Google unveiled its new Pixel 9a line of phones in mid-March with a reimagined design and a much more affordable price than the rest of the Pixel 9 range. Apple, meanwhile, unveiled its more affordable iPhone 16e in February. These two phones were introduced at the same time and offer very similar features, although they also have their differences.
We already compared the differences between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e. This time, we’re taking a quick trip outside the Apple ecosystem. In this comparison, we’ll be putting Apple’s iPhone 16e and Google’s Pixel 9a to the test. These are two high-end mid-range phones that are available for a much lower price than the rest of the phones in each manufacturer’s catalog. Read on for the iPhone 16e vs. Pixel 9a comparison to see their differences, technical specifications, design details, and much more.
- Technical specifications table
- Design
- Screen
- Processor
- Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e: Which is worth buying?
Technical specifications table
Before diving into the comparison between the iPhone 16e and the Pixel 9a, here’s a table showing all the hardware differences between the two phones from Apple and Google.
| iPhone 16e | Pixel 9a | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.84 x 7.15 x 0.78 mm | 15.47 x 7.33 x 0.89 cm |
| Weight | 167 g | 186 g |
| Screen | Super Retina XDR OLED Technology |
pOLED display |
| Screen dimensions | 6.1 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 2,532 by 1,170 pixels | 2,424 x 1,080 pixels |
| Pixel density | 460 p/p | 460 p/p |
| Processor | A18 chip | Tensor G4 |
| Operating system | iOS 18 | Android 15 |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Main chamber | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12 MP | – |
| Ultra wide angle camera | – | 13 MP |
| Front camera | 12 Mp | 12 MP |
| Battery capacity | 4005 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Autonomy | 26 hours of video playback | 30 hours of video playback |
| Others | Action button, C1 chip with 5G, Dual SIM, Face ID, IP68 resistance, Portrait mode with 6 effects, Photographic styles | 5G connectivity, Dual SIM, water and dust resistance (IP68) |
| Official price | 709 euros | 549 euros |
Design
Pixel 9a, Google LLC
While these two mid to high-end phones share many features, they have many differences in terms of design. The comparison between the iPhone 16e and the Pixel 9a shows us two completely different mobile phones in multiple ways.
On the front, while the iPhone 16e’s display is surrounded by a fairly thin bezel, the Google Pixel 9a’s widescreen is much deeper and more responsive. Its front-facing camera is housed in a small hole in the OLED panel, while the iPhone 16e still has a notch, not the Dynamic Island design found on other, more expensive iPhone models.
On the other hand, on the back we have a very pretty and very youthful Pixel 9a, yes, but also with a very interesting resemblance to the overall appearance of the iPhone 16, especially the back and the camera module. Of course, keeping the two lenses in horizontal orientation. As for the iPhone 16e, it has a single individual camera.
Screen
The iPhone 16e was officially launched on February 28.
Both phones start from a very strong position with the use of high-efficiency OLED panels. However, Google’s phone takes the lead with a larger, brighter display and a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
- Google Pixel 9a: 6.3-inch pOLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 2,700 nits.
- iPhone 16e: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits peak brightness.
Processor
In terms of performance, Apple’s mobile phone offers greater stability and efficiency. The Tensor G4 chip isn’t enough to compete with the latest generation of Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, and the A18 chip is ideal in terms of task and system resource management. However, both share the same RAM capacity. This is perhaps where the biggest difference in this comparison lies, the point that, on the other hand, favors a much lower cost for Google’s option.
- Google Pixel 9a: Google Tensor G4 Chip and 8 GB of RAM.
- iPhone 16e: Apple A18 chip with 8GB of RAM.
You can get a good look at how the Pixel 9a performs on Marques Brownlee’s YouTube channel:
Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e: Which is worth buying?
Let’s get straight to the point. If you’re looking for a high-performance phone with the most balanced hardware features, the Google Pixel 9a is definitely your phone. It’s an extremely affordable option for everything it offers. However, it has its limitations. After all, it’s a phone that costs just over €500.
On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 16e is the ideal choice for any Apple product enthusiast. A minimalist and elegant design, sober, with very powerful hardware and support for Apple Intelligence. It’s well worth it, but it’s a slightly more expensive option than the Pixel 9a and only has one rear camera, another point to keep in mind.
After this comparison between the two kings of the mid-range, it’s abundantly clear that both options are equally valid if you want the best value for money. Apple’s iPhone 16e has precipitously dropped its price on some online retail platforms, from €709 to around €650. So that adds even more excitement to this comparison. We love them both! But, above all, we love it when manufacturers offer cheaper versions of their flagships. Everyone wins here.
