It has not been round for very lengthy and retails for $199.99 a pop: That is the Galaxy A16 5G, one other entry-level smartphone from Samsung. It appears similar to the earlier mannequin and is recognizable by its barely bigger show. Nonetheless, a better look reveals the A16 5G is a fair higher deal for the longer term than the A15 5G. Discover out why that is so in nextpit’s Samsung Galaxy A16 5G assessment!
Good
- Software program updates till 2030
- Lovely 6.7-inch show
- Very lengthy battery life
- Expandable reminiscence supported
Dangerous
- Disappointing digicam high quality, particularly at night time
- Would possibly come up brief performance-wise within the subsequent few years
- No extra 3.5 mm audio port
- Lengthy charging instances
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: All offers
Value and Availability
A improbable replace assure, an excellent show, and a long-lasting battery life: in the event you’re searching for an reasonably priced smartphone in the intervening time, the Galaxy A16 5G is the proper selection. Launched within the US on January 9, 2025, it comes with a $199.99 price ticket and is obtainable through Samsung’s official web site and from numerous nationwide retailers and carriers.
Sadly, there is no such thing as a 3.5 mm audio port on this yr’s version, and the producer has not improved on the insufficient digicam system. This can be a buy advice with some caveats, so learn on to seek out out extra.
Design & construct high quality
First off, the Galaxy A16 5G is barely bigger than its predecessor. Though Samsung managed to put in a bigger show, the chassis measurement has elevated to 16.4 x 7.8 x 7.9 mm. The load has remained the identical at 200 g and, upon nearer inspection, we took word of a painful loss: Samsung has now additionally completed away with the three.5 mm audio port in its entry-level fashions.
Execs:
- Fairly again with the look of a pocket mirror
- Responsive fingerprint sensor situated within the energy button
- IP54 waterproof score
Cons:
- 3.5 mm audio port isn’t any extra
- Design appears a bit outdated in 2025
Assessment items usually arrive as a part of a package deal. At first, I wasn’t positive whether or not Samsung had despatched the right mannequin. It is because the Galaxy A16 5G appears similar to its predecessor. I reviewed the A15 5G final yr and nearly every thing has remained unchanged. We’ve a solidly constructed, massive smartphone with the standard Samsung design language and a trio of cameras behind.
A better look reveals solely the marginally bigger chassis. Nonetheless, the expansion of some millimeters is imperceptible: the Galaxy A15 5G was already a comparatively massive smartphone. The again now appears a bit extra enticing due to the reflective floor and the three.5 mm audio port on the backside is not round because it was on the A15 5G.
In case you spend plenty of time with smartphones, the design appears a bit old school in 2025. Nonetheless, since Samsung gives IP54 safety in opposition to mud and water splashes, there may be little or no to complain about total. Sure, the Galaxy A16 5G continues to be made from plastic throughout, however you should not anticipate extra from a $200 handset. Nonetheless, as a result of high-quality workmanship, I discovered it good to carry within the palms. Samsung did a very good job of hiding the truth that it had to economize when deciding on the construct materials.
Lastly, the insufficient loudspeaker, which emits audio from the underside of the handset, is typical of an entry-level smartphone. The quantity degree is okay, however you usually cowl it together with your hand when enjoying movies or cellular video games. Since there is no such thing as a second speaker, this severely limits the audio high quality.
Show
The show, which measures a formidable 6.7 inches throughout diagonally, is a bit higher. Additionally it is primarily based on Samsung’s personal “Tremendous AMOLED” know-how, which works at variable refresh charges of as much as 90 Hz. The decision stands at 1,080 x 2,340 pixels, which ensures a strong pixel density of round 385 ppi. Nonetheless, the low value is certainly noticeable in entrance because the Galaxy A16 5G options an antiquated teardrop notch.
Execs:
- Very high-quality show for this value vary
- Narrower bezels than its predecessor
- Variable refresh price of as much as 90 Hz
Cons:
- Teardrop notch appears a bit outdated
- Show just isn’t notably vivid at solely 800 nits
- Coloration adjustments seen at lateral viewing angles
Samsung is thought for its excellent smartphone shows, which is why the 6.7-inch AMOLED panel within the Galaxy A16 5G additionally impressed. The show picked up factors with good coloration replica and can be very sharp with a pixel density of 385 ppi. Because the show helps a refresh price of as much as 90 Hz, content material appears buttery clean. After all, Samsung has extra highly effective shows, which suggests this isn’t the very best show there may be (as anticipated).
