Selecting the best midrange smartphone can be difficult, particularly with the two new options: the Pixel 9a and the iPhone 16e. Both phones offer great features, performance, and design, but which one best suits your requirements? Let's look at several aspects of both models to help you make an informed choice.

Design and build

The iPhone 16e retains its premium feel with an aerospace-grade aluminium frame and ceramic shield front. It weighs 167 grams, making it light, compact, and comfortable to hold. Although it still features a notch, which is becoming outdated compared to the iPhone 16's Dynamic Island, it maintains a sleek design. The iPhone 16e also adds the action button, replacing the traditional ring/silent switch, allowing users to customise it for various functions.

On the other hand, the Google Pixel 9a has a minimalistic and practical design with no camera bump on the back. It has a polycarbonate back with a matte finish, providing a smooth, non-slip surface. The Gorilla Glass front offers protection against scratches and minor drops, making it durable for everyday use. It weighs 186 grams, slightly heavier than the iPhone 16e.

Both phones have IP68 water resistance, making them resistant to dust and water exposure. The Pixel 9a features a punch-hole display, which offers more screen space and feels less intrusive compared to the iPhone 16e's notch. Unlike the iPhone, the Pixel 9a has a plastic back instead of a glass panel, but both phones come with an aluminium frame.

Display

The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2,532 x 1,170 pixels, a peak brightness of 1200 nits, and a fixed refresh rate of 60 Hz. The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, has a slightly larger 6.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,424 x 1,080 pixels, supporting a 120 Hz refresh rate with a peak brightness of 2700 nits. When it comes to display quality, the Pixel 9a has an advantage with its higher refresh rate and better brightness, making it more fluid and visible in bright outdoor conditions.

Performance

When it comes to performance, both Google and Apple use their own chipsets. The Pixel 9a is equipped with the same Tensor G4 chip as the Pixel 9, while the iPhone 16e comes with the A18 chipset, which is also found in the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16e has an edge in performance thanks to its A18 chip, built on a 3 nm processor, offering better efficiency and speed than the Tensor G4, which is built on a 4 nm processor.

Both the iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a come with 8 GB RAM, which ensures smooth multitasking. The iPhone 16e also includes Apple Intelligence, while the Pixel 9a is known for its AI-driven camera features and also comes in with Gemini. However, in terms of raw performance and efficiency, the iPhone 16e holds an advantage over the Pixel 9a.

Camera

The iPhone 16e has a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. It delivers high-quality images, especially with features like Smart HDR 5 and the Photonic Engine, which enhance colour accuracy and detail. Additionally, the iPhone 16e includes Cinematic Mode for 4K HDR video recording, allowing users to create professional-looking videos with a shallow depth of field. However, it lacks an ultra-wide camera, which limits its versatility.

The Pixel 9a comes with a 48-megapixel main rear camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera, along with a 13-megapixel front-facing camera. It also supports 4K video recording, making it a more versatile option for photography. The addition of an ultra-wide camera allows for capturing a wider field of view, which is useful for landscape shots and group photos. Google's AI-driven computational photography features, such as Night Sight and Super Res Zoom, further enhance the Pixel 9a's camera capabilities.

Battery 

In terms of battery life, the Pixel 9a comes with a whopping 5100 mAh battery, whereas Apple has not stated the exact battery capacity of the iPhone 16e. While the large battery capacity on the Pixel phone might put it above, Apple says the iPhone 16e has the "best battery life in an iPhone this size", offering up to 6 hours longer than iPhone 11, and up to 12 hours longer than iPhone SE in daily usage. Additionally, both phones support wireless charging of 7.5 W through specific chargers. Google Pixel 9a offers "30 hours of battery life" over iPhone 16e's advertised "26 hours of video playback" - putting the Apple product possibly slightly edging out in terms of battery longevity, though it's still difficult to say without a specific measurement of capacity. Nonetheless, usage rates will always define battery life in the end.

Software

The iPhone 16e runs on iOS 18 and will receive five years of software updates, ensuring long-term security and feature enhancements. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9a comes with stock Android 15 and promises seven years of software updates, making it a better long-term investment in terms of software support. The Pixel 9a also benefits from Google's AI-driven features, while the iPhone 16e integrates seamlessly with Apple's ecosystem, including iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime.

Price and final thoughts

Both phones offer unique experiences in their own fields. The starting price of the Pixel 9a for the base model is $499, while the iPhone 16e is slightly more expensive, starting at $599. The $100 difference might not matter at the end of the day if you can afford either phone.

Wrapping up - if you want a pure stock Android experience, camera versatility, and AI features, the Pixel 9a is the phone to go for. If you are someone who loves the Apple ecosystem, premium design, and great video shooting capabilities, then the iPhone 16e should be the right choice.