Summary
The iPhone 16e now starts at $599, $100 more than the iPhone SE (2022).
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers a better display, camera, and value than the iPhone 16e.
OnePlus 13R provides powerful specs, a triple-camera setup, and longer battery life at a lower price.
The iPhone 16e is the latest addition to Apple's iPhone 16 lineup . While it brings some of the best features from Apple's entry-level iPhone 16 , including Apple Intelligence, a USB-C port, the A18 chipset, and the Action Button, Apple has also increased its price by $100. The iPhone 16e now starts at $599, making it pricier than the iPhone SE (2022), the device it's technically replacing.
If you're not locked into Apple's ecosystem and are open to trying non-iPhone devices, there are plenty of Android smartphones that offer better features, hardware, and greater value for your money. Here are some of the best Android alternatives to the iPhone 16e.
iPhone 16e header Read our review
The iPhone 16e is the perfect phone for your parents
Apple's new entry-level smartphone might not be for me, but it's a solid device for the average iPhone user.
5 Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
A feature-packed mid-ranger that gets everything right
Galaxy S24 FE on table
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE may not be Samsung's latest smartphone, but this mid-ranger gets a lot of things right. It features a big 6.7-inch AMOLED display with higher peak brightness than the iPhone 16e, along with a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother animations and an overall better viewing experience.
Another area where the Galaxy S24 FE shines is the camera setup. Unlike the iPhone 16e, which comes with just a single 48-megapixel sensor, the S24 FE offers a triple-camera system, including a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor.
While the Exynos 2400e chipset may not match the iPhone 16e's A18 processor in raw power, it's still more than capable. Plus, the Galaxy S24 FE comes with Galaxy AI features, including Circle to Search, Live Translate, Photo Assist, and more, with additional AI features arriving in the upcoming One UI 7 update.
Although the Galaxy S24 FE has a higher starting price than the iPhone 16e at $650, it is frequently discounted, often selling for less than the iPhone 16e, making it an even better value.
galaxy-s24-fe-product-1
Galaxy S24 FE
$499 $650 Save $151
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is the company's latest mid-range smartphone, featuring a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, an Exynos 2400e chipset, and up to 512GB of internal storage. It comes with a 50MP primary camera, a 4,700 mAh battery, and built-in Galaxy AI features.
galaxy-s24-fe-4 Related
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This year's Galaxy S24 FE is no longer just a value compromise, it's a legitimately great phone.
4 Nothing Phone 3a Pro
An eye-catching design with AI-powered features
Nothing Phone 3a Pro in hand against a brightly lit wall
The iPhone 16e features a minimalist design with flat edges, a single rear camera, and a plain back with the Apple logo. While its clean aesthetic may appeal to many, if you're looking for a phone with a more unique design and better features at a lower price, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro might be worth considering.
Unveiled at MWC 2025, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is the company's latest mid-range smartphone. It sticks to Nothing's signature industrial design, featuring a transparent back, exposed screws, and an eye-catching triple-camera setup. Unlike most smartphones that arrange their cameras in a vertical or horizontal layout, the Phone 3a Pro places its cameras within a circular module in an asymmetrical manner, giving it a distinctive look.
In terms of camera hardware, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro beats the iPhone 16e with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor -- the last two of which are missing on Apple's mid-range device.
On the front, the Phone 3a Pro packs a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Nothing has also integrated AI-powered features, the most notable being the Essential Key. Similar to Pixel Screenshots on Google Pixel devices, pressing the Essential Key opens Essential Space, where you can store screenshots and voice memos, with AI automatically organizing content and extracting useful information.
The only potential downside is carrier support. While the iPhone 16e works flawlessly across all US carriers, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro supports AT&T and T-Mobile, but the company says that Verizon support may be somewhat inconsistent.
Nothing Phone 3a Pro tag
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro gets almost everything right for its price. It features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz support, a clean software experience packed with AI features, and a strikingly unique design.
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Nothing has officially unveiled its mid-range Phone 3a Series at Mobile World Congress 2025, but leaks spoiled much of the surprise factor.
3 Pixel 8a
A no-fuss phone with long-term Android support
Google Pixel 8a in hand with blurred background.
