Here's How the iPhone 16e Camera Stacks Up Against Its Siblings

When new iPhone models come out, Sebastiaan de With, the developer behind the popular Halide camera app, does a deep dive into the new camera technology. Last month, Apple released the iPhone 16e with an all-new standalone 48-megapixel camera, and de With checked it out to see how it compares to the cameras in Apple's flagship iPhone 16 models.

iPhone 16e Feature 1
On paper, the ‌iPhone 16e‌, the ‌iPhone 16‌, and the iPhone 16 Pro seem to have the same main camera, described as a 48-megapixel Fusion camera that's able to take both 1x and 2x shots, but when you drill down into the specs, there's a difference. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ has a camera with an f/1.78 aperture, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ and 16e have a camera with an f/1.6 aperture. The ‌iPhone 16e‌ does not have sensor-shift optical image stabilization, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ does, so it's clear these are different cameras.

According to de With, what Apple has done with the ‌iPhone 16e‌ is pair current-generation image processing enabled by the A18 chip with a smaller, older camera component. With just a single Wide lens, there's no Macro mode, no spatial photo or video capture, no Night mode for Portrait images, and no Cinematic or Action mode options when capturing video. There also aren't pro features like ProRAW.

In an image test compared with the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, the ‌iPhone 16e‌ trended toward warmer images and it had a narrower field of view. The smaller sensor captured less detail, which de With said was most noticeable in lower light. 2x photos with the smaller sensor were lower quality with unpleasant processing.

According to de With, the ‌iPhone 16e‌ isn't on par with the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ or even the ‌iPhone 16‌, but it is on par with prior non-Pro iPhones and the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro. The fact that it has no sensor-shift stabilization was the biggest limiting factor because it cuts down on image quality in low light and in night shots.

De With felt that the ‌iPhone 16e‌'s sensor has a grainy, moody sensor that he enjoyed as an alternative to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s larger sensor. "As the kids would say today, it's a vibe," de With wrote.

De With's full review, complete with comparison images, can be read over on the Lux website.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16e
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Buy Now)

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Top Rated Comments

ThomasJL Avatar
1 week ago
Yet another example of Tightwad Tim giving customers less in order to maximize profits.

The very first iPhone SE had the same camera as the then-current flagship iPhone 6s. The very first iPhone SE sold for a starting price of $399.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F23 Avatar
1 week ago
Sith Lord Tim: Master of the Spare Parts Bin is wielding his might upon us
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Smittywerben Avatar
1 week ago
"There is a imposter among us."


Attachment Image
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
1 week ago



De With felt that the iPhone 16e's sensor has a grainy, moody sensor that he enjoyed as an alternative to the iPhone 16 Pro's larger sensor. "As the kids would say today, it's a vibe," de With wrote.
I physically cringed at both the comparison and the attempted gaslighting here.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jxdawg Avatar
1 week ago
What no comparison shots?? Disappointed.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jntdroid Avatar
1 week ago

You can't really use that argument when it comes to say, the 2016 12" MacBook with Core M and 4GB at $1299 compared to the 2025 M4 MBA with 16GB at $999.
The 16e is priced the same as the 14 was two weeks ago, $120 more than the 128gb SE3 was two weeks ago, and $200 less than the 16 now. I'm not saying it's perfectly priced, but it's not unreasonable by any means.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)