Switch to iPhone 16e?

[WereCat]

Hi, I currently have Google Pixel 7 128GB.

 

I don't really need an upgrade but my moms OnePlus 6T is really starting to act weird lately so I was thinking about upgrading to something and giving her my Pixel 7.

 

I never had an iPhone so wanted to try it, otherwise my other choice would be Pixel 9a.

Right now the most affordable iPhone I can buy brand new is the 16e starting from 555 EUR and I have 10% cashback from each of my card payments so it falls into the 500 EUR range I typically consider the most I'd spent on a phone. iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 are out of question with their pricing. That's around 610 EUR for the 15 and 710 EUR for the 16.

 

My main use case on a phone is (in no particular order):

 

Android auto (I've heard with new iOS 26 the car play got some big overhaul)

Browsing

Calls (personal phone serves as a work phone too)

Taking photos (I don't need better camera than what I have now, I find it more than good enough)

 

I typically have around 30%-50% of battery left after I get home and I don't really use my phone at home almost at all.

 

Also I use 1 eSIM (personal, no data) and 1 physical SIM nano (work + data). So I hope this can be done just fine on iPhone.

 

My only other experience with Apple is an iPad mini I've got earlier this year. I hate the keyboard on it so I hope the iPhone is better (I use swipe typing a lot).

 

Should I give an iPhone a try or should I just stick to the Pixel 9a which starts at around 470 EUR?

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, WereCat said:

Android auto (I've heard with new iOS 26 the car play got some big overhaul)

Does the car you use have apple car play?

 

2 minutes ago, WereCat said:

Browsing

Calls (personal phone serves as a work phone too)

Taking photos (I don't need better camera than what I have now, I find it more than good enough)

Rest well any smartphone does that camera may be a downgrade tho.

 

Else well you tried ios and if it doesnt hinder you you can try it.

 

If you dont like the ipad keyboard then well thats just the applr touch keyboard but bigger the iphone is basically the same.

 

Getting a 9a is the safer play sinxe well nothing really changes

[WereCat]

4 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Does the car you use have apple car play?

AFAIK yes.

 

4 minutes ago, jaslion said:

If you dont like the ipad keyboard then well thats just the applr touch keyboard but bigger the iphone is basically the same.

To be fair, I can't say if it's because of the much bigger screen or because the keyboard is genuinely bad. There are definitely some quirks that bother me like a lack of haptics for example.

 

Is the camera a big downgrade?

[jaslion]

Just now, WereCat said:

AFAIK yes.

Best to test as carplay is generally a bit more resource heavy and some cars thus have it as a lesser experience

 

1 minute ago, WereCat said:

There are definitely some quirks that bother me like a lack of haptics for example.

That should be present in the iphones

[WereCat]

4 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Best to test as carplay is generally a bit more resource heavy and some cars thus have it as a lesser experience

I've checked. Supports wireless car play. I've got a 2024 Corolla HEV.

[Donut417]

I have a 16 Pro, and before that I had the XR. Both were excellent devices. I was able to use the XR for a good solid 5 years before it started having issues. My XR was the first phone that lasted me that length of time, now that being said it was also my first "Premium" device. 

 

That doesnt mean there are no negatives. It's more of a locked down ecosystem. I still haven't found any app to replace WiFi analyzer. Though if you do have other Apple devices you will find they work seamless together. 

 

17 minutes ago, WereCat said:

Supports wireless car play. I've got a 2024 Corolla HEV.

Ive heard Wireless Car Play can be problematic. Just so you are aware. 

[dizmo]

43 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

I have a 16 Pro, and before that I had the XR. Both were excellent devices. I was able to use the XR for a good solid 5 years before it started having issues. My XR was the first phone that lasted me that length of time, now that being said it was also my first "Premium" device. 

 

That doesnt mean there are no negatives. It's more of a locked down ecosystem. I still haven't found any app to replace WiFi analyzer. Though if you do have other Apple devices you will find they work seamless together. 

 

Ive heard Wireless Car Play can be problematic. Just so you are aware. 

I don't think either of them are great, but they're both far better than what the stock systems are in vehicles. Largely depends on the vehicle as well. 

[Donut417]

5 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I don't think either of them are great, but they're both far better than what the stock systems are in vehicles. Largely depends on the vehicle as well. 

Wired Car Play works fine, I use it all the time. Works better than Android Auto ever did when I had an Android. 

[dizmo]

18 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Wired Car Play works fine, I use it all the time. Works better than Android Auto ever did when I had an Android. 

I've used both in multiple vehicles, and some work great, some work horribly, really depends on the design of the car. 

[WereCat]

9 hours ago, Donut417 said:

Wired Car Play works fine, I use it all the time. Works better than Android Auto ever did when I had an Android. 

 

9 hours ago, dizmo said:

I've used both in multiple vehicles, and some work great, some work horribly, really depends on the design of the car. 

Wireless Android Auto works really well for me. I don't want to used wired connection, it's annoying. Car already has a wireless charger for phone.

 

Anyhow, looking at multiple reviews and comparisons. I won't get the 16e. I said that I don't really care about camera but holy shit, that's a massive downgrade.

I like the battery life on it but that's about it.

60Hz screen, while it's not really bothering me is also quite low brightness... still the Pixel 9a is better in almost every way for less.

 

So IDK, I will probably either wait for a bit still or get the 9a.

[Commodus]

On 7/27/2025 at 3:34 AM, WereCat said:

 

Wireless Android Auto works really well for me. I don't want to used wired connection, it's annoying. Car already has a wireless charger for phone.

 

Anyhow, looking at multiple reviews and comparisons. I won't get the 16e. I said that I don't really care about camera but holy shit, that's a massive downgrade.

I like the battery life on it but that's about it.

60Hz screen, while it's not really bothering me is also quite low brightness... still the Pixel 9a is better in almost every way for less.

 

So IDK, I will probably either wait for a bit still or get the 9a.

The iPhone 16e is faster and of course has the deep ecosystem integration, but the Pixel 9a is honestly the best mid-tier Android phone I've ever used (I have one on my desk in addition to my iPhone). 

 

It's not quite as nice as the regular Pixel 9, but you get so much of that experience that it's hard to justify the regular phone (the Pixel 10 might be another story). The display is fast; the cameras are still great for daily situations; it lasts ages on battery.

 

Apple will probably catch up in a big way with the iPhone 17 (and hopefully 17e early next year), but for now Google is doing well.