Neglect the iPhone 16e, these 5 Android telephones are approach higher

The iPhone 16e is the newest addition to Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup. Whereas it brings among the finest options from Apple’s entry-level iPhone 16, together with Apple Intelligence, a USB-C port, the A18 chipset, and the Motion Button, Apple has additionally elevated its value by $100. The iPhone 16e now begins at $599, making it pricier than the iPhone SE (2022), the system it is technically changing.

If you happen to’re not locked into Apple’s ecosystem and are open to attempting non-iPhone gadgets, there are many Android smartphones that provide higher options, {hardware}, and better worth in your cash. Listed below are among the finest Android alternate options to the iPhone 16e.

5 Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

A feature-packed mid-ranger that will get the whole lot proper

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will not be Samsung’s newest smartphone, however this mid-ranger will get numerous issues proper. It includes a huge 6.7-inch AMOLED show with greater peak brightness than the iPhone 16e, together with a 120Hz refresh fee for smoother animations and an total higher viewing expertise.

One other space the place the Galaxy S24 FE shines is the digital camera setup. In contrast to the iPhone 16e, which comes with only a single 48-megapixel sensor, the S24 FE presents a triple-camera system, together with a 50-megapixel major digital camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor.

Whereas the Exynos 2400e chipset could not match the iPhone 16e’s A18 processor in uncooked energy, it is nonetheless greater than succesful. Plus, the Galaxy S24 FE comes with Galaxy AI features, together with Circle to Search, Stay Translate, Picture Help, and extra, with extra AI options arriving within the upcoming One UI 7 replace.

Though the Galaxy S24 FE has a better beginning value than the iPhone 16e at $650, it’s ceaselessly discounted, typically promoting for lower than the iPhone 16e, making it an excellent higher worth.

Galaxy S24 FE

$499 $650 Save $151

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is the corporate’s newest mid-range smartphone, that includes a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED show, an Exynos 2400e chipset, and as much as 512GB of inner storage. It comes with a 50MP major digital camera, a 4,700 mAh battery, and built-in Galaxy AI options.

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4 Nothing Telephone 3a Professional

An attention grabbing design with AI-powered options

The iPhone 16e includes a minimalist design with flat edges, a single rear digital camera, and a plain again with the Apple emblem. Whereas its clear aesthetic could enchantment to many, in case you’re in search of a cellphone with a extra distinctive design and higher options at a lower cost, the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional could be price contemplating.

Unveiled at MWC 2025, the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional is the corporate’s newest mid-range smartphone. It sticks to Nothing’s signature industrial design, that includes a clear again, uncovered screws, and an attention-grabbing triple-camera setup. In contrast to most smartphones that organize their cameras in a vertical or horizontal structure, the Telephone 3a Professional locations its cameras inside a round module in an asymmetrical method, giving it a particular look.

By way of digital camera {hardware}, the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional beats the iPhone 16e with a 50-megapixel major sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor — the final two of that are lacking on Apple’s mid-range system.

On the entrance, the Telephone 3a Professional packs a 6.77-inch AMOLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee. Nothing has additionally built-in AI-powered options, probably the most notable being the Important Key. Just like Pixel Screenshots on Google Pixel devices, urgent the Important Key opens Important House, the place you may retailer screenshots and voice memos, with AI routinely organizing content material and extracting helpful data.

The one potential draw back is provider help. Whereas the iPhone 16e works flawlessly throughout all US carriers, the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional helps AT&T and T-Cell, however the firm says that Verizon help could also be considerably inconsistent.

Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional

The Nothing Telephone 3a Professional will get nearly the whole lot proper for its value. It includes a 6.7-inch AMOLED show with 120Hz help, a clear software program expertise full of AI options, and a strikingly distinctive design.

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3 Pixel 8a

A no-fuss cellphone with long-term Android help

If you happen to just like the iPhone 16e’s easy, no-fuss method however need the identical expertise on Android, the Google Pixel 8a is your finest guess. Just like the iPhone 16e, it presents a clear software program expertise, built-in AI options, and long-term software program help. Google guarantees seven years of Android upgrades for the Pixel 8a, matching the iPhone’s longevity. Plus, since it is a Google cellphone, you will get Android updates quicker than some other Android model.

