iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Best "budget" iPhone?

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iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13—Apple’s so-called budget iPhone takes on a fan favourite! Is the 48MP camera, A18 chip & USB-C worth upgrading for, or does the iPhone 13 still hold its own? Watch before you decide!

Key Specifications

Device	iPhone 16e	iPhone 13
Ratings (out of 10)
Design	8	7
Display	8	8
Performance	8	7
Battery & Charging	8	7
Camera	8	7
Software	8	8
Features
Display	6.1” OLED, 60Hz	6.1” OLED, 60Hz
Battery	4005mAh	3240mAh
Charging	USB-C (20W wired, no MagSafe)	Lightning (20W wired, 15W MagSafe)
Chipset	A18	16 MP
Software	iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence	iOS 18, just regular intelligence
Camera	48MP Rear + 12MP Front	12MP Dual Rear + 12MP Front
Price	₹59,900	₹44,999
Pros
	Efficient battery Sleek design Good camera	Solid A15 chip MagSafe charging More colour options
Cons
	No ultra-wide camera No MagSafe charging 60Hz display	Thicker bezels Average battery life Lightning port

The new iPhone 16e is Apple’s most affordable iPhone, but don’t mistake it for a "cheap" phone. It does all the iPhone things you’d expect, but chances are, it’s missing at least one key feature you might want—whether that’s an extra camera or the convenience of MagSafe.

Then there's the iPhone 13. It’s an older model, sure, but it’s nearly ₹15,000 cheaper than the 16e and still packs a lot of the same features. It was one of Apple’s greats, with a loyal fan base even today, and rightfully so—it did a lot of things really well.

But if you were thinking about upgrading from the iPhone 13 to the 16e then you may want to keep reading because it's not as straightforward as you might think.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Design & Display

The iPhone 16e and iPhone 13 are nearly identical in design, both featuring a notch, a flat aluminum frame, and a completely flat display. The 6.1-inch screens make them similar in size but the iPhone 16e weighs a bit less.

I prefer the frosty matte back of the 16e over the glossy finish of the 13—it feels more premium and is far more resistant to fingerprints. But when it comes to colors, the iPhone 13 wins with bolder, more vibrant options, while the 16e sticks to just white and black.

The biggest design difference between the two is the fact the iPhone 16e has a single 48MP rear camera, while the iPhone 13 features a dual-camera setup.

Then there’s the Action Button on the iPhone 16e, borrowed from the iPhone 16 series, allowing you to map different functions for quick access—though, let’s be honest, most people just leave it on ring/silent mode. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 sticks to Apple’s classic physical ring switch, a small but beloved detail for many.

Another noticeable difference is the iPhone 13 retains the now-retired Lightning port, while the iPhone 16e upgrades to USB-C. However, it’s limited to USB 2.0 speeds, maxing out at 480Mb/s.

When it comes to displays, these two are basically twins. Both pack a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR screen with the sadly outdated 60Hz refresh rate, first-gen Ceramic Shield glass, and 1200 nits peak HDR brightness. And, yea, the bezels are a bit on the chunkier side compared to premium Android phones, but the content still looks fantastic.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Performance

Chipset performance is where these two iPhones start to diverge. The iPhone 16e runs on the A18 chipset, while the iPhone 13 has the older A15. Not surprisingly, benchmark scores are higher on the newer iPhone.

The A18 in the 16e is nearly identical to the one in the iPhone 16, just with one less graphics core—but honestly, most people won’t notice the difference. I tested Genshin Impact, and while there was a slight increase in stutters, the experience wasn’t wildly different from the iPhone 16.

This phone can handle almost anything you throw at it… but so can the iPhone 13. Even with the A15, it runs most high end games at high FPS with 100% stability—proving it’s still a very capable gaming device.

So, despite having an older chipset, the iPhone 13 holds its own. You’re not missing out just because you don’t have the latest chip. But the iPhone 16e does introduce something entirely new. This is the first iPhone with Apple’s C1 modem—a big deal, considering Apple has been relying on Qualcomm for years.

While real-world testing showed minor improvements in call quality and network reliability, this shift is more about Apple controlling its own silicon ecosystem.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Battery & Charging

Apple also claims that switching to its own modem has helped the iPhone 16e deliver “the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone.” And in real-world use, it holds up well. On busy days, I averaged 7 hours of screen time and still had 20% battery left by the end of the day.

For comparison, the iPhone 13 managed around 5 hours of screen time, but keep in mind—it has a 20% smaller battery and lacks the efficiency benefits of the C1 modem.

Both phones feature 20W wired charging, but the iPhone 13 has 15W MagSafe wireless charging—something the newer 16e oddly lacks. For the price, that feels like a frustrating omission!

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Software

Let's come over to software, and yes both models support iOS 18 but the iPhone 16e will get software support for much longer simply because it’s newer. The iPhone 13 is already halfway through its lifespan and will lose out on updates much sooner.

Apple usually keeps devices going for 7–8 years, so expect the iPhone 13 to tap out around 2028 or 2029. Now, ofcourse you can't talk about software on smartphones these days talking about AI . The iPhone 16e, like its iPhone 16 siblings, comes with Apple Intelligence.

And surprisingly, all features are included. Even Visual Intelligence is supported, despite typically requiring the Camera Control button to activate it. Since the iPhone 16e lacks that hardware, users can instead map Visual Intelligence to the Action Button, a workaround that’s also coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

The iPhone 13, on the other hand, misses out entirely—no Apple Intelligence support here. That said, I wouldn’t pick the iPhone 16e over the iPhone 13 just for Apple Intelligence. Features like AI writing tools and Image Playground, while hyped up, aren’t exactly game-changers.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Camera Performance

Finally, let’s check out those cameras. The iPhone 16e packs a 48MP Fusion camera—just one, so no ultrawide. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 sticks with two 12MP cameras, including an ultrawide. So, it’s basically a choice between more megapixels or more lenses, and honestly, the results speak for themselves.

Shots on the iPhone 16e are visibly sharper, with natural colours and better exposure levels. That higher-res sensor also means you get decent 2x zoom shots with lossless optical quality. Night photos are also superior on the 16e, and it’s the same story for portraits

Now, it’s not great that the 16e skips the ultrawide—it’s not always possible to take a step back to fit more in the frame. But that said, I had to think twice before switching to the ultrawide on the iPhone 13 because, well… it’s noticeably duller and noisier than the main sensor.

Video recording remains the same at 4K 60fps on both phones, but the iPhone 16e brings a nifty feature called Audio Mix. It enhances vocals by reducing reverb and background noise, making it a game-changer for content creators.

Selfie quality is pretty much the same on both, thanks to the 12MP FaceTime cameras. No major upgrades here—just solid, reliable selfies.

Overall, if you want higher res photos and don’t care about the number of cameras, the 16e is the way to go. But that brings us back to the big question—should you upgrade from the iPhone 13 to the 16e?

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 13: Verdict

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If your iPhone 13 still runs well and does everything you need, there’s no urgent reason to switch. You also get that ultrawide camera here and mag safe charging. However, if you need a faster processor, a better main camera, a bigger battery, and Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16e kind of makes sense.

At the end of the day, it’s all about what you prioritize—and I don’t mean to confuse you further—but for just 1600 Rupees more, last year's iPhone 15 gives you better hardware than the iPhone 13 and a couple of features missing on the 16e.

Something to think about before making your choice.

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