Introduced inside the house of a month, the Google Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e are premium mid-range telephones that are available underneath the $600 mark. If you happen to’re available in the market for a high-quality however considerably inexpensive gadget, these will doubtless be on the high of your checklist. So how do they examine?
The Pixel 9a Has Higher Shade Choices
The Pixel 9a is just a little bigger and heavier than the iPhone 16e, partially to accommodate a much bigger display and higher-capacity battery. It additionally has thicker bezels. The iPhone, in contrast, has a really distinguished notch, so take your choose.
Each gadgets have a glass entrance and an aluminum body, however the Pixel has a plastic again. In any other case, the gadgets look largely comparable. The digicam bar that is synonymous with the Pixel vary is absent on the Pixel 9a. The digicam housing on each gadgets is minimal.
Across the edges, the Pixel has a slot for a nano-SIM, whereas the iPhone is eSIM solely. The iPhone additionally has the very helpful Motion button on the facet.
For a lot of, the largest design distinction is within the colour choices. Each gadgets can be found in black and white, however the Pixel has a few extra enjoyable choices in pink (Peony) and blue (Iris).
The Pixel’s Show Is Larger, Brighter, and Sooner
The Pixel 9a has a bigger display at 6.3 inches in comparison with 6.1 on the iPhone. It will get greater than twice as vivid and has a variable refresh fee of as much as 120Hz. This offers it a lot smoother animations when scrolling, and extra fluid gameplay. The iPhone 16e, like the complete iPhone 16, has a show pegged to a really old style 60Hz. The Pixel additionally affords an All the time On show.
The iPhone show has barely larger decision and pixel density, however not a lot as you’d discover. It’s lined with ceramic protect glass, which must be harder than the Gorilla Glass 3 on the Pixel.
For Efficiency, the A18 Chip within the iPhone 16e Is Means Forward
The iPhone 16e is powered by the A18 chipset, which is bound to outperform the Pixel 9a in just about each metric. The 9a makes use of the identical Tensor G4 chip as the opposite Pixel 9 gadgets. It is not a slouch, but when uncooked efficiency is what you are after, then there is not any comparability.
Each gadgets begin at 128GB of storage, which is actually on the small facet. Given the value distinction, although, you’ll be able to double the Pixel storage and nonetheless pay lower than you’d for the bottom iPhone 16e.
Apple’s gadget does have fairly just a few compromises to meet its price point. Some of the putting examples is the USB-C port, which is restricted to USB 2.0 speeds. That is not supreme when you’ve received plenty of knowledge to repeat over to the gadget.
Each Telephones Have AI Limitations (if You Care About That)
The Pixel 9a launches with Android 15 and is assured for as much as seven main OS upgrades. The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18 and also needs to get a number of years of updates, though Apple hasn’t specified precisely what number of.
One of many greatest variations between the 2 working techniques right this moment is in AI efficiency. Android is streets forward right here, given that almost all of what Apple promised with Apple Intelligence has but to materialize and should not do for a while.
The Pixel packs in a bunch of Gemini AI options, though as Android Police studies, RAM restrictions imply you aren’t getting the complete expertise you get on the Pixel 9. It is truthful to imagine that the hole between the gadgets will solely develop. However you do additionally get AI within the digicam app, telephone app, and elsewhere, with some being extra helpful than others.
Three Cameras and a Macro Mode Put the Pixel Forward
The Google Pixel 9a has a greater digicam setup. Not solely are there two rear cameras, however it may additionally shoot in Macro mode. These are absent on the iPhone 16e.
The principle cameras each shoot at 48MP. The Pixel 9a’s sensor is just a little bigger, and the iPhone 16e’s aperture is just a little brighter, however in any other case they’re technically comparable. It is the identical story with the front-facing cameras—13MP on the Pixel, and 12MP on the iPhone.
However the Pixel provides in a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens, in addition to that macro mode for capturing excessive close-ups of objects. And it is all powered by Google’s AI-infused digicam app, which incorporates issues just like the Add Me characteristic and the Magic Eraser. The 16e lacks a lot of the hardware and software features which have made the iPhone so nice for images.
Neither telephone has a zoom lens. Which may not sound like a shock, however you will get zooms at this worth level, corresponding to through the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro.
The Pixel 9a Has a Larger Battery
Battery life has sometimes been one of many weak factors of Google’s a-series telephones. That should not be the case with the 9a, which sees its battery upgraded to a 5100mAh capability.
That is about 27% bigger than you get within the iPhone 16e. Nevertheless, it is tough to check the batteries on specs alone, because of the variations within the working techniques, the modems, and so forth. In our iPhone 16e review, we discovered the battery life to be higher than on different iPhones.
Each telephones help 7.5W wi-fi charging.
The Pixel Is $40 Cheaper for Twice the Storage
The Pixel 9a begins at $499, which is $100 lower than the iPhone 16e’s least expensive variant. You possibly can double the storage for $559.
The Pixel tops out at 256GB. The iPhone has a 256GB model for $699 and even a 512GB model for $899. In case your funds stretches that far, you may need to look at the full iPhone 16 as an alternative.
The Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e have plenty of similarities however differ in key areas. The Pixel is cheaper, has a greater display, extra colour choices, and doubtlessly longer battery life. The digicam system is best, too, though I will reserve judgment there till I’ve seen some correct exams.
But when pure efficiency is what you are after, the iPhone 16e is the way in which to go. It is barely extra succesful as a video gadget and will definitely be higher for gaming (and iOS has higher video games as properly).
And keep in mind, these aren’t the one two high-quality mid-range telephones in the marketplace. There are plenty of excellent sub-$600 phones on sale proper now.