In the world of smartphones, finding flagship features at a budget-friendly price can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, 2023 has introduced a range of impressive options, including the Google Pixel 9a, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, and the Apple iPhone 16e. Each of these devices occupies the middle tier of the market, catering to budget-conscious consumers without sacrificing essential features. Priced at just $499, the Pixel 9a stands out as the most affordable option among the trio, positioned against the Galaxy S24 FE at $659 and the iPhone 16e at $599. But how does the Pixel 9a hold up against its more expensive counterparts?
To determine which smartphone excels in handling daily tasks, heavy usage, and gaming, I’ve put each of these models through a comprehensive benchmarking suite. Below is a quick overview of their processing components:
SoC CPU GPU RAM Tensor G4 1x Arm Cortex-X4 (3.1GHz), 3x Arm Cortex-A720 (2.6GHz), 4x Arm Cortex-A520 (1.92GHz) Arm Mali-G715 MC7 8GB Exynos 2400e 1x Arm Cortex-X4 (3.2GHz), 2x Arm Cortex-A720 (2.9GHz), 3x Arm Cortex-A720 (2.6GHz), 4x Arm Cortex-A520 (1.92GHz) AMD Xclipse 940 8GB Apple A18 2x Performance (4.05GHz), 4x Efficiency (2.3GHz) Apple 4-core SoC 8GBNow, let’s dive into the performance benchmarks of these devices, specifically focusing on how the Apple A18, Google Tensor G4, and Samsung Exynos 2400e stack up in popular tests, starting with GeekBench 6.
When evaluating single-core and multi-core performance, the custom CPU cores of Apple historically held a significant edge over Android competitors—until the introduction of Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU core. However, neither the Pixel 9a nor the Galaxy S24 FE features this advancement, resulting in a noticeable lead for Apple in both single-core and multi-core scenarios. The iPhone 16e excels with nearly double the performance of the Pixel 9a in single-core tasks, although the Galaxy S24 FE narrows the gap in multi-core tests.
While the iPhone 16e showcases superior CPU performance, the Galaxy S24 FE is often favored by gamers due to its powerful GPU. For everyday tasks like browsing and social media, the Pixel 9a performs adequately, but it may struggle with more CPU-intensive applications such as video editing. This raises questions about the future-proofing of the Pixel 9a as app requirements evolve over the years.
In terms of graphics capabilities, all three smartphones exhibit certain compromises compared to top-tier models. The iPhone 16e features a four-core GPU, down from five cores in the standard iPhone 16 and six in the Pro versions. Similarly, the Galaxy S24 FE employs an older Exynos GPU design, and the Pixel 9a’s Arm Mali setup is not known for topping benchmark charts. Despite these limitations, the competition remains intriguing.
Last year, the Galaxy S24 FE's Xclipse 940 graphics chip was a standout flagbearer. Although it has dropped to 71.9% of its peak performance in stress tests, it still outperforms its competitors significantly. The Pixel 9a, while it may rank last in quick graphics tests, demonstrates better performance under moderate stress compared to the iPhone 16e. The latter's performance also dwindles, falling to 70.4% of its peak without significant temperature increases.
At first glance, the iPhone 16e might seem to dominate the mid-range market with its high-performing chip. However, the Galaxy S24 FE strikes a commendable balance between performance and gaming capabilities, making it ideal for gaming enthusiasts willing to invest more for superior graphics. On the other hand, the Pixel 9a, while not winning benchmarks, presents a compelling case for its price point, offering satisfactory performance for daily use.
In conclusion, while each smartphone has its strengths and weaknesses, there is no outright loser in this comparison. Your choice ultimately hinges on your budget and specific requirements, whether it’s gaming, performance, or overall value. Stay tuned for our upcoming article, where we will delve deeper into how these three mid-range models perform in terms of battery life, another critical aspect of smartphone usability.
See price at eBay: Apple iPhone 16e - Great update support, solid performance, simple design.
See price at Amazon: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE - Flexible cameras for the price, class-leading update commitment, great value.
