iPhone 16 vs Pixel 9a: Which Budget Flagship is Worth Buying in 2025?

The iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9a are two of the most criticized smartphones, especially in markets like India, where people feel they are overpriced. That sentiment isn’t entirely wrong. But once festive season discounts start, many people will start to consider these phones seriously. Imagine getting one for ₹35,000–₹40,000—suddenly, all that criticism starts to fade. That’s why this comparison makes a lot of sense. Let’s find out which one you should buy.

Both phones are compact and similar in size to base flagships like the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9. Because of their smaller size, they are comfortable to hold and use. The iPhone is actually lighter and slimmer than the Pixel. To keep costs low, both brands have made some compromises. The iPhone 16e uses a glass sandwich design with a metal frame. Unlike the standard iPhone 16, which comes with Ceramic Shield on both front and back, the 16e only has Ceramic Shield on the front and regular glass on the back. Still, it feels premium in hand.

The Pixel 9a uses plastic on the rear with a metal frame. Using plastic in 2025 seems outdated. The camera placement on the Pixel is also a bit odd compared to the symmetrical layout on the iPhone. However, both have camera modules that sit nearly flush with the back. The Pixel 9a’s display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which feels outdated for 2025—like using USB 2.0 in a premium phone. Ironically, the Pixel 9a does come with USB 3.2, while the iPhone 16 sticks with USB 2.0.

Both phones are IP68-rated and support wireless charging, giving them flagship-level features. However, the Pixel 9a has thick bezels, and the iPhone 16 still uses a notch—features that feel dated in 2025. On top of that, the iPhone 16 uses the same 60Hz panel from the iPhone 13, with lower brightness and HDR capability compared to the Pixel 9a. The Pixel’s 120Hz refresh rate makes it feel smoother. When watching HDR content on YouTube or Netflix, the Pixel display pops more and is brighter outdoors.

The Pixel 9a defaults to 60Hz out of the box, but both displays are well-calibrated in terms of color accuracy. It’s hard to spot a difference in everyday use. Another Pixel advantage is support for high-res Bluetooth codecs like LDAC, which Apple does not provide. Both have flagship-grade speakers with rich sound and good bass. The iPhone 16e is slightly louder and clearer.

Haptic feedback is excellent on both, but the Pixel offers slightly better implementation. The Pixel 9a includes a fast optical in-display fingerprint scanner, while the iPhone uses Face ID.

Storage options differ: the Pixel 9a comes in only one variant with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage (LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1), while the iPhone 16 has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The RAM enables Apple Intelligence features.

In terms of chipset, the Pixel 9a has the Tensor G4, while the iPhone 16 has the A18 with one less GPU core. The A18 easily outperforms the Tensor G4 in every benchmark—Geekbench single-core, multi-core, and AI performance. In 3DMark’s Wild Life test, the iPhone had better GPU stability, higher scores, and better frame rates while consuming similar battery.

For gaming, the iPhone is a better pick. It can maintain 60 FPS in Genshin Impact, while the Pixel struggles to reach 40 FPS. Plus, the A18 supports AAA games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Resident Evil Village, which the Pixel 9a can’t handle effectively.

Network features are similar on both, but the iPhone 16 has a new C1 modem offering better power efficiency, despite having a smaller battery than the Pixel. In real-world use, the iPhone delivers better battery life. If you drop the Pixel 9a to 60Hz, it can match the iPhone’s endurance. Charging speeds are poor on both, though the iPhone charges slightly faster.

Camera hardware is where the Pixel shines, offering a dual rear camera setup, while the iPhone 16 still ships with a single rear camera. Comparing the main cameras, the iPhone captures more details and textures, thanks to its 24MP output versus the Pixel’s 12MP. At 2x, 4x, and 8x zoom, the iPhone delivers better results.

In color reproduction, the Pixel 9a performs better in some scenarios. However, the iPhone lacks photographic styles, which would let users customize tones and colors.

For HDR, the Pixel controls highlights better but tends to crush shadows. The iPhone offers more balanced HDR tuning. When shooting people against backlight, both phones handle it well with minimal bloom.

The Pixel’s ultra-wide camera is a win—it performs well in daylight and low light. A 48MP would be better, but the 13MP shooter is decent. iPhone’s skin tones are closer to natural; the Pixel still suffers from reddish tones. In portraits, the Pixel supports 1.5x, 2x, and 3x, while the iPhone supports 1x and 2x. The iPhone’s portrait processing is better thanks to superior edge detection.

Color consistency between main and ultra-wide cameras is weaker on the Pixel. Surprisingly, this time it doesn’t feel as refined as previous Pixels. In low light, the iPhone 16’s smaller sensor still captures better details and exposure. The iPhone also wins in selfies—better dynamic range, accurate skin tones, and improved performance in low light.

The Pixel 9a supports macro shots with the main camera, something the iPhone can’t do. It also supports 4K 30fps video from the ultra-wide camera with decent stabilization and detail. Both phones shoot 4K 60fps from the main camera, but the iPhone has slightly better video quality and audio.

The iPhone can also shoot 4K 60fps with the front camera, while the Pixel is limited to 4K 30fps. The iPhone includes features like Audio Zoom, while the Pixel has support for HDR and Google’s Magic Editor. However, the Pixel 9a lacks Call Notes and the new Screenshots app despite having the same chipset as the Pixel 9.

Software-wise, the Pixel 9a runs Android 15 and promises 7 years of OS and security updates. The iPhone runs iOS 18 with typically 6–7 years of support. Both offer a smooth, premium experience without bugs. iOS 18 introduces many AI features: writing tools, enhanced Siri, image editing, smart replies, and even Visual Intelligence. The Pixel offers Add Me, Circle to Search, Gemini, and Magic Eraser.

The Pixel 9a has three major advantages: 120Hz refresh rate, brighter display, and more versatile camera system. The iPhone 16 offers better build quality, significantly better performance, longer battery life, and ecosystem features. Another Pixel 9a advantage is that you get double the base storage (256GB) for a lower price.

Between the two, which one is the lesser evil? I’m leaning slightly toward the iPhone 16e.