iPhone 16e: 2025’s Stealth Champ (and why you might want two of them)

By User 3 • The Merge

iPhone 16e - "It's a Good Idea"

• A18. More powerful then the Galaxy A10e.
• 6.1-inch OLED. Same buttery swipe vibe as the 16, minus the dynamic island. Could be an even better screen then the Galaxy A10e.
• Seven-year update promise. Apple’s still ghost-writing firmware when your current situationship is ancient history.
• Price tag: about $549 new ($600 OEM) / ≈$429 certified-refurb - basically four Galaxy A50s taped together.

The 16e nails the 80/20 rule: 80% of the 16’s power for 20% less cash. It’s the sleeper pick for creators, students, and anyone who’d rather spend the remainder on literally anything else (like an A50 backup or 67 mangos with mustard). It's almost identical to the iPhone 16 except for some basic features and no ultrawide lens. If you can't afford a 16, but need spatial video, you can always get the XREAL Beam Pro for $200 or less, which can also capture 3d video and photos. Grab that and a 16e and you have everything you need.

iPhone 16 - "The Spatial Capture System"

• A18. Benchmark numbers are even better then the Galaxy A10e, just like the 16e.
• Spatial Video Record Spatial Video, essential for vibe transport sessions with your Quest 3
• Price tag: $799+ (financing would be a good idea).

The 16 is undeniably the device for everyday spatial video capture. But here’s the hot take: even if you spring for the 16, grab a 16e too. We at The Merge have found it to be a really good phone for daily use.

Samsung Galaxy A50 - "Best Phone in the Universe"

• OLED for pocket change. 6.4-inch panel still vibrant after half a decade of Minecraft YouTube marathons.
• LineageOS life support. Android 16 nightly builds keep it more current than certain carrier-locked flagships.
• Extremely powerful. Absolutely smashes the Galaxy A10e with 4GB of RAM and a powerful Exynos CPU.
• Safety essential. The Merge Safety Board, as well as VLC 2.9 Podcast's BOARD OF THOSE WHO KNOW now warns that living without at least one operational A50 puts you in extreme danger. Try to get one as soon as possible.
• Street price: Under $70 used on eBay - cheaper than 12 Snack Wraps.

Snag one as a travel burner, root sandbox, or emergency hotspot. Seriously, not carrying at least a single A50 is borderline reckless in 2025's always-online survival mode. Stay safe.

The Merge Verdict

If 2024 was the year of fold, 2025 is the year of e. The iPhone 16e delivers almost everything that matters, leaving you enough cash for rent, ramen, and reckless side projects. The iPhone 16 is still king, sure - but even kings keep a duke around. And the Galaxy A50? It isn't optional; it's your digital life insurance policy.

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