Technologies

iPhone 16E Specs vs. Google Pixel 8A: How Apple and Google’s Lower-Cost Phones Match Up

If you’re comfortable with a used Pixel 8A, you might get a lot of phone for the money compared to buying Apple’s lowest-cost iPhone.

Google’s A-series Pixel handsets are typically budget-friendly, but currently the cheapest Google goes is $499 for the Pixel 9A. If you do want all of Google’s flagship features and are comfortable with getting a used or refurbished device, you could check out last year’s Pixel 8A which is going for under $300 in the secondary market. Strangely, Google is currently selling the Pixel 8A for the same price as the Pixel 9A, so it doesn’t make sense to buy a new version of the Pixel 8A.

A sub-$300 Pixel 8A is an especially good deal when compared to the entry-level $599 iPhone 16E. Sure, the iPhone 16E offers a lot of features for its price and is certainly the most affordable iPhone you can get at retail. Yet, that price isn’t exactly affordable when compared to the Pixel 8A. If you prefer to buy new, we’ll point you to the comparison of the Pixel 9A vs the iPhone 16E. But if you’re open to getting a used Pixel 8A for an even lower price, we’ve compared the iPhone 16E and the Pixel 8A below.

Design and display

The most obvious difference between the two phones is that the iPhone 16E has a notch at the top of the screen (The iPhone 16, on the other hand, has a Dynamic Island instead), while the Pixel 8A just has a single dot for the front-facing camera. Size-wise, however, they’re both pretty comparable. They both roughly measure around 6 by 3 by 0.3 inches (you can find more exact measurements in the chart below), plus both have a 6.1-inch OLED screen.

The iPhone 16E, however, has a fixed refresh rate of 60Hz, while the Pixel 8A can switch between 60 and 120Hz for smoother scrolling and a more immersive gaming experience. That said, the iPhone 16E’s A18 processor does run more intensive games like Death Stranding and Resident Evil 4 Remake. While those more console-level games are not yet available on the Google Play Store, the Pixel 8A’s Tensor G3 should still be able to run most Android games at medium to low graphics settings.

Cameras

One of the biggest limitations of the iPhone 16E is that it just has a single rear 48-megapixel camera. The Pixel 8A, on the other hand, has two rear cameras placed within a camera bar on the back: a 64-megapixel lens plus a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens. Even when it comes to the front-facing selfie camera, the Pixel 8A’s version is better. It has a 12-megapixel front-facing lens while the iPhone 16E has a 7-megapixel one.

AI features

The iPhone 16E might be an entry-level handset, but it does support Apple Intelligence, a feature that was previously only in higher-end models like the 15 Pro and the iPhone 16. Apple Intelligence isn’t fully fleshed out yet, but it currently offers some benefits including a Clean Up tool for removing obstacles in photos, text summarization plus writing tools that help correct editing errors. An improved Siri is also apparently on its way, but it has been delayed.

The Pixel 8A, on the other hand, has all the features of Google’s Gemini that are also on the higher-end Pixel handsets. It can run Google’s Gemini Nano AI model, use photo-editing tools such as Best Take and Magic Eraser, and more. Gemini will eventually be the default assistant on all Android phones, and for now you can switch between the Google Assistant and Gemini.

Software support

Both the Pixel 8A and the iPhone 16E have relatively lengthy software support. The Pixel 8A gets a total of seven years of major Android OS upgrades and security updates from its launch last year, which means you’ll get six years if you buy one now that it’s a year old. That’s in line with the six years of support Samsung provides its new Galaxy A phones in the $200 to $300 range, and is double the support Motorola provides to its Moto G line.

While Apple doesn’t publish software and security support timelines, the iPhone 16E will likely get between five and seven years of software updates based on what has been provided to prior iPhone models. Security updates could be even longer, as even the original iPhone SE from 2016 received a security update earlier this year.

Check out more differences between the iPhone 16E and the Google Pixel 8A in the chart below.