If you like the iPhone 16e's simple, no-fuss approach but want the same experience on Android, the Google Pixel 8a is your best bet. Like the iPhone 16e, it offers a clean software experience, built-in AI features, and long-term software support. Google promises seven years of Android upgrades for the Pixel 8a, matching the iPhone's longevity. Plus, since it's a Google phone, you'll get Android updates faster than any other Android brand.
In terms of performance, the Pixel 8a's Tensor G3 chipset may not match Apple's A18, but after a year of using the Pixel 8a, I haven't encountered significant slowdowns or bugs. It also comes loaded with useful AI features like Circle to Search, Pixel Screenshots, Gemini, and many more.
The Pixel 8a doesn't do anything extraordinary, but if you want the iPhone experience on a mid-range Android, this is the phone to get.
If you can wait a few weeks, I'd actually recommend holding off, as the Pixel 9a is rumored to launch soon. But if you need a solid mid-range Android phone right now, the Pixel 8a is hard to pass up.
The Pixel 8a in Aloe.
Pixel 8a
$449 $499 Save $50
The Pixel 8a is Google's no-fuss mid-ranger, offering solid upgrades over its predecessor. It features a brighter display, a newer Tensor processor, and reliable cameras. Plus, it comes with seven years of OS updates and plenty of Google's AI smarts.
A person holding a blue Pixel 8a. Related
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2 Moto Razr (2024)
A budget-friendly way to try a flip phone
moto razr 40 ultra standing cover screen
One of the best things about the Android ecosystem is that brands are always experimenting with form factors and design. While Apple has yet to enter the foldable smartphone market, Android phone makers have been pushing foldables for years. With that in mind, you can get that foldable experience for around the same price as the iPhone 16e, thanks to the Moto Razr (2024).
This clamshell-style foldable costs $100 less than the iPhone 16e, yet it offers a foldable design. It features a 3.6-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch foldable inner screen. Unlike some other flip phones, like the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Moto Razr offers a full-cover screen that wraps around the camera sensors, giving it a modern look. Plus, you can run any app on the cover display, making the outer cover screen even more useful.
Beyond design, the Moto Razr (2024) also brings an ultra-wide camera, something the iPhone 16e lacks. Of course, there are some trade-offs — you won't get the same durability, camera performance, or long-term software support as Apple's phone. But if you're looking to try a foldable phone at a similar price point, the Moto Razr (2024) is one of the best ways to do it.
Product box image of the Motorola Razr 2024
Moto Razr (2024)
$500 $700 Save $200
If you're looking to experience a foldable phone without breaking the bank, the Moto Razr (2024) is worth considering. It offers larger inner and cover displays than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, along with a bigger battery and faster charging for added convenience.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip in several colors. Related
Clamshell foldable phones are the wave of the future - here’s why
Book-style foldables might be sexier, but pragmatism is going to win the day.
1 OnePlus 13R
Powerful specs without the premium price tag
OnePlus 13R in hand, showcasing the back design of the phone
If you want the best bang for your buck, the OnePlus 13R is the phone to get. It features a big 6.78-inch AMOLED display that's bright, sharp, and supports a 120Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for daily use and content consumption. The flat sides, glass back, and metal rails give it a premium look similar to the iPhone 16e, but with one key difference — the camera setup.
The OnePlus 13R packs a triple-camera module containing a 50-megapiel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, giving it an edge over the iPhone 16e's single-camera setup.
Under the hood, it runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which, while technically last-gen, is still one of the most capable chips available. This chipset delivers smooth gaming at high frame rates and effortlessly handles daily tasks. The base model also starts at 256GB of storage, which is double what you get on the iPhone 16e. Plus, OnePlus has packed in several AI features, including Object Eraser, AI Summary, and AI Write, to assist with everyday tasks.
The OnePlus 13R is one of the best phones when it comes to battery life. It houses a massive 6,000 mAh battery that easily lasts a full day, no matter what you throw at it. And when you do need to charge, 80W fast charging can fully power up the phone in under an hour. While the iPhone 16e's battery life is impressive (as noted by our Editor-in-Chief Patrick O'Rourke in his review) it still doesn't match up to the OnePlus 13R's combination of long battery and fast charging speed.
Product box image for OnePlus 13R
OnePlus 13R
If you want flagship-level power without a flagship price, the OnePlus 13R is a solid choice. It features a bright 6.7-inch AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with plenty of RAM and storage, and a massive 6,000 mAh battery with 80W fast charging support.