iPhone 16e vs Pixel 9a: Which is better in 2025
Comparison of iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
Google recently released the Pixel 9a—a mid-range Android smartphone that has become a competitor to Apple’s iPhone 16e, introduced earlier this year. MacRumors tested the Pixel 9a to compare the budget model from Google with the more affordable version of Apple’s iPhone.
The Pixel 9a complements the flagship Pixel 9 and 9 Pro lineup released by Google last year, just as the iPhone 16e is part of the iPhone 16 series. The base price of the Pixel 9a is $499, which is $100 cheaper than the starting price of the iPhone 16e at $599.
Externally, the iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a are not very different: both devices feature a minimalist design, aluminum frame, matte back panel, and a more compact camera module compared to flagships. The Pixel 9a has a plastic back panel rather than glass, which makes it slightly less premium but more resistant to damage.
If the iPhone 16e has a single protruding camera, the Pixel 9a has a dual module that barely sticks out from the body. It includes a 48-megapixel main wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, while the iPhone 16e is limited to a single 48-megapixel camera.
Both smartphones take great photos, and in most situations, the difference between them is hard to notice.
The Pixel 9a wins in portrait photography thanks to better depth of field and no restriction on the number of people in the frame, unlike how it's implemented in the iPhone 16e. However, Apple shines in video recording—its phone has one of the best image stabilization systems on the market.
As for the display, the iPhone 16e has thinner bezels and higher resolution, but the Pixel 9a offers 120 Hz refresh rate support and the Always-On Display feature, which the 16e lacks. Android smartphone makers still haven’t matched Face ID, so the Pixel 9a uses a fingerprint scanner.
Most likely, there won’t be any performance issues with either smartphone, although the iPhone 16e may deliver better results in demanding games.
However, the Pixel 9a significantly outpaces its rival in artificial intelligence: Apple is still far behind. Gemini performs better than Siri, and Pixel Studio surpasses Image Playground. Google has implemented better object removal from photos, convenient frame selection features, added people to images, and much more.
