When Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e on February 19, 2025, it positioned the device as a budget-friendly entry into the iPhone 16 lineup, priced at $599. Marketed as a successor to the iPhone SE series, the 16e promises modern features like the A18 chip, Apple Intelligence, and a 48MP camera—all at a more accessible price point than its flagship siblings. But as details emerged, some tech enthusiasts and skeptics began drawing parallels to an older device: the iPhone 8, which launched back in 2017. The claim? “The iPhone 16e is basically an iPhone 8 with a few modern tweaks.” Is there truth to this bold assertion, or is it an oversimplification of Apple’s latest offering? Let’s dive in and explore the similarities, differences, and what this means for consumers in 2025.
A Shared Design Legacy?
At first glance, the iPhone 16e doesn’t scream “iPhone 8” in terms of design. The iPhone 8 famously sported a 4.7-inch LCD display with chunky bezels and a physical Home button—hallmarks of Apple’s pre-notch era. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16e adopts a more contemporary 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with a notch, flat edges, and Face ID, drawing inspiration from the iPhone 14’s chassis rather than the iPhone 8’s rounded, glass-and-aluminum sandwich.
However, the “basically an iPhone 8” argument might stem from a perceived lack of ambition in the 16e’s design evolution. The iPhone 8 represented Apple’s last hurrah with Touch ID and a single-camera setup, and the 16e similarly opts for a stripped-down feature set compared to the iPhone 16. With no Dynamic Island (it sticks with the older notch), a single rear camera, and the absence of premium bells and whistles like MagSafe or the Camera Control button, the 16e feels like a pragmatic throwback—a device prioritizing function over flash, much like the iPhone 8 did in its day. But looks can be deceiving, and the similarities might end where the specs begin.
Performance: A18 vs. A11 Bionic
Under the hood, any comparison between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 8 falls apart quickly. The iPhone 8 shipped with the A11 Bionic chip, a 10nm processor with a 6-core CPU and a 3-core GPU—impressive for 2017 but laughably outdated by 2025 standards. The iPhone 16e, by contrast, boasts the A18 chip, built on a cutting-edge 3nm process. This chip features a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU (one core shy of the iPhone 16’s 6-core GPU), and a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for Apple Intelligence—Apple’s suite of AI-driven features rolling out with iOS 18.
The A18’s performance leap isn’t just incremental; it’s generational. It’s designed to handle modern workloads like gaming, machine learning, and multitasking with ease, while the A11 struggles with today’s demands. Posts on X have speculated that the 16e’s A18 is “cut down” from the iPhone 16 Pro’s version, but even with one fewer GPU core, it’s light-years ahead of the iPhone 8’s capabilities. Add 8GB of RAM (compared to the iPhone 8’s 2GB) and support for AI features unavailable on older models, and the “basically an iPhone 8” claim starts to look shaky.
Camera: A Single Lens Story
One area where the comparison gains traction is the camera. The iPhone 8 featured a single 12MP rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture—solid for its time but limited by modern standards. The iPhone 16e also opts for a single-camera setup, a rarity among 2025’s multi-lens flagships. However, that’s where the similarities end. The 16e’s 48MP Fusion camera leverages sensor-cropping trickery to deliver a 2x optical-quality zoom, effectively acting as a “two-in-one” shooter. It supports 4K Dolby Vision video at 60 fps and benefits from computational photography advancements like the Photonic Engine and Smart HDR.
Contrast that with the iPhone 8, which topped out at 4K 60 fps without HDR or advanced stabilization, and lacked the software smarts that define modern iPhone photography. Yes, both phones stick to a single lens, but the 16e’s camera is a technological marvel by comparison. Calling it “basically an iPhone 8” here ignores the massive leap in image quality and versatility.
Display: A Modern Upgrade
The iPhone 8’s 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display, with a 1334×750 resolution and 326 ppi, was perfectly fine in 2017 but feels cramped and dated today. The iPhone 16e steps up to a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 2532×1170 resolution, 460 ppi, and support for HDR content—peak brightness hits 1200 nits compared to the iPhone 8’s modest 625 nits. This isn’t just a spec bump; it’s a complete overhaul in visual experience, offering deeper blacks, richer colors, and a larger canvas for everything from videos to texting.
Critics might argue that the 16e’s 60Hz refresh rate (versus the 120Hz ProMotion on higher-end models) keeps it grounded in the past, much like the iPhone 8. But the shift to OLED and the notch design align it far more closely with 2020s iPhones than with the bezel-heavy 2010s aesthetic of the 8.
Battery Life and Connectivity
Battery life is another win for the 16e. Apple claims it offers up to 26 hours of video playback—among the best for a 6.1-inch iPhone—thanks to the A18’s efficiency and a slightly larger battery. The iPhone 8, with its 1821mAh cell, managed about 13 hours of mixed use, a stark contrast that highlights nearly a decade of advancements in power management.
Connectivity further widens the gap. The iPhone 8 supported 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 5, while the 16e introduces Apple’s first in-house C1 modem with 5G (sub-6 GHz, no mmWave), alongside Wi-Fi 6. It also ditches Lightning for USB-C, aligning with EU regulations and modern standards—something the iPhone 8’s Lightning port can’t claim. Rumors on X suggesting the 16e lacks fast charging are inaccurate; Apple confirms it supports 20W charging, hitting 50% in 30 minutes, just like the iPhone 16.
The Verdict: More Than Meets the Eye
So, is the iPhone 16e “basically an iPhone 8”? On the surface, the single-camera setup, simplified feature set, and budget positioning might invite the comparison. Both phones were designed as practical, no-frills options in their respective eras—reliable workhorses rather than flashy showboats. But dig deeper, and the 16e reveals itself as a thoroughly modern device, borrowing far more from the iPhone 14 and 16 than from its 2017 predecessor.
The iPhone 8 was a relic of Apple’s transitional phase, bridging the gap between the classic iPhone design and the all-screen future ushered in by the iPhone X. The iPhone 16e, while not as cutting-edge as the iPhone 16 Pro, is firmly rooted in 2025, with a chipset, display, and camera that leave the iPhone 8 in the dust. Its compromises—like no MagSafe, no ultrawide lens, and a notch instead of Dynamic Island—reflect cost-cutting, not a nostalgic retreat to 2017 tech.
Who’s It For?
For buyers eyeing the iPhone 16e, it’s less about reliving the iPhone 8’s glory days and more about getting a taste of Apple’s latest ecosystem at a discount. At $599, it’s pricier than the iPhone SE (2022)’s $429 launch price, but it delivers a bigger screen, better performance, and future-proof features like Apple Intelligence—things the iPhone 8 could only dream of. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 8, the 16e will feel like a quantum leap, not a sideways step.
In the end, the “iPhone 16e is basically an iPhone 8” narrative is a catchy oversimplification that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. It’s more accurate to call the 16e a streamlined iPhone 16 or a souped-up iPhone 14— a budget contender that balances modern innovation with practical compromises. Apple’s not reinventing the wheel here, but it’s certainly not stuck in 2017 either.