Which one is better: iPhone 16e or iPhone 13 Pro Max?

Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 Pro Max some time ago. They don't even have a placeholder for that phone in the Certified Refurbished section of the Apple Store. That implies that you would be buying used. I would suggest that you read The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a Used iPad/iPhone – Apple Community .

If you are interested in the iPhone 13 Pro Max, I am not sure why you would be looking at the iPhone 16e as opposed to an iPhone 16 Pro Max – to a Certified Refurbished 14/15 Pro Max – or to waiting to see what Apple may announce on the event they have planned for September 9, 2025.

Compare iPhone models – iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16e

NotImportant1234 wrote:

Hiii, i was on a while ago asking about iPhone 13 Mini, and I got it, but it’s having a few issues i do not wish to discuss. Im wondering if I should save for the iPhone 16e or the 13 Pro Max? I just want a reliable all day battery and a phone that won’t break from a few couple meter drops.

Dropping any smartphone – whether iPhone or Android – "a couple of meters" is a good way to break it. If that's what you did to your iPhone 13 mini, that might explain why it is "having a few issues."

You can get cases which reduce the chances of your phone being damaged in a fall. For my Phone 12 mini, I have one of the Pelican Voyager Clear cases. The box claims the case offers 18-foot / 5.5-meter drop protection – but I have not dropped the phone in order to test the claim.

I also wouldn’t mind spending less then $900 if it’s possible!

If you don't need the absolute latest model, Apple's Certified Refurbished store could be a good place to shop. You get a new battery, a new outer shell, a one-year Apple warranty, and little chance of being sold an Activation Locked and possibly stolen "brick".

The selection is "catch of the day" – and again, it may be worth waiting to see what, if anything, happens following the Apple Event scheduled for September 9.

Refurbished iPhone Deals - Apple

NotImportant1234 wrote:

I probably should have mentioned I’m not an adult and therefore earn a much smaller paycheck. The iPhone 16e is in my budget

Note that the iPhone 16e is lacking several features found in most other recent iPhones (including the "regular" 16 and 16 Plus).

• It doesn't have an Ultra-Wide (0.5x) camera.
• It doesn't support MagSafe alignment for charging.
• It doesn't support USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode), for making a wired connection to an external TV or display.
• It doesn't have an Ultra-Wide-Band radio for Precision Finding of AirTags.

If you’re on a budget, I’d recommend iPhone 16e. It has pretty much all-day battery life with 26 hours of video playback. It starts at $599 for 128GB.

As has been said the 13 pro max is not available to you except used, or opened but not used, or amateur refurbished. Forget about that option.

Tomorrow all sorts of new models will be announced