It would solely be April, nevertheless it’s been a busy 12 months for smartphones. The one-two punch of the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25 sequence kicked us off in January, and since then, it has been a little bit of an all-out assault in your native provider retailer. From numerous finances entries from Samsung and Motorola to high-end flagships you’d must import from Chinese language OEMs, 2025 has been a reasonably stacked 12 months for brand new merchandise. And with the Galaxy S25 Edge and a brand new lineup of Razrs on the way in which, it is not slowing down anytime quickly.
With only a month separating them, I’ve reviewed two midrange telephones trying to deal with the identical kind of market with utterly completely different approaches. Each the iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a put on their respective flagship inspiration on their sleeves, however which one really comes out on high? The reply, frankly, may not shock you — that is Google’s battle to lose.
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The Pixel 9a’s show outperforms the iPhone 16e’s by virtually each measure
I am unable to consider something extra essential
There are many methods to measure a smartphone’s success, however to my eyes — fairly actually — one spec rises far above the remaining. Irrespective of how glorious a single machine is likely to be, if it is rocking a foul display screen, you are not going to love utilizing it. It is uncommon to search out fashionable telephones with a foul display screen (although they exist), and neither Apple nor Google’s 2025 output are amongst that group. The iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a each meet my private benchmarks for qualifying as a “usable” show, nevertheless it’s the 9a that punches nicely above its weight.
As finest as I can inform, the 6.3-inch Actua panel right here is identical one seen on each the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold final 12 months, with similar brightness scores and an indistinguishable look in particular person. Bar none, it is the very best show I’ve ever seen on an A-series telephone from Google, and top-of-the-line screens out there on a $500 smartphone in our fashionable period. My solely actual critique surrounding it comes right down to the dated Gorilla Glass 3 defending the panel, however that is a nitpick at finest, and never really a consequence of the panel itself.
The iPhone 16e’s display screen is not dangerous, per se, nevertheless it’s dated. A 60Hz OLED panel with out assist for an always-on show looks like one thing out of 2018, not 2025. Likewise, Apple’s panel cannot compete with Google’s in relation to pure nit scores, although I would not name it dim. The top result’s a worse panel on a dearer smartphone, which looks like a foul worth throughout. I will give Apple this: its Ceramic Guard feels higher beneath my thumb than Corning’s older glass tech. It is a small comfort, I suppose.
Associated
Evaluate: Google’s Pixel 9 show is nearly as good because it will get
The Pixel 9’s Actua show is the true deal
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The Pixel 9a’s colour choices really feel poppy and refreshing
The iPhone 16e is solely black or white
In a world stuffed with instances, the smartphone colour you decide does not matter to the overwhelming majority of consumers. Nevertheless it definitely issues to me, an individual who routinely opts to go caseless in most circumstances. The iPhone 16e is not a foul wanting machine, however in comparison with the wonderful colour choices Apple selected for the common iPhone 16, the white and black fashions really feel stale compared. Even by Apple’s personal midrange requirements, it is a far cry from the rainbow of assortment that was the iPhone 5c final decade.
I would not say Google hit it out of the park with the Pixel 9a — two of the 4 colours are, as you may count on, black and white — however the Peony and Iris choices are glorious. Peony is not new for this sequence, because the common Pixel 9 additionally is available in that vivid, saturated pink shade. However Iris is new to this technology, and it seems to be distinctive. Google particularly famous that shade is a throwback to the “Purple-ish” Pixel 3a, however other than the twin tone energy button, I will give the 9a’s design the win right here any day of the week.
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For an Apple Intelligence-ready telephone, the iPhone 16e does not really feel very good
The identical cannot be stated for the Pixel 9a
Apple principally constructed the iPhone 16e from the bottom as much as be optimized for Apple Intelligence — it is in huge letters on the advertising and marketing web site, in any case. The A18 chipset within the iPhone 16e runs circles across the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G4, even with its diminished core rely, however Apple particularly selected to make use of this flagship SoC due to its assist for the corporate’s first-gen AI options. Just some weeks after asserting the iPhone 16e, the corporate publicly delayed its next-gen Siri options into, presumably, iOS 19, and that is on high of an already-disappointing first 12 months.
Google, in the meantime, is pushing forward. Whereas the Pixel 9a does include its personal justifiable share of AI-based drawbacks — restricted reminiscence means Pixel Screenshots and Name Notes are completely lacking right here — I do not assume it issues. If you happen to’re desirous about AI, Google’s smartphone is undoubtedly the higher purchase. Not solely is Gemini built-in from the soar, however instruments like Recorder, Pixel Studio, and Images’ Magic Editor suite are all nonetheless out there. Apple was already behind on AI, however after delaying Siri, the iPhone 16e seems to be like a powerhouse developed for vaporware.
