I switched to the iPhone 16e to see if it can beat Android’s best affordable flagships

I’ve probably spent more time with an iPhone in my pocket this year than ever before, exploring everything from Apple Intelligence to the Camera Control to the new customization options in iOS 18. And while I’m nowhere close to swapping out my daily Android phone for an iPhone, for the most part, I’ve enjoyed my time on the other side of the fence. However, spending so much time with a flagship iPhone 16 Pro in my pocket has also made me realize something else: It’s been a long time since I’ve used a more affordable iPhone — not since the last iPhone SE launched in 2022.

During that time, I tested several generations of the Google Pixel A series and the Samsung Galaxy A series, and I watched Android’s best budget- to mid-tier phones improve by leaps and bounds. So, when Apple announced its return to the affordable smartphone race with the $600 iPhone 16e, it piqued my interest. I wanted to know if its simplified hardware stood a chance against much-improved Android competitors or if it would be left behind like the last iPhone SE.