If you’re in the market for the affordable iPhone 16e but wish to know about all the options you have, you’ve come to the right place. We understand that Rs. 60,000 isn’t a small amount, and before spending it, you want to be informed about all the other flagships in the market that are available at a similar price.
Let’s call it the affordable flagship segment for a while (as flagships often cost well above Rs. 1,00,000), the one that iPhone 16e belongs to. However, if you have an open mind and wish to know about the best-possible iPhone 16e alternatives in the market, there are plenty of Android (and one iOS) options to look forward to.
iPhone 16e: The Spiritual Successor To iPhone SE
The spiritual successor to the iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e (hands-on review) is an amalgamation of the strengths (and a few weaknesses) of the iPhones released over the last few years.
For instance, it borrows its 6.1-inch OLED screen from the iPhone 14 (with the chunky notch at the top), the A18 (3nm) chipset from the iPhone 16 series (with one less GPU core), and its 48MP (f/1.6) camera from the iPhone 16 Pro (the smaller sensor used as the ultrawide camera on the Pro handset).
Where the iPhone 16e outshines the iPhone 16 (review) is its battery life, as it promises up to 26 hours of video playback, more than 22 hours on the regular iPhone 16. The phone features Apple’s first in-house C1 modem, which excels in efficiency but lacks mmWave connectivity (affecting global users).
Moreover, the iPhone 16e is a no-nonsense iPhone for buyers who aren’t concerned about larger screens, multiple cameras, or having the fastest chipset on an iPhone.
Google Pixel 8a
The Google Pixel 8a (review) is the most affordable iPhone 16e you can buy right now (given the delay in the Pixel 9a’s launch). If you consider this smartphone, you’ll end up saving around Rs. 20,000. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pixel 8a.
Out of the box, the Pixel 8a has a 6.1-inch screen that supports a 120Hz refresh rate (more than the iPhone 16e) and has a peak brightness of 2000 nits (vs. 1200 nits on the iPhone 16e). Under the hood, the handset features the Tensor G3 (4nm) SoC.
Though it’s no match for the raw processing power of the A18 chip, Google’s Tensor easily gets day-to-day tasks done. What’s great is that the Pixel 8a features a dual-camera setup (64MP primary + 13MP ultrawide), making it a better option for photography enthusiasts.
Additional features include an in-display fingerprint scanner, seven years of software/security updates (valid from 2024), a faster USB Type-C 3.2 port, and Circle to Search.
As and when the Pixel 9a arrives, it will be among the best iPhone 16e alternatives, as both phones follow similar ideologies.
OnePlus 13R
If you’re looking for an affordable but equally capable Android smartphone, the OnePlus 13R (review) could be an excellent iPhone 16e alternative for you. There’s still a gap between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC on the OnePlus 13R and the A18 chip on the iPhone 16e, but the gap is less.
The OnePlus 13R isn’t as compact as the iPhone 16e, though, as it features a 6.78-inch LTPO 4.1 AMOLED screen (120Hz, 4500 nits peak). Further, the phone has a triple-camera setup with a dedicated zoom lens and the option to record 4K videos at 60 fps.
Powering the handset is a 6,000 mAh battery that supports 80W wired charging. Moreover, the OnePlus 13R has a bigger screen, a good processor, a versatile camera system, and offers excellent battery life for its price.
iQOO 13 5G
If you want an Android phone that’s affordable and equally as powerful as the iPhone 16e, you can consider the iQOO 13 (review). The Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) is the most advanced chipset by Qualcomm, and it even outperforms the A18 in the multi-core GeekBench 6 performance test.
Even otherwise, the iQOO 13 is one of the most value-for-money flagships on the market. First, it features a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED screen (144Hz, 4500 nits peak). Then, it comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
With regards to optics, the phone has three 50MP sensors on the back. Last but not least, it features a 6,000 mAh battery that supports 120W wired charging. At the price of the iPhone 16e’s base variant, you can get the 512GB variant of the iQOO 13.
Galaxy S25 5G
The Galaxy S25 5G (review) is yet another iPhone 16e alternative with a similar form factor, performance, and a much better camera system. First and foremost, the Galaxy S25 5G has a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2x screen (120Hz, 2600 nits peak), which is similar to the 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 16e but smoother and brighter.
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 features the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3nm), which offers every bit as much power as the A18 chipset on the iPhone 16e. Regarding optics, Samsung’s flagship features a triple camera setup headlined by a 50MP sensor and a dedicated 3x optical zoom camera.
While the iPhone 16e supports Apple Intelligence, the Galaxy S25 has all the latest Galaxy AI features (including cross-app functionality). It’s only the phone’s battery life that might fall behind that of the iPhone 16e, but in every other aspect, the Galaxy S25 is a better smartphone.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 (128GB): Rs. 63,990
- Samsung Galaxy S24 (256GB): Rs. 74,000
- Samsung Galaxy S24 (512GB): Rs. 78,490
Vivo X200 5G
If you’re disappointed by the single-camera setup on the iPhone 16e and want a phone that excels in clicking pictures and recording videos, the vivo X200 (review) could be the perfect iPhone 16e alternative for you. The phone has a 50MP triple camera with a dedicated 3x optical zoom lens and can record 4K60 videos.
The screen on the vivo X200 is a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel (120Hz, 4500 nits peak), while the chipset is the Dimensity 9400 (3nm) SoC that matches iPhone 16e’s A18 in terms of multi-core performance. Out of the box, the phone runs on Funtouch OS 15, and vivo promises to provide four years of major OS updates.
Last but not least, the handset draws its power from a 5,800 mAh Si/C battery that supports 90W wired charging. It is important to mention that the vivo X200’s 256GB variant is available at the price of the iPhone 16e’s 128GB variant.
Oppo Find X8
If you want a slightly smaller phone with a versatile camera system, the Find X8 (review) could be the perfect iPhone 16e alternative. With a 6.59-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen (4500 nits peak), the phone is slightly smaller than the vivo X200 but still offers a triple 50MP camera with a dedicated 3x optical zoom lens.
Under the hood, the Oppo Find X8 features the Dimensity 9400 (3nm) SoC, offers up to 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. In addition, the phone features a Si/C 5,630 mAh battery that supports 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging (so far, this is the only phone that supports wireless charging in the list).
iPhone 15
If you’re sure you need an iPhone, the iPhone 15 is the closest iPhone 16e alternative Apple still sells. The phone has a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a higher peak brightness (2000 nits) and the Dynamic Island (which gives it a modern look). Under the hood, the iPhone 15 runs on the A16 Bionic (4nm) SoC, which is still one of the most capable chipsets on a smartphone.
One big difference between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16e is the presence of the Apple Intelligence features on the latter (thanks to the additional memory and faster A18 chip). Regarding optics, the phone has a 48MP (f/1.6) primary camera and a 12MP (f/2.4) ultrawide camera (an advantage over the iPhone 16e).
The iPhone 15 has a smaller battery than the iPhone 16e, but it supports Qi2 wireless charging (15W).