Apple iPhone 16E vs. Google Pixel 8A

	Apple iPhone 16E	Google Pixel 8A
Display size, resolution	6.1-inch OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate	6.1-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels, 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Pixel density	460 ppi	430 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	5.78×2.82×0.31 in.	6×2.9×0.4 in.
Dimensions (millimeters)	146.7×71.5×7.8 mm	152x74x10.2 mm
Weight (ounces, grams)	167g (5.88 oz.)	193 g (6.8 oz.)
Mobile software	iOS 18	Android 14
Camera	48-megapixel (wide)	64-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera	12-megapixel	13-megapixel
Video capture	4K	4K at 30/60 FPS
Processor	Apple A18	Google Tensor G3
RAM/Storage	RAM unknown + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB	8GB + 128GB or 256GB
Expandable storage	None	None
Battery/Charger	Up to 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging	4,492 mAh (18W fast charging, 7.5W wireless charging)
Fingerprint sensor	None, Face ID	Under-display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	None	None
Special features	Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, IP68 resistance	5G (5G sub6 / mmWave), IP67 rating, VPN by Google One, Circle to Search, 7 years Android OS updates, 7 years security updates, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser
Price off-contract (USD)	$599 (128GB)	$499
Price (GBP)	£599 (128GB)	£499
Price (AUD)	AU$999 (128GB)	AU$849

Technologies

The Most Exciting Video Game Rumors and Leaks Ahead of 2026

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Dec. 17

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 17.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Nod (off)
Answer: DOZE

5A clue: Naval submarine in W.W. II
Answer: UBOAT

7A clue: Tricky thing to do on a busy highway
Answer: MERGE

8A clue: Heat-resistant glassware for cooking
Answer: PYREX

9A clue: Put into groups
Answer: SORT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Break up with
Answer: DUMP

2D clue: Falls in line, so to speak
Answer: OBEYS

3D clue: Legendary vigilante who cuts a «Z» with his sword
Answer: ZORRO

4D clue: Rarin’ to go
Answer: EAGER

6D clue: Common reminder for an upcoming appointment
Answer: TEXT

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

You Can Watch an Exclusive Avatar: Fire and Ash Scene on TikTok Right Now

Disney and TikTok partner on an immersive content hub for James Cameron’s latest movie about the alien Na’vi.

If you’re not quite ready to head to the theater to watch Avatar: Fire and Ash, an exclusive scene preview might sell you on the visual spectacle. As part of a new collaboration with the social media giant, Disney is posting snippets of its new movie to its TikTok account.

This scene isn’t part of any trailer and won’t be posted to other social media accounts, making TikTok the only place you can view it — unless you buy a movie ticket. A first look at the new movie’s scenes isn’t the only Avatar-related bonus on the social media platform right now, either. TikTok has partnered with the house of mouse to bring an entire «immersive content hub» to the app.

A special section of TikTok includes quizzes and educational videos that explore the alien world of Pandora shown off in the movies. On TikTok, you can take a personality quiz to find out what Na’vi clan you most closely align with and unlock a special profile picture border to use on your account.

Science and fiction blend together with a series of videos from real doctors who explain the basis for some of Avatar’s world-building. If you want to learn about exoplanets or how realistic the anatomy of the movie’s alien animals is, these videos will feed your brain while still providing entertainment value.

Perhaps the most enticing part of Disney’s latest social media collaboration is the opportunity for fans to win prizes and trips. TikTok creators who make edits with the #TikTokAvatarContest hashtag are entered into a competition to win Avatar merchandise. The biggest winners will be able to take a trip to visual effects studio Wētā Workshop in New Zealand or visit Avatar director James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment Studio in Los Angeles.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third installment in director Cameron’s cinematic passion project. While the first Avatar movie was released in 2009, Cameron didn’t release another entry in the franchise until 2022. In total, there is a five-movie arc planned for the indigo alien Na’vi on the moon of Pandora.

The Avatar movies are known for pushing the boundaries of CGI visual effects in cinema. They are also historically big winners at the box office: the original Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time, earning $2.9 billion across its theatrical releases. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, is the third-highest-grossing film of all time, trailing Avengers: Endgame. You can stream those movies on Disney Plus.

It remains to be seen whether Avatar: Fire and Ash will financially live up to its predecessors. The film currently has mixed reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.