By way of efficiency, the Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3 chipset could not match Apple’s A18, however after a 12 months of utilizing the Pixel 8a, I have never encountered vital slowdowns or bugs. It additionally comes loaded with helpful AI options like Circle to Search, Pixel Screenshots, Gemini, and lots of extra.

If you happen to can wait a number of weeks, I would really suggest holding off, because the Pixel 9a is rumored to launch quickly. However in case you want a strong mid-range Android cellphone proper now, the Pixel 8a is hard to pass up.

Pixel 8a

$449 $499 Save $50

The Pixel 8a is Google’s no-fuss mid-ranger, providing strong upgrades over its predecessor. It includes a brighter show, a more moderen Tensor processor, and dependable cameras. Plus, it comes with seven years of OS updates and loads of Google’s AI smarts.

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2 Moto Razr (2024)

A budget-friendly approach to attempt a flip cellphone

Among the finest issues concerning the Android ecosystem is that manufacturers are all the time experimenting with type elements and design. Whereas Apple has but to enter the foldable smartphone market, Android cellphone makers have been pushing foldables for years. With that in thoughts, you may get that foldable expertise for across the similar value because the iPhone 16e, because of the Moto Razr (2024).

This clamshell-style foldable prices $100 lower than the iPhone 16e, but it presents a foldable design. It includes a 3.6-inch cowl show and a 6.9-inch foldable interior display screen. In contrast to another flip telephones, just like the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Moto Razr presents a full-cover display screen that wraps across the digital camera sensors, giving it a contemporary look. Plus, you may run any app on the quilt show, making the outer cowl display screen much more helpful.

Past design, the Moto Razr (2024) additionally brings an ultra-wide digital camera, one thing the iPhone 16e lacks. In fact, there are some trade-offs — you will not get the identical sturdiness, digital camera efficiency, or long-term software program help as Apple’s cellphone. However in case you’re trying to attempt a foldable cellphone at an analogous value level, the Moto Razr (2024) is likely one of the finest methods to do it.

Moto Razr (2024)

$500 $700 Save $200

If you happen to’re trying to expertise a foldable cellphone with out breaking the financial institution, the Moto Razr (2024) is price contemplating. It presents bigger interior and canopy shows than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, together with a much bigger battery and quicker charging for added comfort.

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1 OnePlus 13R

Highly effective specs with out the premium price ticket

In order for you the very best bang in your buck, the OnePlus 13R is the cellphone to get. It includes a huge 6.78-inch AMOLED show that is brilliant, sharp, and helps a 120Hz refresh fee, making it good for every day use and content material consumption. The flat sides, glass again, and steel rails give it a premium look just like the iPhone 16e, however with one key distinction — the digital camera setup.

The OnePlus 13R packs a triple-camera module containing a 50-megapiel major 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.

Underneath the hood, it runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which, whereas technically last-gen, remains to be one of the crucial succesful chips out there. This chipset delivers clean gaming at excessive body charges and effortlessly handles every day duties. The bottom mannequin additionally begins at 256GB of storage, which is double what you get on the iPhone 16e. Plus, OnePlus has packed in a number of AI options, together with Object Eraser, AI Abstract, and AI Write, to help with on a regular basis duties.

The OnePlus 13R is likely one of the finest telephones in relation to battery life. It homes a large 6,000 mAh battery that simply lasts a full day, it doesn’t matter what you throw at it. And if you do must cost, 80W quick charging can absolutely energy up the cellphone in underneath an hour. Whereas the iPhone 16e’s battery life is spectacular (as famous by our Editor-in-Chief Patrick O’Rourke in his evaluation) it nonetheless would not match as much as the OnePlus 13R’s mixture of lengthy battery and quick charging pace.

OnePlus 13R

In order for you flagship-level energy with no flagship value, the OnePlus 13R is a strong selection. It includes a brilliant 6.7-inch AMOLED show, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with loads of RAM and storage, and a large 6,000 mAh battery with 80W quick charging help.