iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17e
Same width, 0.9 mm shorter and 1 g lighter.
Quick answer
Choosing between iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e comes down to budget and features rather than size. Both phones share a 6.1 in display and a thickness of 7.8 mm. In the hand, iPhone 16 measures 147.6 mm tall and 71.6 mm wide with a weight of 170 g, whereas iPhone 17e stands 146.7 mm tall, 71.5 mm wide, and weighs 169 g. These physical differences are imperceptible in daily use. Both models fit into median men's jeans pockets but fail to slide fully into median women's jeans pockets. The primary separation lies in launch pricing, with iPhone 16 starting at 799 USD and iPhone 17e priced at 599 USD.
- Identical 6.1 in screen size makes the daily reading and viewing experience visually equivalent.
- A 1 g weight separation means neither phone feels noticeably heavier in hand or pockets.
- Both fit median men's jeans pockets but exceed median women's jeans pocket dimensions.
- iPhone 17e provides a lower entry price of 599 USD compared to 799 USD.
TRUE SCALE · 1.7 PX/MM
TRUE SCALE · 2.3 PX/MM
Hand: US Army ANSUR II, 2012 (sex-balanced median). Pockets: The Pudding, 2018. Card: ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1.
iPhone 16: 147.6 by 71.6 by 7.8 millimetres, 170 grams. iPhone 17e: 146.7 by 71.5 by 7.8 millimetres, 169 grams.
16, 17e shown at 2.3 pixels per millimetre.
Height: 16 147.6 millimetres, 17e 146.7 millimetres.Height: 16 5.81 inches, 17e 5.78 inches.Width: 16 71.6 millimetres, 17e 71.5 millimetres.Width: 16 2.82 inches, 17e 2.81 inches.Depth: 16 7.80 millimetres, 17e 7.80 millimetres.Depth: 16 0.31 inches, 17e 0.31 inches.Weight: 16 170 grams, 17e 169 grams.Weight: 16 6.00 ounces, 17e 5.96 ounces.
Specifications
| Specification | 16 | 17e |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 147.6 millimetres5.81 inches | 146.7 millimetres, 0.9 millimetres less5.78 inches, 0.04 inches less |
| Width | 71.6 millimetres2.82 inches | 71.5 millimetres, 0.1 millimetres less2.81 inches, the same |
| Depth | 7.80 millimetres0.31 inches | 7.80 millimetres, the same0.31 inches, the same |
| Weight | 170 grams6.00 ounces | 169 grams, 1 grams less5.96 ounces, 0.04 ounces less |
| Volume | 82.4 cubic centimetres5.03 cubic inches | 81.8 cubic centimetres, 0.6 cubic centimetres less4.99 cubic inches, 0.04 cubic inches less |
| Screen-to-body — Active display area over body area. Our own estimate, not an Apple figure. | 87 percent | 86 percent, 1 percent less |
| Display size — Screen size is always quoted in inches. | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches, the same |
| Resolution | 1179 × 2556 | 1170 × 2532 |
| Pixel density | 461 pixels per inch | 457 pixels per inch, 4 pixels per inch less |
| Cutout | Dynamic Island | Notch |
| Rear main | 48MP | 48MP |
| Rear ultra-wide | — | — |
| Rear telephoto | — | — |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Chip | A18 | A19 |
| Video playback — Apple's rated hours of video playback. Apple does not publish battery capacity. | 22 hrs | 26 hrs |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless | 5G · Wi-Fi · Bluetooth | 5G · Wi-Fi · Bluetooth |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6m for 30 min) | IP68 (6m for 30 min) |
| Storage | 128 – 512 GB | 256 – 512 GB |
| Launch price — Base configuration at launch, in US dollars. | 799 dollars | 599 dollars, 200 dollars less |
| Released | Sep 2024 | Mar 2026 |
| Status | Current | Current |
Also compared with iPhone 16
Questions about these phones
Is iPhone 17e smaller than iPhone 16?
iPhone 17e is slightly shorter at 146.7 mm compared to 147.6 mm for iPhone 16, though both measure 7.8 mm deep.
Does iPhone 16 weigh more than iPhone 17e?
iPhone 16 weighs 170 g, which is only 1 g heavier than the 169 g weight of iPhone 17e.
Are the displays on iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e the same size?
Both iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e feature a 6.1 in screen.
Can iPhone 17e be used easily with one hand compared to iPhone 16?
An average adult hand handles both similarly because iPhone 17e is 71.5 mm wide while iPhone 16 is 71.6 mm wide.
Do iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e fit into jeans pockets?
Both phones fit into median men's jeans pockets, but neither fits into median women's jeans pockets.
Is it worth upgrading from iPhone 16 to iPhone 17e for the size difference?
Upgrading for size alone is not justified because their body dimensions and weights are nearly identical.