The iPhone 16e benchmarks better and the Galaxy S24 FE has more flexible cameras, but the Pixel 9a has the perfect mix of both... and it's cheaper.

The Google Pixel 9a is just about the best $500 phone we’ve ever tested, with the build quality, performance and battery life of rivals that are much more expensive.

I'll admit: initially, I wasn't sold on the Pixel 9a's new hardware and design. The bezels are noticeably thick by today's standards – even when compared to similarly priced devices like the $459 Nothing Phone 3a Pro and $399 Samsung Galaxy A36 5G – and removing the Pixel-famous camera bar was a choice.