Apples new iPhone 16e pitches itself as an iPhone 16, but with some small losses to achieve a lower $599 entry price. But depending on what model youre upgrading from, some of those losses might seem significant. Heres a full iPhone 16e vs iPhone 14 Pro comparison that aims to answer the question: is the 16e an upgrade or downgrade?General specs overviewIll start out by listing out some general iPhone specs to compare the two models, then do a deep dive into two main areas of difference: displays and cameras.iPhone 16eiPhone 14 ProWeight5.88 ounces7.27 ouncesChipA18A16 BionicButtonAction buttonRing/Silent switchApple IntelligenceBattery26 hours video23 hours videoChargingUSB-C portLightning portRAM8GB6GBMagSafeUltra WidebandAs you can see, the iPhone 16e mostly wins this battlewith some exceptions.Perhaps most importantly, iPhone 16e has the chip and RAM requirements necessary to support Apple Intelligence features. Its also lighter weight, has an Action button, gets better battery life, and has a USB-C port.The only real negatives: its lacking the MagSafe support and Ultra Wideband chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro.DisplayThis is one area where the winner is clear, with no asterisks or qualifications: its iPhone 14 Pro.iPhone 16eiPhone 14 ProSize6.1 inch6.1 inch and 6.7 inchTechSuper Retina XDR (OLED)Super Retina XDR (OLED)CutoutNotchDynamic IslandProMotionAlways-OnBrightness800 nits typical, 1200 HDR1000 nits typical, 1600 HDR, 2000 outdooriPhone 14 Pro beats or matches the iPhone 16e in every single relevant display category.The trifecta of the Dynamic Island, 120Hz ProMotion, and Always-On could be especially hard to give up for anyone moving from a 14 Pro to the 16e. Screen brightness is in the 14 Pros favor too.CamerasCameras offer another area where the iPhone 14 Pro largely beats the iPhone 16e.iPhone 16eiPhone 14 ProMain Camera48MP Fusion /1.6 aperture48MP /1.78 apertureMore Rear CamerasUltra Wide and TelephotoFront Camera12MP TrueDepth12MP TrueDepthLiDAR ScannerPhotosSmart HDR 5Smart HDR 4, Night mode portraitsVideoAudio Mix and wind noise reductionCinematic mode, Action mode, Macro videoProRAWFlashTrue ToneAdaptive True ToneBeyond simply offering a more robust three-camera system versus the 16es single camera, there are several other features you give up when moving from the 14 Pro. The only real 16e advantages are:lower aperture on the main camera, which should help produce better low-light photosand the new Audio Mix and wind noise reduction features for videoiPhone 16e vs 14 Pro: Mixed bagIf youre an iPhone 14 Pro user considering buying the iPhone 16e, my recommendation is to buy a different model instead. You can get an iPhone 15 Pro refurbished for close to the same price as a new 16e. That would enable Apple Intelligence support without giving up so many of the advantages of your current Pro model.It all comes down to what you care about most. If the iPhone 16e has the features you care about, its a solid option. But if you can afford to jump up into an iPhone 16, 16 Pro, or a refurbished 15 Pro instead, that might be a better move.Do you plan to upgrade from an iPhone 14 Pro to iPhone 16e? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel