Stuck in a dilemma - Get iPhone 16e for free or spend 33k on iPhone 16

Buying Advice Smartphone Buying Advice
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Hi all,
I’m using an iPhone 13 Pro and was waiting for the iPhone 17 upgrade, but I need to change my phone ASAP.

I have some Apple store credit that would make the iPhone 16e almost free, or I could spend 30k on an iPhone 16. (Don’t ask how the math works, it just does. Buying 16e from the US or 16 from India).

I prefer the iPhone 16, but the lack of a 120 Hz screen is a downside. I’m also questioning whether the extra 33k is worth the extra features it offers over the 16e.

The primary reason I prefer the 16 over the 16e is the lack of sensor shift OIS in the 16e. I can do without the rest of the bells and whistles, such as the dynamic island.

So to round it up - iPhone 16 - Wide angle lens along with sensor shift OIS seem to be the only worth upgrades over 16e.

I would have preferred to wait for the 17 since the base model is rumoured to feature the 120 Hz screen, but my Apple Watch 8 doesn’t sync with iOS 16 on my backup iPhone 8 Plus.

So, my options are buying the 16e or the 16, or living with the 8Plus till the launch of 17 in November.

Thoroughly confused,
Sibot

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Why not get a used 12 or 13, use it for a few months and then resell it and get the 17? It would cost less than having a redundant 16e which would have pretty low resale value as almost no one wants it, 16 is basically a 15 with a new design and new colours, so that seems pretty pointless too. If you are ok with the 16 then it’s fine, the 16e is going to feel like a pretty big downgrade imo.

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Buy 16 Pro

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Thank you for your input. I did not consider this option and it seems to be a good way to go about it since I can trade-in the 12 or 13 via Apple. The 16e does seem like a dampener regarding the specs and would essentially be a downgrade. The 13 Pro is a robust device, so it is hard to upgrade from and justify it.

I will look at used 12 and 13 to see if I can grab one.

Out of my budget, otherwise it would have solved ALL my issues with the 16 and 16e.

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The 16e is garbage, relative to your 13 pro (like the 5C was, relative to the 5S)

As suggested, trade in for a used 13, hold out for the 17.

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Why isn’t anyone talking about the sheer convenience of shifting to USB C? Anyway since you are used to the lightning connector life, I would concur with both @@Kaching999 on going the 13 route, and that 16e is garbage (and over priced) like @@PunkX 75 said.

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16e is truly a garbage. But if you that desperate get 16e but trade it in once 17 launches.

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I like that idea. I am searching for used 12 and 13, will wait out for the 17 to launch and then trade it in. It wouldn’t lose much value when it comes to the trade-in.

I totally get what you’re saying and I agree a 100%. USB-C would be a significant convenience factor, and I eagerly look forward to shifting to it. But, I’m pretty comfortable with the lightning port for now since I also have an iPad and AirPods Pro which use the same lightning connector. So the cables area already in place. The only reason I was thinking about 16e was that it wouldn’t have cost me anything using the Apple Credit. But best to save that Apple Credit for the iPhone 17 launch.

Haha I love how it’s been called garbage multiple times in this thread.

Thanks for the input guys. For now I am looking at 12 and 13, and will use it till the launch of the 17 and then trade it in.

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I’m not even an iphone user yet I know how bad 16e is. That’s how bad of a product Apple managed to launch.

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iPhone 16 pro max, iphone 16 pro, iphone 16 plus, iphone 16, iphone 16e(xtra shitty).

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The consumer segment they are targeting with the 16e are users looking to upgrade from their iPhone SE to 12’, older folk, etc. As limited as the device is, the missing features don’t affect most users in that segment. People are also upgrading for the enhanced battery life over the 16, thanks to the single lens and the resultant larger battery.

Furthermore, the 16e is already selling for ~$370 in Walmart on new mobile plans, and it can be unlocked after two months. They’ve pretty much been able to use their leftover parts from 14, put their C1 modem to the test, and sell phones while they’re at it.

Haha! It’s a gift that keeps giving.

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I also think 16e is more of a corporate phone.

As in, companies would buy it since it’s basically the cheapest Apple phone and give it to their employees as work phones.

If that is indeed the use case Apple launched 16e for, then that also means resale value of 16e would be kinda shit…

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That’s a good point. Most corporates have their employees on the SE or whatever is the cheapest Apple device, so this would be a big hit amongst them. Would definitely impact the resale value.

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Yep, so 16e is a hot garbage with possibly garbage resale value. Avoid it at all costs, unless you get one for free, or are okay with that risk.

You could take a look at used SE models too, alongside 12 and 13 used. I think those have recent-ish iOS version as well?

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I went ahead and purchased a used 12 for ~19k. Had the option of buying a SE 3 too (the price was really good at ~9k and 100% battery health), and was really tempted to, but the 12 seems to be a better device. Anyway, I need to use it till the launch of the 17.

And yes, these devices can all be updated to the latest iOS.

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Also, AFAIK the 12 also has 5G (the first one, in fact), so good choice!

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Yep! Both 12 and SE 3rd gen support 5G. Thanks to everyone here that I was able to make this decision. I was very torn over getting the base 16 with a 60Hz screen.

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Where the hell can I get a decently priced used iPhone from? Been waiting for 3 months but expectations of iPhones here in this forum is rather high

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Why buy new stuff that looks from 2020?
Get 16.

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  1. It’s a placeholder phone, bought used, not new

  2. Function over form

  3. I would get a GTX 1080 Ti over an RTX 5070 :clown:

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