iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 16e: If you are thinking of buying a new iPhone and you have the option of iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 16e, then this comparison can be very helpful for you. On the one hand, the iPhone 17 Air which has been launched in February 2025, on the other hand, the iPhone 16e which is expected to be launched in September 2025. Both phones are equipped with Apple’s latest features and technology, but there are some important differences between them that can affect your choice.
What is the difference in display and design
The iPhone 17 Air has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels. At the same time, the iPhone 16e will bring a larger 6.7-inch OLED display, which has a great quality of 1290 x 2796 pixels. Both phones have Super Retina XDR technology which makes the colors more sharp and bright. iPhone 16e will also get HDR support, which will make the video viewing experience more rich. However, the refresh rate of both is 60Hz, which seems a bit old compared to today’s flagship smartphones.
How is the performance and processor
Both devices run on Apple’s 3nm technology chipset. The iPhone 17 Air has an A18 chipset which comes with a 2x 4.04GHz + 4x 2.20GHz hexa-core processor. At the same time, the processor details of the iPhone 16e have not come yet, but it is expected that it will also be based on A18 or an upgraded version. Both have 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB NVMe storage, which is not expandable. The iOS 18.x operating system runs in both, which will make the user experience very smooth and secure.
How different is the camera quality
The iPhone 17 Air has a 48MP single rear camera that comes with OIS and autofocus. At the same time, the iPhone 16e will also get a 12MP ultra-wide sensor along with a 48MP main sensor, which will give you the benefit of dual camera setup. The camera features Dolby Vision HDR, Cinematic Mode, and 4K video recording, which makes the video quality look quite professional. The front camera is 12MP in both, with ToF sensor and autofocus. The iPhone 16e is expected to get HDR support and better depth in the video.
The battery backup and charging speed
The iPhone 17 Air has a 4005 mAh Li-Ion battery with fast charging, Qi wireless charging and MagSafe support. At the same time, new technologies like Qi2 wireless charging and reverse wired charging are expected in the iPhone 16e. In the battery testing of the iPhone 17 Air, browsing time was found to be 17 hours 27 minutes and video playback was about 7 hours, which is quite good for a flagship phone. The battery data of the iPhone 16e is currently untested, but its performance can be even better with a bigger screen and better charging speed.
How is the design, dimensions and build quality
The iPhone 17 Air weighs 167 grams and its body is made of glass back and aluminum frame. Its design is compact which can be easily used with one hand. On the other hand, the iPhone 16e can be slightly bigger and heavier as its screen is bigger. Both phones come with IP68 rating, making them water and dust resistant. Both have 3D face recognition for face unlock.
How special are the connectivity and extra features
Both phones have 5G, eSIM, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6 and USB Type-C support. The iPhone 16e is also expected to feature Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6E, which will improve internet speed and connection stability. Both have features like Noise Cancellation, Wireless Screen Share, Dolby Atmos, and NFC. Ultra Wideband (UWB) support is also available which is useful in location based applications.
What will be the price and variants
The price of iPhone 17 Air starts at $600 (51,433), which comes with 128GB storage variant. Apart from this, 256GB and 512GB variants are also available which are priced at $699 and $899 respectively. The price and variant details of iPhone 16e will be revealed after its official launch, but it is likely that it will be available at a slightly higher premium price than the iPhone 17 Air.
What will be the result?
If you want a compact, balanced and already available iPhone then iPhone 17 Air is a great option. But if you want a bigger screen, dual camera and upgraded connectivity then iPhone 16e may be better for you, provided you can wait till its launch. Both the phones are powerful in their own way, the decision depends on your need and budget.