Announced within the space of a month, the Google Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e are premium mid-range phones that come in under the $600 mark. If you’re in the market for a high-quality but somewhat affordable device, these will likely be at the top of your list. So how do they compare?
The Pixel 9a Has Better Color Options
The Pixel 9a is a little larger and heavier than the iPhone 16e, in part to accommodate a bigger screen and higher-capacity battery. It also has thicker bezels. The iPhone, by contrast, has a very prominent notch, so take your pick.
Both devices have a glass front and an aluminum frame, but the Pixel has a plastic back. Otherwise, the devices look largely similar. The camera bar that’s synonymous with the Pixel range is absent on the Pixel 9a. The camera housing on both devices is minimal.
Around the edges, the Pixel has a slot for a nano-SIM, whereas the iPhone is eSIM only. The iPhone also has the very useful Action button on the side.
For many, the biggest design difference is in the color options. Both devices are available in black and white, but the Pixel has a couple of more fun options in pink (Peony) and blue (Iris).
The Pixel’s Display Is Bigger, Brighter, and Faster
The Pixel 9a has a larger screen at 6.3 inches compared to 6.1 on the iPhone. It gets more than twice as bright and has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This gives it much smoother animations when scrolling, and more fluid gameplay. The iPhone 16e, like the full iPhone 16, has a display pegged to a very old-fashioned 60Hz. The Pixel also offers an Always On display.
The iPhone display has slightly higher resolution and pixel density, but not so much as you would notice. It is covered with ceramic shield glass, which should be tougher than the Gorilla Glass 3 on the Pixel.
For Performance, the A18 Chip in the iPhone 16e Is Way Ahead
The iPhone 16e is powered by the A18 chipset, which is sure to outperform the Pixel 9a in pretty much every metric. The 9a uses the same Tensor G4 chip as the other Pixel 9 devices. It isn’t a slouch, but if raw performance is what you’re after, then there’s no comparison.
Both devices start at 128GB of storage, which is certainly on the small side. Given the price difference, though, you can double the Pixel storage and still pay less than you would for the base iPhone 16e.
Apple’s device does have quite a few compromises to meet its price point. One of the most striking examples is the USB-C port, which is restricted to USB 2.0 speeds. That’s not ideal if you’ve got a lot of data to copy over to the device.
Both Phones Have AI Limitations (if You Care About That)
The Pixel 9a launches with Android 15 and is guaranteed for up to seven major OS upgrades. The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18 and should also get several years of updates, although Apple hasn’t specified exactly how many.
One of the biggest differences between the two operating systems today is in AI performance. Android is streets ahead here, given that most of what Apple promised with Apple Intelligence has yet to materialize and may not do for some time.
The Pixel packs in a host of Gemini AI features, although as Android Police reports, RAM restrictions mean you don’t get the full experience you get on the Pixel 9. It’s fair to assume that the gap between the devices will only grow. But you do also get AI in the camera app, phone app, and elsewhere, with some being more useful than others.
Three Cameras and a Macro Mode Put the Pixel Ahead
The Google Pixel 9a has a better camera setup. Not only are there two rear cameras, but it can also shoot in Macro mode. These are absent on the iPhone 16e.
The main cameras both shoot at 48MP. The Pixel 9a’s sensor is a little larger, and the iPhone 16e’s aperture is a little brighter, but otherwise they’re technically similar. It’s the same story with the front-facing cameras—13MP on the Pixel, and 12MP on the iPhone.
But the Pixel adds in a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens, as well as that macro mode for shooting extreme close-ups of objects. And it’s all powered by Google’s AI-infused camera app, which includes things like the Add Me feature and the Magic Eraser. The 16e lacks a lot of the hardware and software features that have made the iPhone so great for photography.
Neither phone has a zoom lens. That might not sound like a surprise, but you can get zooms at this price point, such as through the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro.
The Pixel 9a Has a Bigger Battery
Battery life has typically been one of the weak points of Google’s a-series phones. That shouldn’t be the case with the 9a, which sees its battery upgraded to a 5100mAh capacity.
This is about 27% larger than you get in the iPhone 16e. However, it’s difficult to compare the batteries on specs alone, due to the differences in the operating systems, the modems, and so on. In our iPhone 16e review, we found the battery life to be better than on other iPhones.
Both phones support 7.5W wireless charging.
The Pixel Is $40 Cheaper for Twice the Storage
The Pixel 9a starts at $499, which is $100 less than the iPhone 16e’s cheapest variant. You can double the storage for $559.
The Pixel tops out at 256GB. The iPhone has a 256GB version for $699 and even a 512GB version for $899. If your budget stretches that far, you might want to look at the full iPhone 16 instead.
The Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e have a lot of similarities but differ in key areas. The Pixel is cheaper, has a better screen, more color options, and potentially longer battery life. The camera system is better, too, although I’ll reserve judgment there until I’ve seen some proper tests.
But if pure performance is what you’re after, the iPhone 16e is the way to go. It’s slightly more capable as a video device and will certainly be better for gaming (and iOS has better games as well).
And remember, these aren’t the only two high-quality mid-range phones on the market. There are a lot of excellent sub-$600 phones on sale right now.
