Pear Phone 16e vs. Courthouse-Step Glare

Carl’s rating: 8 / 10 sunbeams

The Pear Phone 16e arrives in a box so white it apologizes for sand. Pear’s marketing calls the screen “Ceramic Shield Desert Edition,” which is either innovation or a confession. I tested it where locals test everything: courthouse steps at noon, one hand on a lemonade, one eye on the Route 190 Cup parade photo Rita Roadrunner promised to send.

The good: Camera caught confetti mid-flight without turning it into abstract expressionism. Face-unlock worked with a hat brim — rare courtesy. Battery survived a booster-meet afternoon with maps, photos, and one regrettable group text.

The glare: Overhead sun still wins arm-wrestling matches; shade is not optional, it’s topology. Case included is pretty; buy something with grip if your hands sweat like mine do at chili cook-offs.

Verdict: If you want a phone that feels premium and survives county-fair duty, the 16e earns its orchard tax. If you never leave fluorescent lighting, any rectangle with a camera will do — save the premium for ice in your lemonade.