5 Android phones I’d buy instead of the iPhone 16e

5

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

Like the iPhone 16e, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is the cheapest member of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 family. It brings the best bits of the company’s 2024 flagship phone in a cheaper package. The Galaxy S24 FE sports a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED panel with a higher peak brightness than the iPhone 16e. Internally, it uses an Exynos 2400e chipset. It isn’t as good as the iPhone 16e’s A18 SoC, but for regular use, it gets the job done.

Another area where Samsung’s offering wins is its triple-rear camera setup, which includes a 3x telephoto and a 12MP ultrawide. Irrespective of the imaging performance of the primary camera of the two phones, the Galaxy S24 FE wins because of the extra versatility provided by the additional lenses.

Battery life on the two phones is similar, but the Galaxy S24 FE wins with support for faster 15W wireless charging. Like the rest of the Galaxy S24 lineup, the FE gets seven years of updates, rivaling the iPhone 16e.

With a starting price of $650, the Galaxy S24 FE is $50 more than the iPhone 16e. However, the phone can be discounted to $500. Even the 256GB variant is discounted to around $560, making it cheaper than the iPhone 16e with the same storage.

4

Moto Razr 2024

The beauty of Android is that you can get phones in all shapes and sizes. If you are willing to experiment, you can get Motorola’s flip foldable, the Moto Razr (2024), instead of the iPhone 16e. The biggest highlight of the phone is its novel flip form factor, which allows you to carry a phone with a big 6.9-inch screen in your front jeans pocket.

You may make a few compromises with the Moto Razr (2024). Being a flip phone, it is less durable than a regular smartphone. The phone is IPX8 certified, so you must keep it from coming in contact with liquid. The MediaTek Dimensity chipset, while powerful, isn’t as fast as the iPhone 16e’s A18 SoC.

While the Razr offers decent battery life for a flip phone, the iPhone 16e lasts longer. The 50MP primary camera also falls short, delivering performance that doesn’t come close to the iPhone’s.

If you look past these shortcomings, the Moto Razr (2024) impresses with its sleek design and form factor. While the phone launched for $700, it is almost always available at a discounted price of $500, which is $100 less than the iPhone 16e.

3

Google Pixel 8a

But really, wait for the Pixel 9a if you can

If, like the iPhone 16e, you want an Android phone that delivers a clean Android experience, get the Pixel 8a. Google’s midrange Pixel carries a $500 MSRP, making it $100 cheaper than Apple’s new iPhone. That’s before discounts. The phone is available for as low as $400, making it a better deal.

The Pixel 8a is not as powerful as the iPhone 16e. Its Tensor G3 chip isn’t as good as the iPhone 16e’s A18 SoC. Even the Exynos modem, which comes with mmWave 5G support on units sold by Verizon, is infamous for its connectivity issues and higher power consumption.

Despite these two drawbacks, the Pixel 8a is a great iPhone 16e alternative if you want a compact phone and want to stay in the Android ecosystem. It delivers a clean Android experience and is backed by Google’s promise of seven years of Android updates from its launch, so expect software support until 2031.

Camera performance is another highlight of the Pixel 8a, with the 64MP main shooter and a 13MP ultrawide doing a fantastic job.

The iPhone 16e is better than the Pixel 8a in many key aspects. However, Google’s offering stands out for its value for money. If you were pushing your budget to get the iPhone, save money and get the Pixel 8a.

You will wait a few more weeks for the Pixel 9a. All rumors point to Google unveiling its midrange Pixel 9 family member around mid-March, a few months earlier this year. The phone will supposedly sport a larger 6.28-inch Actua Display with a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, a faster and more efficient Tensor G4 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Battery capacity will reportedly get a bump to 5,100mAh, which should boost the phone’s overall runtime.

Despite these upgrades, the Pixel 9a will purportedly retain its $499 price tag, making it a better value for the money. If the leaks about the Pixel 9a launching in mid-March are accurate, its debut is weeks away.

2

OnePlus 13R

One of the best mid-range Android phones you can buy

Unless you care about iOS or extended software support, the OnePlus 13R is a better buy than the iPhone 16e. It is among the best midrange Android phones. At $600, it costs the same as the iPhone 16e but comes with twice the storage space and 4GB more RAM.

The OnePlus 13R boasts a larger and brighter 120Hz 6.78-inch display, a beefier 6,000mAh battery, and up to 80W wired fast charging. It sports triple-rear cameras, including a dedicated 2x telephoto and an 8MP ultrawide, giving it an advantage over the iPhone 16e’s single rear shooter. The OnePlus midranger supports mmWave 5G, which the iPhone lacks.

The iPhone 16e has access to Apple Intelligence, but the AI features are of limited use in the real world. Plus, despite its limitations, Gemini is ahead of Siri.

The OnePlus 13R outshines the iPhone 16e in many ways, but falls short in software support. Despite its lower price tag, the iPhone 16e will get day one iOS updates alongside other iPhones. Apple will likely support the phone for at least six to seven years. For comparison, OnePlus promises four years of OS updates and six years of security patches for its midrange phone.

Another issue with the OnePlus 13R is its limited availability. You won’t find it in carrier stores, putting it at a disadvantage against the iPhone 16e. If you look past these shortcomings, the OnePlus 13R is the best alternative to the iPhone 16e that’s worth your money.

1

Samsung Galaxy S25

But there’s a big catch

The Galaxy S25 is a great alternative to the iPhone 16e, but it comes with a big asterisk. Samsung’s baby flagship costs $800 before discounts or offers, making it $200 more expensive than the iPhone 16e. If you have an old phone to exchange, you can take advantage of Samsung’s attractive trade-in program to get the phone for less.

For example, Samsung will pay $200 for your old iPhone 13 mini, knocking the Galaxy S25’s price to $600. If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or a newer model, the trade-in values are higher. These exchange prices are more than what Apple will pay for your old iPhone when trading it in for the iPhone 16e.

If you buy the phone from your carrier, they will likely offer attractive offers and trade-in deals, ensuring the Galaxy S25 costs less than its $800 MSRP.

The Galaxy S25 is a better phone than the iPhone 16e. Its 6.2-inch OLED panel can reach a higher peak brightness of 2,600 nits. It has a fast and efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC paired with 12GB RAM. There are three rear cameras, including a 50MP f/1.8 primary shooter, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide.

Connectivity-wise, Samsung’s device supports mmWave 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, which are more advanced standards than those found on the iPhone 16e. Like the iPhone, Samsung’s compact flagship is set to receive long-term software support, with the company promising seven years of updates.

There’s a catch when considering the Galaxy S25 over the iPhone 16e: its higher price tag. If you can make the most of Samsung’s generous trade-in program, its compact flagship becomes an easy winner.

These iPhone 16e alternatives are worth your money

The iPhone 16e is a great midrange phone from Apple, packing a powerful chip and modern design. If you switched from Android to iOS and want to go back to Android, the above phones are better, packing more capable cameras, longer battery life, and bigger displays. Irrespective of which phone you pick from the list above, you can’t go wrong with any of them.