While Apple has recently unveiled its midrange iPhone with the 16E, not everyone is happy with it despite that it’s selling well. Aside from losing features like MagSafe, the iPhone 16E’s price is a steep jump from the last iPhone SE. Google recently unveiled their midrange Pixel with the 9a, and for the same starting price as the iPhone 16E, it offers better value overall.

To start things off, the Pixel 9qa has a 6.3-inch pOLED display with a 120hz refresh rate and a more minimalist punch-hole for the 13-megapixel selfie camera. Those bezels may be thick, but at least it does away with notches, unlike the iPhone 16E. You also get a dual rear camera setup with a 48-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera–the former having Quad PD Dual Pixel AF and OIS, along with the ability to shoot up to 4K60.

Having an ultrawide camera gives the Pixel 9a an advantage over the iPhone 16e, and the Pixel 9a impresses by the fact that there’s no camera bump to be found–something we rarely see in an age where phone brands are gunning for bigger camera sensors and thinner bodies.

The Pixel 9a has an aluminum body and an IP68 rating, though do note that you’re only getting a plastic back. Powering the Pixel 9a is a Tensor G4 processor that’s paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage. Keeping the lights on is a 5100mAh battery that supports 23w wired charging and 15w wireless charging–no MagSafe here, but that’s fine.

The Pixel 9a has a starting price of SGD 799 in Singapore, or around Php 35k converted. That’s more affordable than the iPhone 16e’s starting price in the Philippines, but do note that Google does not officially sell its Pixel phones in the country–which is probably the biggest setback.