even with heavy use. If battery life is your top priority, choose between the largest models.
However, the iPhone 16e beats the iPhone 16 in battery run time despite being the same size. This is because it's the first time Apple is using its own modem—the C1 chip—which the company claims is more efficient, thereby saving battery life. Apple says the iPhone 16e can last up to 21 hours of streamed video playback, whereas the iPhone 16 hit 18 hours. In my tests, the iPhone 16e easily outlasted the iPhone 16—I hit 9 hours of screen-on time and had 15 percent left by bedtime on one particularly intensive day. That's fantastic.
All of these iPhones have the Action button, which replaces the Mute switch and is now configurable, so you can replicate the Mute switch functionality or execute another action, like turning on a flashlight or triggering a shortcut. All of them except for the iPhone 16e sport the new Camera Control button. You can use it to open the camera and take a photo, but a light press shows different camera modes, and you can slide your finger left or right across the button's surface to cycle through various modes, zoom levels, and more.
You can use this button to trigger Visual Intelligence, Apple's version of Google Lens—point your iPhone at something in the real world to get more information about it. iPhone 16e users can still access this feature through the Action Button or Control Center, and that capability will also be rolling out to the iPhone 15 Pro in the coming weeks.
Every iPhone 16 model can now take advantage of a cool video feature called Audio Mix. This lets you change how your videos sound when you're editing them by choosing a sound profile. These include In-Frame, which focuses the audio on whoever is in the frame; Studio, which makes it sound like you were in a studio, cutting all background noise; and Cinematic, which makes sure whoever is at the center of the frame comes in clear, with a little bit of ambient noise mixed in. This feature performs slightly better on the iPhone 16 Pro models, since they have upgraded microphones.
The redesigned Photographic Styles are also available in the entire range except the iPhone 16e. These are almost like filters but better—instead of changing the look of the whole image, these Styles can maintain skin tones so they don't look weird and can adjust other parts of the photo like shadows and highlights. They're among the standout features, so play around with them! Apple is also giving you more control over how your skin tone looks, instead of going for more of a one-size-fits-all approach like Google does with its Pixel phones.
Apple Intelligence is the headline feature, and the only way to try out the new artificial intelligence capabilities is to use a phone that supports it: the iPhone 16 range, the iPhone 15 Pro, or the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I covered these features in broader detail in our iOS 18 guide and evaluated many of the features here. To summarize, it includes a revamped Siri experience, real-time audio transcription in Voice Notes and Notes (even call recording), and writing assistance features like proofreading and changing the tone of your messages. You can create custom emojis through Genmoji, generate images via Image Playground, and tap into ChatGPT via Siri.
The basics are otherwise the same across the board. They sport an IP68 water-resistance rating and have OLED screens that can hit a peak brightness of 2,000 nits in outdoor sunny conditions, though the iPhone 16e is restricted to 1,200 nits. Apple's new twice-as-strong Ceramic Shield glass on the front is available on all of them except the iPhone 16e, which uses an older version of Ceramic Shield (glass is still glass, so get a case).
Once again, all but the iPhone 16e feature MagSafe wireless charging, which supports the Qi2 standard for wider compatibility with accessories; Apple is selling a new MagSafe Wireless Charger that can juice up these phones even faster, and it finally has a longer cable. The iPhone 16e has basic Qi wireless charging, which is slower and less energy-efficient, but since there are no built-in magnets, you cannot enjoy the wealth of MagSafe accessories unless you use a MagSafe case.
Here's a quick breakdown of how they differ:
Just because there are new iPhones doesn't mean you have to buy one of these models. Apple is still selling the iPhone 15 for $699 and the iPhone 15 Plus for $799, and there are some potential reasons to buy them over the iPhone 16e. But I strongly suggest you look at websites that sell used phones, such as Swappa, Gazelle, or Backmarket. You can probably snag a relatively recent model at a lower price and in good condition.
How to Get the iPhone 16 Unlocked
I recommend you buy your iPhone 16 unlocked. This lets you easily switch carriers—when you buy from a carrier like AT&T, the device is locked to that network, and the unlocking process can be a hassle. Apple says the iPhones available at its store are unlocked, but there are two exceptions. If you buy an iPhone on an AT&T installment plan directly from Apple, it will stay locked for the duration of the installment plan. And if you buy an iPhone through Boost Mobile's financing, it will be locked to Boost for the first 60 days after activation.
Keep in mind that there are no more physical SIM card slots in iPhones. The company pivoted to eSIM technology a few years ago, so you can transfer your eSIM between iPhones. You will likely need to contact your carrier if you are going from Android to iPhone (or vice versa).
Don't forget to take advantage of Apple's promotions: You get three free months of Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade. It'll auto-bill you after the trial, so set a reminder to cancel if you don't want to continue subscribing to these services.
If you buy the carrier version, you’ll automatically get a $30 discount off the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, bringing the prices down to $799 and $899.
Deals on Network-Locked iPhone 16s
Here are a few promotions from carriers and retailers carrying the iPhone 16 range. These are network-locked. Many of these “deals” come in the form of monthly bill credits on your phone plan—if it says “$800” off an iPhone when you open a new line, you'll see your monthly bill lowered over several months.
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