5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 16

1 week ago

Apple’s iPhone 16 has arrived, and it’s rather an awesome offering this year. Not only does it travel successful immoderate of nan champion colors we’ve seen successful a while, but it closes nan spread betwixt nan guidelines and Pro models moreover more.

That’s each to opportunity nan iPhone 16 is simply a awesome phone, but if you’re reasoning astir buying it arsenic your adjacent smartphone purchase, you should besides see immoderate of these alternatives.

iPhone 16 Plus

You mightiness beryllium considering nan regular iPhone 16 because it’s nan astir affordable of nan caller models. But for a small more, you could besides look astatine nan iPhone 16 Plus, arsenic agelong arsenic you’re OK pinch a bigger phone.

The iPhone 16 Plus has nan aforesaid features arsenic nan iPhone 16: agleam and nosy colors, nan Action button, Camera Control, Dynamic Island, nan A18 spot pinch 8GB RAM for Apple Intelligence, a 48MP Fusion camera and improved 12MP ultrawide lens, macro photography, spatial photos and video for nan Apple Vision Pro, and more.

So, why get nan iPhone 16 Plus alternatively of nan iPhone 16? For one, nan larger size intends a bigger show to spot each of your content. It intends little scrolling astir and it’s easier to bask videos and games. The larger size besides intends much artillery life, arsenic nan iPhone 16 Plus has a 4,674mAh artillery wrong compared to nan iPhone 16’s 3,561mAh. If you’re not ever astir a charger, this larger artillery tin make each nan difference.

iPhone 16 Pro

Perhaps you’re considering nan iPhone 16 owed to its smaller size and not wanting a large phone. That’s perfectly good too! But what if you want amended features?

Again, Apple has surely closed nan spread betwixt nan guidelines and Pro models much than ever this year. Features erstwhile only connected nan Pro models are now disposable connected nan guidelines iPhone. The iPhone 16 has nan Dynamic Island, Action button, Camera Control, 48MP Fusion camera, and Apple Intelligence.

However, nan iPhone 16 Pro still has moreover much to offer. For one, nan show features 120Hz ProMotion technology, which intends smoother scrolling and animations without stuttering. It besides has nan always-on display, a characteristic that allows you to spot nan day and time, widgets, and immoderate notifications you whitethorn have, moreover erstwhile not utilizing nan phone.

For photographers, nan iPhone 16 Pro besides has a triple-lens camera strategy that includes a 48MP superior camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 12MP telephoto pinch 5x optical zoom. The ultrawide camera is simply a large jump up from nan 12MP connected nan guidelines model, and it does amended successful lowlight scenes. The telephoto lets you get up adjacent to your taxable from a distance.

The iPhone 16 Pro besides comes pinch up to 1TB of storage, which is simply a must if you scheme to return a batch of photos and videos aliases download a batch fo contented (apps, games, music, etc.). You’ll salary $200 much for nan iPhone 16 Pro compared to nan guidelines iPhone 16, but if you want nan champion show and cameras disposable connected an iPhone, it’s other money good spent.

Google Pixel 9

If you’re looking astatine nan iPhone 16 based connected its size and price, you should besides see nan Google Pixel 9. It’s nan guidelines exemplary of Google’s Pixel 9 series, and it’s very akin to, if not amended than nan iPhone 16. Of course, you will person to move to Android, but if you’re OK pinch that, nan Pixel 9 is simply a awesome choice.

The Google Pixel 9 is simply a smidge bigger than nan 6.1-inch iPhone 16 since it has a 6.3-inch display. The show is besides better, arsenic it’s an Actua OLED sheet pinch a 120Hz refresh rate, which is double what you get connected nan iPhone 16 (60Hz). The brightness tin besides scope 2700 nits, whereas nan iPhone 16 only gets to 2000 nits, truthful nan Pixel 9 is much usable outdoors successful nonstop sunlight.

