Apple is attacking the midrange smartphone market with the iPhone 17e, and the second-generation “iPhone e” model includes a few major upgrades. The smartphone now starts with 256GB of storage, up from 128GB, and includes a faster Apple A19 processor. The company fixed a major omission by adding MagSafe charging to the iPhone 17e at up to 15W. All around, it’s a solid smartphone, even if there are some corners cut.
That said, there are some iPhone 17e characteristics that’ll be sure to make Android users cringe. The iPhone 17e still has a notch, rather than a hole-punch or pill-shaped front-facing camera cutout, that protrudes deeply into the display. Speaking of the screen, it’s only 60Hz. There’s also just one rear camera, and while it’s a capable 48MP sensor, it can’t replace dedicated ultrawide or telephoto lenses.
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Google Pixel 10a
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Any conversation about budget Android phones has to start with the Google Pixel 10a. It’s the gold standard in value proposition, with decent specs, a no-nonsense approach, and a long software support guarantee. The Pixel 10a might actually be supported longer than the iPhone 17e, as Apple typically only guarantees five years of updates, while Google confirms seven years of support. Google’s midranger is priced at $499, which is $100 cheaper than the iPhone 17e.
The iPhone 17e beats the Pixel 10a in a couple of notable ways. It has the faster Apple A19 processor, twice the base storage, and MagSafe compatibility. However, the Pixel 10a also bests the iPhone 17e in several ways, with a larger 6.3-inch display, a dual-camera system, a larger battery, and a completely flat back. The screen is not only larger, but also offers a 120Hz refresh rate and a much smaller camera cutout.
The iOS versus Android debate usually comes down to personal preference, but Google AI and Gemini clearly outperform Apple Intelligence, so the Pixel 10a beats the iPhone 17e there. At a lower price than the iPhone 17e, the Pixel 10a offers much more of what really matters in daily smartphone use.
OnePlus 13R
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The OnePlus 13R has the best chance of beating the iPhone 17e in performance. The two phones are priced the same, at $599 each, and the OnePlus 13R is just as capable. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with flagship performance, and it packs a giant 6,000mAh battery. If you want the biggest midrange display, the OnePlus 13R offers a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel that can handle 120Hz refresh rates.
The camera system is much better than that of the iPhone 17e, too. It uses a triple-camera rear system that includes a 50MP Sony LYT-700 primary shooter, a 50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, and an 8MP Sony IMX355 wide-angle lens. There are ways that the OnePlus 13R’s cameras could be improved — the optical zoom length is still lackluster and ultrawide quality is poor — but it’s decidedly more versatile than the iPhone 17e’s single 48MP rear camera.
You might be wondering why we’re not talking about the OnePlus 15R, and there’s a simple reason. It’s $100 more expensive than both the iPhone 17e and the OnePlus 13R, and it also includes downgrades, like a missing telephoto camera. You’d be better off getting the older and cheaper OnePlus 13R instead.
Moto G Stylus 2025
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The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2025 isn’t as premium as some of the other phones on this list, including the iPhone 17e, but it’s also the cheapest. At just $400 and frequently much cheaper than that, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2025 is different and affordable enough to give the iPhone 17e a run for its money. The standout features are the built-in stylus for writing and drawing, and the PANTONE-styled colorways that make the Moto G Stylus 5G 2025 stand out.
As for specs, the Moto G Stylus 5G 2025 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel that’s both larger and has a higher refresh rate than the iPhone 17e. On the inside, there’s a weaker Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and 128GB of storage. However, you do get expandable storage by way of a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. These are two features you won’t find anywhere near the iPhone 17e.
Motorola’s midranger also offers a dual-camera system with a 50MP wide lens and a 13MP ultrawide, giving you an extra rear camera compared to the iPhone 17e. The one area where the iPhone 17e is the much better option is software support, as Motorola only guarantees two years of full Android OS upgrades.
Nothing Phone 4a Pro
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If you want a smartphone that truly stands out, look into buying the Nothing Phone 4a Pro. It’s a brand-new midrange phone priced at $500, making it $100 cheaper than the iPhone 17e. Additionally, it’s the first Nothing phone to look somewhat normal, with an aluminum chassis. There is a flashy camera bump with Nothing flair and a Glyph Matrix display, but it’s more refined than prior models and gives the Phone 4a Pro more character than the iPhone 17e.
In terms of specs, the base model gets a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. You can upgrade the Phone 4a Pro to a 12GB/256GB configuration to make it more comparable to the iPhone 17e. Make no mistake, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor won’t be completely on par with the A19 in the iPhone 17e, but it should be good enough for the price.
You also get a larger 5,080 mAh battery, faster 50W wired charging, and the largest 6.83-inch screen in this category. A notable omission is wireless charging, but otherwise, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro covers all the bases.
