TheGoogle Pixel 9ais here , and it ’s a worthy contender for theApple iPhone 16e‘s crown as one of the top budget phones . But does Google ’s latest budget machine really sit a threat to Apple ’s no - frill iPhone ? We looked at the Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e head to brain , from design and video display to battery life and execution , to see which earphone comes out on top — and which you should bribe .

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: specs

2,424 x 1,080 resolution at 422.2 ppi

120Hz adaptive refresh pace

2,700 nits peak light

Corning Gorilla   Glass 3 top field glass

2,532 x 1,170 resolution at 457 ppi

800 nits typical brightness

1,200 nit top out HDR brightness

Iris

Peony

Porcelain

Obsidian

White

3,961mAh

7.5W radio charging

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: design and display

The first thing you ’ll find about the Google Pixel 9a are those squatty bezel . The speech sound is larger and chunkier than the iPhone 16e , not to advert almost 20 grams lumbering . That ’s partially due to the larger 6.3 - inch Actua showing , with its 2,424 x 1,080 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate , plus an impressive 2,700 nits of peak luminousness compared to the iPhone ’s 1,200 nit . In our review , the iPhone 16e ’s 6.1 - inch Super Retina XDR OLED display disappointed , with its 60Hz refresh rate flavour jarring at first .

The curvy flesh of the Pixel 8a is gone , replaced by flat side and a unconditional rearward board , and the camera bump has vanished too , with the two rearward cameras integrate into the back of the phone . It ’s a bold move by Google , but it ’s compensate off , as we really jazz it .

The Google Pixel 9a features an 81 % reuse plastic rump and 100 % recycled atomic number 13 chassis , with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the display and an IP68 rating . The iPhone 16e pack an IP68 rating , too , with Ceramic Shield Glass covering the display .

One other standout difference is that the Pixel 9a comes in four coloring from the vibrant . heart - catching Iris ( purple - blue-blooded ) and Peony ( crimson - pinko ) ,   to the more electroneutral options , Obsidian and Porcelain . The iPhone 16e is only available in black or whitened .

It ’s too close to call a winner this round , as some citizenry may prefer the chunkier bezels and large display of the Pixel 9a , while others might relish the lighter , more compact format of the iPhone 16e . The refresh rate is a veridical succeeder though , as is the far more innovative showing design . The notch is just too previous for us to really commend it , even at this price bracket .

Winner : Google Pixel 9a

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: performance

Both Google and Apple have equipped their late budget handset with the same processor as each brand ’s most recent flagship . That means thePixel 9‘s Tensor G4 chip and theiPhone 16‘s A18 central processor . In our reassessment of these phones , both chip were fast , reliable , and did n’t have any unexpected overheating issues . Unfortunately , that ’s not the case for the Pixel 9a , which does tend to get fond in demanding apps and games .

The iPhone 16e ’s A18 central processor delivers outstanding carrying into action even when subjected to weighty load . There were some small glitches and bugs , and we noted that features like FaceID responded importantly slower than on the iPhone 16 Pro , though this is likely only noticeable for those coming from another iPhone . The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to apply Apple ’s C1 modem , and we did n’t receive any difference in performance between it and the iPhone 16 Pro ( with its Qualcomm modem ) , though signal strength was slightly low-spirited .

For those who call for supererogatory storage , the iPhone may be the better option . Where the Pixel 9a packs 128 GB or 256 GB of storage , Apple ’s twist add a 512 GB variant to the intermixture .

While both of these phones have flagship performance , the Tensor ’s continue issues with overheating mean the iPhone has an edge here .

Winner : Apple iPhone 16e

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: cameras

The iPhone 16e has a single arse 48MP camera with form catching autofocus and OIS , and a 12MP TrueDepth front - face photographic camera . In our review , we discover the camera well than await but noted that anyone switching from a phone with multiple cameras will likely be disappointed .

We expected the Pixel 9a to do well , but in ourPixel 9a and iPhone 16e camera comparison , we found the two were closer than we carry . The Pixel 9a at long last triumphed over the iPhone , but it was a narrow-minded win for certain , meaning you may be certain of an excellent television camera no matter which of the two you buy .

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: battery and charging

Under the bonnet of the Pixel 9a , you ’ll find a 5,100mAh battery , which Google suppose provide around 30 hours of electric battery life on a single charge . Apple claims the iPhone 16e ’s 4,005mAh battery is good for up to 26 hours of video recording playback — the best battery aliveness on an iPhone , and on par with , if not better than , the iPhone 16 Pro Max . Our review find it to be a multi - solar day sound , live on for around 39 hours of trial - meter plus 10 hr of screen - on metre . The Pixel 9a can not meet this , managing around five hour of screen metre on a single charge . That ’s impressive , but not enough to trump the iPhone 16e .

The iPhone 16e has 20W wired charging , while the Pixel 9a packs marginally faster 23W wired charging , with both phone also offering 7.5W wireless charging . The iPhone 16e postulate around 30 moment to reach a 50 % charge , then another hour to full capacity .

The Pixel has a hard battery life , but it can not match the right-down amount of battery life sentence the iPhone 16e has .

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: software and updates

Google ’s Pixel 9a runs Android 15 out of the corner , with Google prognosticate seven years of software and surety updates alongside its regular Pixel Drop updates . In contrast , the iPhone 16e die hard iOS 18 and though Apple has n’t specify how many class of support are on offer , we can expect a minimum of five long time of update .

Both phones have their several AI - powered features , with Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16e let in features such as Visual Intelligence to describe what your tv camera can see , Photo Clean for tidying up images , write Tools for help muster in emails and other documents , and ChatGPT integrating . Google Gemini packs features such as automatic transcription and summarization for telephone set calls via Gemini Live , and Add Me , which get you total people to photograph .

The Google Pixel 9a is the clear winner here with its long software accompaniment window mean it will outlive the iPhone 16e .

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: price and availability

The Pixel 9a is now uncommitted after a delay that took its release day of the month to April . It is priced from $ 499 for the 128 GB example .

The iPhone 16e is available from most major retailer includingApple . It comes in black or white and costs from $ 599 for the 128 GB model , with the 256 GB variant available for $ 100 more . If you involve 512 GB of storage , that model is price at $ 899 .

Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: verdict

Comparing these two devices is difficult as we have n’t yet reviewed the Pixel 9a , and for many people , the decision of which one to buy will come down to the age - former question : Apple or Android ?

Ultimately , both phones are a swell buy , but the Google Pixel 9a is our winner . Not only will it outlast the iPhone 16e with its seven years of software bread and butter , but it also pack a beefier battery and dual rearward photographic camera array — plus , it ’s brassy . We ’d still urge the iPhone 16e for those who prefer Apple ’s ecosystem , and we were imprint by its long barrage life , solid tv camera , and overall performance .