The Pixel 9 besides comes pinch Google’s Tensor G4 spot and 12GB RAM, which is plentifulness for Google’s AI-powered devices that are enabled pinch Gemini. The Tensor G4 is besides rather powerfulness efficient, and pinch a 4,700mAh battery, it should last you each time without worrying astir plugging it in.

Even nan cameras are much awesome successful position of specs. You person a 50MP superior camera and a 48MP ultrawide lens. Unfortunately, Apple only put nan 48MP ultrawide connected nan iPhone 16 Pro models. And pinch Google Gemini, location are plentifulness of AI photograph editing devices to thief you cleanable up nan shot.

Not everyone will beryllium consenting to make nan jump from iOS to Android, but if you are, nan Google Pixel 9 is simply a awesome small telephone for nan nonstop aforesaid value arsenic nan iPhone 16.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Though nan Samsung Galaxy S25 is conscionable astir nan corner, nan Galaxy S24 is still a awesome telephone — particularly if you for illustration compact devices.

The Galaxy S24 is nan guidelines exemplary of nan S24 lineup, but it still packs plentifulness of power. The 6.2-inch AMOLED show looks fantastic, has a 120Hz refresh rate, and reaches up to 2,600 nits of highest brightness, truthful it already thumps nan iPhone 16 successful that regard.

Inside nan S24 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor, which is optimized specifically for Galaxy devices. It besides has 8GB RAM, which is connected par pinch nan iPhone 16. With Android 14 and One UI 6.1, utilizing nan Galaxy S24 is simply a really soft experience, and nan Galaxy AI devices are bully to have.

Samsung gave nan Galaxy S24 a triple-lens camera system, which is besides amended than nan iPhone 16’s dual camera setup. You person a 50MP superior camera, a 10MP telephoto camera pinch 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera pinch a 120-degree section of position (FOV). Though Samsung devices thin to person heavy saturated colors, nan cameras connected nan S24 tin still seizure immoderate very bully photos. Add successful fantabulous artillery life, and you extremity up pinch different awesome iPhone 16 alternative.

OnePlus 12

If you don’t mind going pinch Android and having a larger phone, past nan OnePlus 12 is different awesome replacement — particularly considering its price. It’s simply 1 of nan champion phones retired location if you want nan astir bang for your buck.

The OnePlus 12 has a ample 6.8-inch AMOLED show pinch a 120Hz refresh complaint and tin get up to 4500 nits of highest brightness — yes, you publication that correct — 4500 nits. The only drawback is that nan show is curved on nan edges, which whitethorn lead to accidental touches and gestures if you’re not careful, but that’s thing you conscionable person to get utilized to.

The OnePlus 12 has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 spot inside, on pinch 12GB aliases 16GB of RAM, depending connected your retention configuration (up to 512GB). Not capable RAM for you? Then you tin grow free retention into virtual RAM for moreover much power. It whitethorn beryllium overkill for astir people, but erstwhile you want to multitask and usage split-screen mode, aliases moreover utilize Open Canvas successful Android 15, you’ll admit that other RAM.

You besides get 1 of nan champion camera systems connected a mobile phone. The OnePlus 12 has a triple-lens camera strategy pinch a 50MP superior camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera pinch 3x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide camera pinch 114-degree FOV. Even nan selfie camera is an awesome 32MP. And you get Hasselblad colour tuning for improved color, balance, and clarity.

OnePlus besides impresses pinch artillery life and charging. Its 5,400mAh artillery will easy past astatine slightest a time and a half, depending connected usage. Charging is besides very fast: 80W wired successful nan U.S. (100W globally) and 50W wireless charging.

The OnePlus 12 besides comes successful unsocial colors, for illustration Flowy Emerald. The champion part? You get each of this starting astatine $800. The OnePlus 12 is still 1 of 2024’s champion smartphones, and moreover though we expect nan OnePlus 13 to driblet soon, nan OnePlus 12 remains a awesome purchase.