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Relating to the digital camera, two is best than one
Lenses, that’s
Each the iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a take good, albeit not distinctive, photographs. If you happen to’re actually searching for the very best cellular images kits round, you really want to replace to their respective Professional lineups, the place you will discover higher important sensors and devoted telephoto lenses. Even nonetheless, Apple made a shocking determination to chop again to only a single important sensor, leaving ultra-wide — and any semblance of a macro mode — behind.
Google has stored its twin lens lineup right here, and whereas I would not say the ultra-wide sensor blew me away throughout my evaluate interval, it is good to have nonetheless. Google additionally managed to squeeze each of its lenses into the chassis, making for a uncommon fashionable smartphone that lacks a full-fledged digital camera bump. It is a massive change for the model, and whereas some customers may discover the design boring, I discovered it to be a refreshing change for each my pocket and the way balanced the machine feels in my hand. Good job, Google.
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Each telephones ought to characteristic long-lasting software program assist
However solely Google is keen to place a date on it
Apple’s lengthy held the crown for cellular OS lifespan assist, sometimes offering characteristic and safety upgrades for {hardware} 5, six, and even seven years after launch. It is taken ages for Android OEMs to catch up, however over the previous 18 months or so, we have lastly arrived. The Pixel 9a, just like the Pixel 8 and 9 sequence earlier than it, helps seven years of OS upgrades and safety patches, bringing its EOL date to April 2032. For $500, that is not simply respectable — it is glorious.
Apple does not put dates on its smartphones, however its observe report suggests the iPhone 16e will see the same lifespan earlier than it is lastly put out to pasture. Likewise, the specs shared between these two telephones — particularly RAM and storage allotments — are comparable sufficient to level to a reasonably equal expertise so far as growing older smartphones go. If 8GB of RAM turns into a difficulty on the Pixel, I might count on to see comparable outcomes on the iPhone, and vice versa.
I am nonetheless giving the sting to Google right here, if solely as a result of the corporate particularly tells you the Pixel 9a’s finish date on its assist pages. Apple might determine to push the iPhone 16e to eight full years of iOS upgrades, or it might name it quits after six. Your guess is nearly as good as ours, which makes searching for a viable long-term midranger slightly tougher on Apple’s facet of the fence.
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Regardless of all of its benefits, the Pixel 9a is the cheaper possibility
The place’s my $100 going right here, Apple?
I believe every thing right here — to not point out my fuller ideas present in my evaluate — factors to the Pixel 9a being the winner of this battle, however other than a handful of asides, I have not even introduced the value into full view. The Pixel 9a is $100 cheaper than the iPhone 16e, regardless of arriving with, to my eyes, the extra full smartphone package deal. It is a greater wanting, extra colourful smartphone with a greater digital camera array, the next high quality show, and assured software program assist for seven years. There isn’t any straightforward method to say this: The iPhone 16e is a foul deal.
Apple’s providing definitely has its share of benefits, in fact. If you happen to’re a cellular gamer, Apple’s A18 chip is undoubtedly extra highly effective in your wants than Google’s Tensor G4. Likewise, the Apple-made C1 modem is much less power-hungry than the Pixel 9a’s Samsung-made Exynos 5300, although I failed to note any distinction in both cell reception or battery drain between the 2 units throughout my respective evaluate interval. And I might be remiss if I did not point out that the iPhone has, you understand, iMessage, which should not come as a shock however definitely stands as the motive persons are doubtless shopping for one.
Nonetheless, although, when you’re after the very best deal between these two, solely the Pixel 9a actually looks like a cut price to start with.
Higher luck subsequent 12 months, Apple
On the finish of the day, I do not count on most individuals are caught between these two smartphones, regardless of their comparatively comparable value factors. Cell ecosystem lock-in is not new, and whether or not you are on Group Android or Group iOS, you’ve got doubtless made your determination ages in the past. Nonetheless, the Pixel 9a proves that Android OEMs can construct killer smartphones at distinctive (fashionable) costs, with out having to sacrifice their flagship origins. Whereas I do not know what a hypothetical battle between, say, the iPhone 17e and the Pixel 10a might seem like, it is secure to say that in 2025, Google reigns because the midrange champ to beat.