I've often expressed interest in buying an iPhone, much to the surprise of my friends and family. My curiosity mainly stems from nostalgia for the iPod Touch, which Apple clearly has no intention of reviving. I’ve always preferred experiencing iOS without fully committing to an iPhone, but if I were to make the switch, I definitely wouldn’t want to spend iPhone 16 Pro Max money—even if it’s the most exciting model of the bunch.
So, I decided to wait for the iPhone 16e. Back then, I assumed it would carry the iPhone SE branding. The 2022 model was tempting as an iPod Touch replacement, and I figured the next version would be even better.
As time passed, rumors about the iPhone 16e emerged. Leaks suggested it would have an OLED display (finally!) and a more modern design. Conflicting reports debated whether it would have a notch or Dynamic Island, but everything pointed to it being the affordable iPhone I had been waiting for.
iPhone 16e's Launch Was Disappointing
When the iPhone 16e finally launched, I found myself frustrated with Apple’s choices.
Yes, it has an OLED display with deeper blacks and better contrast, but it’s still stuck at 60Hz. I can’t even remember the last time I used a phone with that refresh rate. Even budget Android phones from Motorola—which I frequently review—offer a smoother experience at half the price. Case in point: the $399 Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) comes with a 120Hz OLED panel, which looks fantastic.
Then there’s the camera—or lack thereof. The iPhone 16e has a single rear camera, which is simply unacceptable for a $600 phone. I’m not saying Apple should slap four cameras on a phone just for the sake of it, but not even including a secondary sensor feels like a huge omission.
Almost everything about the iPhone 16e was telling me not to buy it. Even Harish Jonnalagadda, in his review, called it “a good phone at a bad price.” Still, since it was the cheapest "new" iPhone available, I was tempted to pull the trigger—until the Pixel 9a launched.
And Pixel 9a confirmed my biggest fear: Apple has no idea how to deliver value.
Pixel 9a Proves Google Knows Value Phones
I’ve never been the biggest Pixel fan, but there’s no denying that Google makes some of the best phones you can buy. So, it was no surprise that Pixel 9a nailed it.
Based on early Android feature reveals and hands-on impressions, the Pixel 9a feels like what the iPhone 16e should have been.
It features a bigger, much brighter OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It has a 13MP ultrawide camera, something I realized I can’t live without after using the Razr Plus 2024.
The Pixel 9a also offers faster USB speeds, and while I can’t speak about battery life yet, Google’s 5,100mAh battery—with an estimated 30+ hours of usage—sounds way better than the iPhone 16e’s 4,005mAh unit.
On top of that, Apple is falling behind in AI, delaying its long-awaited Siri upgrades. Meanwhile, Google is going full steam ahead with Gemini AI, even preparing to replace Google Assistant by year’s end. The Pixel 9a won’t have every AI feature of the flagship Pixel 9, nor will all AI tasks be processed on-device, but Google’s AI and software are miles ahead, offering fun, useful features for Pixel 9a users.
I should also mention that Pixel phones come in more interesting colors, which is more than I can say for the iPhone 16e’s basic black and white options.
And the best part? Pixel 9a costs $100 less than the iPhone 16e.
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