iPhone 17e looks like a good deal, but the Google Pixel 10a might still have it beat

As the price of top-tier flagship smartphones floats around $1,200 / AU$1700, it's worth pondering a good smartphone that splits the difference between features and price, delivering good-enough (and sometimes better) performance at a price most people can afford.

Apple's latest iPhone 17e looks like that kind of phone, arriving with a 48MP Fusion camera, MagSafe charging, Super Retina XDR display, the performant A19 chip, and 256GB of storage, all for just $599 / AU$999.

That's a good deal and, for iPhone fans, an exciting option that won't break the bank. However, if you leave the platform aside and focus purely on value for the dollar, I think we have to consider the equally new Google Pixel 10a.