At this point, there’s little doubt in my mind: Android will always rule the affordable smartphone game. It’s not because Apple hasn’t tried, nor is it because every cheap Android phone is really that good, but rather because I don’t think a cheap iPhone works anymore. At least, it doesn’t work in the way that Apple keeps trying to present it.
Put another way, the iPhone 16e is the least sensible phone of 2025, and I’m at a loss to understand why Apple thought it was a good idea. I’ve reviewed it alongside all of its closest Android rivals, and I think it’s best served as a reminder that copying Apple isn’t always a good idea. Here’s what I think it gets so wrong in the face of so many good Android options.