The iPhone 16e is the most cost effective mannequin in Apple’s present lineup, nevertheless it’s probably not worth. In case you’re prepared to enterprise outdoors of Apple’s ecosystem, you may get a lot extra telephone on your cash.

5

Pixel 8a

Let’s begin with a telephone that is going to supply the closest factor to the iPhone expertise. Whereas just about all Android telephones are simple to choose up and begin utilizing lately, Google Pixel telephones are even simpler. The software program is extra versatile than Apple’s however not as complicated (or empowering) as Samsung’s.

For $100 lower than the iPhone 16e, the Pixel 8a provides you with not one digicam on the again however two. The principle digicam is 64MP, fairly greater than Apple’s 48MP. The second digicam is a 13MP ultrawide.

Whereas the iPhone 16e could have a barely higher-resolution show, I would nonetheless select the Pixel’s. It lacks the large notch you discover on the high of the iPhone 16e. With a refresh fee of 120Hz, the animations are a lot smoother than what Apple’s 60Hz can supply. Plus, it will get brighter within the solar, with 2000 nits of peak brightness, versus the iPhone 16’s 1200 nits.

And actually, this is not a good comparability. The iPhone 16e is hitting the market barely forward of the anticipated Pixel 9a. Yeah, I am telling you, the year-old telephone is already the higher worth.

4

OnePlus 13R

With a shared price ticket of $600, the OnePlus 13R is not cheaper (not less than not with out factoring in trade-in offers), however it’s arms down the perfect worth for those who’re on the lookout for as a lot energy as your funds can eke out. For $600, the 13R will give you 12GB of RAM as a substitute of the iPhone’s 8GB, and also you get 256GB of storage as a substitute of 128GB.

And what’s that on the again? That is proper. Whereas Apple makes you pay high greenback for 3 rear-cameras, $600 will get you three cameras on the OnePlus 13R: a 50MP most important digicam, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto. These pictures will look good on the bigger 6.78-inch show (reasonably than the 16e’s 6.1 inches), and as soon as you’ve got drained the battery taking all these photographs, the OnePlus 13R will cost a lot sooner with 55W charging as a substitute of 29W. And the battery inside? Yeah, it is large.

3

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

With an MSRP of $650, like numerous different Galaxy Telephones, this mannequin prices just a little bit greater than Apple’s. However you may guess cash that everytime you’re studying this, the telephone’s seemingly on sale.

The Galaxy S24 FE offers you twice the refresh fee, twice the wi-fi charging speeds, and 3 times the cameras. However I am not going to give attention to specs right here. In case you’re on the lookout for energy, stick to the OnePlus 13R.

Why go for the Galaxy S24 FE as a substitute? It could actually do stuff you merely cannot do with an iPhone. This Galaxy telephone helps Samsung DeX, that means it is capable of replacing a PC for sure forms of duties, however that is solely of the various great uses for Samsung DeX. You may flip this telephone right into a sport console related to your TV or plug in a pair of AR glasses.

Plus, when you could not have the comfort of an Apple Retailer, Samsung telephones are the second best to get repaired at chains like UBreakIFix. Additionally they supply an ecosystem as good as Apple’s.

2

Nothing Cellphone 2a Plus

In case you’re shopping for the iPhone 16e since you simply need the most cost effective first rate telephone you may get, do not open your pockets simply but. The Nothing Cellphone 2a Plus will give you extra model and an awesome expertise for $200 much less.

Make no mistake, this is not a funds telephone. You are not getting the form of sluggish expertise you danger while you spend below $200. Nothing offers a big 120Hz 6.7-inch AMOLED show with 1300nits peak brightness. All three of these numbers are bigger than that of the iPhone 16e’s. So is the 12GB of RAM, the 50W quick charging, and not-one-but-two 50MP rear cameras.

On high of all that, you get to play with Nothing’s fancy glyph lights, the kind of hardware gimmick I’d like to see more of.

1

Moto Razr 2024

Now let’s actually have some enjoyable. The Moto Razr gives a bodily expertise you genuinely cannot get from any Apple product. It is a foldable that looks like your common telephone when open however shrinks right down to half the scale when closed.

Even in comparison with different flip-style foldables, the Moto Razr stands out. Its exterior cowl display is not restricted to displaying you the time or a handful of widgets. It could actually run many of the similar apps you open on the inner display. That makes this a small telephone possibility for individuals who discover that telephones typically have gotten means too large.

With an MSRP of $699, the Razr is technically pricier than the iPhone 16e. However let’s be actual—Motorola telephones virtually by no means promote for sticker worth, even when model new. This telephone is so on sale, there is a first rate probability a provider provides you with one totally free. And sure, for essentially the most half, the Razr is packing higher specs than the iPhone 16e, so do not feel such as you’re strolling away from the take care of one thing low cost.

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Even if you wish to stick to the iOS expertise, you are in all probability higher off purchasing for an older iPhone 15 or iPhone 14 than going with the 16e. You will get a extra highly effective telephone with better sturdiness and built-in MagSafe. You will miss out on Apple Intelligence, however is that really so bad?