We’re always interested to see how an Android compares to an iPhone, and Google’s newly announced Pixel 10a is no exception.
While it wouldn’t be fair to compare the budget-friendly Pixel 10a to the iPhone 17 series, remember Apple has its own affordable iPhone with the 16e.
With this in mind, we’ve compared the initial specs of the Pixel 10a to the four-star iPhone 16e and highlighted the key differences below. Keep reading to see which handset is likely to suit you best, and whether you think the Pixel 10a will join the iPhone 16e in our best mid-range smartphones guide.
Price and Availability
At the time of writing, the Pixel 10a is currently available to pre-order and will launch from March 5th. The phone comes in a choice between four colours, Lavender, Berry, Fog and Obsidian, and has a starting RRP of £499/$499.
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With a starting RRP of £599/$599, the iPhone 16e is slightly more expensive than its Google competitor. However, as the iPhone 16e is nearly one year old and is expected to be succeeded by the iPhone 17e soon, you should be able to find the phone with a discount. For example, at the time of writing you can get the iPhone 16e from Amazon for £499.
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Google Tensor G4 vs A18 Bionic chips
Both the Pixel 10a and iPhone 16e are powered by their respective manufacturers’ own processors. While the Pixel 10a runs on Google’s Tensor G4, which launched last year with the Pixel 9 series, the iPhone 16e is powered by Apple’s A18 Bionic chip. Although the A18 chip has since been bested by A19, we still concluded that the 16e is a strong performer and that it stays cool under load.
You might be surprised by the inclusion of last year’s Tensor G4 in the Pixel 10a, as the rest of the Pixel 10 series is powered by Tensor G5 and Google usually includes the same chip across its entire Pixel line-up. It’s a shame that the Pixel 10a doesn’t boast the higher-specced chip, however it’s still worth noting that we found the Tensor G4 to offer a great overall performance. Using the Pixel 9a as an example, we concluded that the handset “absolutely flies” through most uses, even those more processing-heavy such as AI photo editing.
While Tensor G4 will see lower benchmark scores than A18, it’s worth remembering that Google has always prioritised AI ability compared to sheer power. Even so, despite the lower scores, you’re unlikely to notice the difference in real-world use.
Google AI or Apple Intelligence
Following on from the above, both the Tensor G4 and A18 chips are designed with AI in mind. The Pixel 10a is fitted with some of Google’s most useful AI tools including Gemini, Nano Banana and Circle to Search, plus Camera Coach which offers AI-powered guidance on how to capture the best possible photo based on your shooting conditions.
The iPhone 16e is fitted with Apple’s own AI toolkit: Apple Intelligence. Sure, Apple Intelligence includes some useful features including Writing Assist which rewrites your work to sound more professional and Notification Summary, it still feels like somewhat of an afterthought. It’s fun to play around with, but Apple Intelligence shouldn’t be why you decide to upgrade.
Pixel 10a has two rear cameras
The Pixel 10a’s camera hardware is unchanged from the Pixel 9a, with the same 48MP main and 13MP ultrawide combination. As we praised the Pixel 9a as being one of the best camera phones for its price, we can somewhat understand Google’s decision to keep things the same with the Pixel 10a – although we undoubtedly would have preferred to see some changes.
In comparison, the iPhone 16e is fitted with just one single rear lens. The 48MP camera is a Fusion lens which also enables 12MP 2x telephoto snaps too. So, if you enjoy playing around with different lenses, or enjoy the versatility that comes from the likes of the iPhone 17 Pro for example, then you really should look elsewhere.
Even so, despite its lack of pro-level features, the iPhone 16e’s single camera can take brilliant photos. Not only can it capture plenty of detail and vivid colours in daylight, but it performs admirably at night too.
Pixel 10a has a larger and brighter display
Although both the Pixel 10a and iPhone 16e are pocketable handsets, the Pixel 10a has a slightly larger display at 6.3-inches. The iPhone 16e’s, on the other hand, is just 6.1-inches.
Whether you prefer a larger or smaller display is down to your personal preference, however there are a few additional differences that might help sway your decision either way. Firstly, the Pixel 10a benefits from a 60-120Hz refresh rate, which means animations and scrolling looks and feels smoother than the iPhone 16e’s 60Hz.
Not only that, but Google promises the Pixel 10a offers a higher peak brightness of up to 3000 nits while the iPhone 16e maxes out at 1200 nits. Having said that, we still found the iPhone 16e was easy to use outside and in bright sunlight.
Pixel 10a promises a longer battery life
Before we start, we should disclaim that neither the Pixel 10a nor iPhone 16e promise particularly hefty battery or charging speeds. However, the Pixel 10a promises over 30 hours of battery life or up to 120 hours when Extreme Battery Saver is enabled. In reality, we expect the Pixel 10a will be a comfortable one-day phone.
In comparison, we found the iPhone 16e finished a day with up to 30% power left in the tank which is an admirable effort – and even bests the pricier iPhone 16.
Finally, the Pixel 10a supports 30W charging which is the same as the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro. We found the two pricier Pixel 10 models took between 91 and 100 minutes to fully charge, so we’d expect a similar performance with the Pixel 10a.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16e only supports 20W speeds which Apple claims should see the phone reach 50% in 30 minutes.
Early Verdict
It’s great that both Google and Apple offer affordable iterations of their flagship handsets, and that each phone borrows premium features found in expensive counterparts.
As we haven’t reviewed the Pixel 10a yet, we’ll hold off from providing a conclusive verdict. However if you want a bit more versatility from your cameras, useful AI tools and faster charging, then the Pixel 10a is an easy recommendation at this early stage.
Having said that, we’d argue that AI tools shouldn’t be the sole reason you opt for a handset. Instead, if you want a smaller yet still perfectly usable screen, a brilliant rear camera and a solid everyday performance, then the iPhone 16e is still a great choice.
Essentially, deciding between the two mid-rangers will likely boil down to whether you’re an Android or iOS enthusiast. Once we review the Pixel 10a, we’ll be sure to update this versus.