Though Samsung makes use of an AMOLED panel, you possibly can see coloration adjustments once you look along side the handset. White display screen content material turns into bluish. The truth that Samsung nonetheless depends on a transparent teardrop notch additionally appears a bit outdated.
Software program: Even longer Android updates
The Galaxy A16 5G comes with Android 14 proper out of the field, the place Samsung put in its personal Android pores and skin generally known as OneUI model 6.1. Instantly after unboxing, the smartphone confirmed us it was operating on the November 2024 safety replace in January 2025. In accordance with the producer’s promise, this can stay the case for six years, with as much as six years of recent Android variations.
Execs:
- Significantly lengthy replace promise
- OneUI strikes an excellent steadiness between performance and user-friendliness
Cons:
- Pre-installed apps akin to Temu or Royal Match
- No help for Samsung’s Galaxy AI
A transparent argument in favor of the Galaxy A16 5G is the lengthy replace guarantee of six years. For lower than $200 a pop, you’re bringing house a smartphone that you may theoretically be used till 2030 with none drawbacks when it comes to safety updates and working system variations. The truth that Samsung additionally ensures six additional Android variations is extraordinarily welcome, the place flagship handsets from different producers should not even supported that lengthy! In case you are glad with the Galaxy A16 5G, you get loads to your cash!
Sadly, this total package deal additionally consists of some bloatware, which fortunately, may be uninstalled after organising the smartphone. As an entry-level cellphone, it additionally lacks help for Samsung’s in-house AI generally known as Galaxy AI. Nonetheless, in case you are , you possibly can nonetheless use Google’s Gemini on the handset or set up ChatGPT as a separate app. You’ll be able to learn our detailed OneUI assessment to know extra. Screenshots of the working system may be discovered within the picture gallery above!
Efficiency & {Hardware}
Samsung switched to its personal Exynos SoC for the Galaxy A16 5G from MediaTek. The Exynos 1300 was manufactured utilizing the extra fashionable 5 nm course of and will provide a efficiency benefit in principle. The entry-level SoC is paired with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of inside reminiscence as commonplace. This may be expanded through microSD playing cards. The Galaxy A16 5G connects wirelessly through WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G, with the one wired connection being USB 2.0.
Execs:
- Higher efficiency than final yr
- At the very least 128 GB of inside reminiscence
- Expandable flash reminiscence
Cons:
- Little or no room for higher efficiency over the subsequent few years
- Accommodates slightly outdated connectivity requirements
The efficiency degree has elevated in comparison with its predecessor, albeit marginally. By switching from the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC to the Exynos 1300, we gained round 40 p.c in single-core efficiency and just below 10 p.c in multi-core, in response to benchmark outcomes. Nonetheless, for the reason that efficiency of the Galaxy A15 5G was merely ample final yr, the Galaxy A16 5G is in no way a powerhouse. That is partly as a result of comparatively small quantity of 4 GB RAM that comes with the smartphone as commonplace. Nonetheless, the 128 GB inside reminiscence is okay.
In on a regular basis use, we now have to dwell with occasional stutters and slightly lengthy ready instances when launching apps and loading web sites. The Galaxy A16 5G can play cellular video games akin to Name of Obligation: Cellular on the bottom graphics settings, however in order for you extra right here, you must have a look at older refurbished smartphones. Older flagships provide higher efficiency that can nonetheless be extra highly effective than the Galaxy A16 5G in 2025.
| Â | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Samsung Galaxy A15 5G | Poco M6 Professional | Poco X5 Professional 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Neo | Samsung Galaxy A53 | OnePlus Nord 2 | Google Pixel 6a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Mark Wild Life | 1.379 | 1.223 | – | 2.457 | 1.205 | 2.280 | 4.175 | 5.762 |
| 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Take a look at (Extreme¹) | Finest loop: 1,230 Worst loop: 1,220 |
Finest loop: 1,230 |
¹ Finest loop: 346 Worst loop: 344 Stability: 99.4 |
Finest loop: 2,459 Worst loop: 2,438 |
Finest loop: 1,208 Worst loop: 1,109 |
Finest loop: 2,298 Worst loop: 2293 |
Finest loop: 4181 Worst loop: 2515 |
Finest loop: 4,941 Worst loop: 2,860 |
| Geekbench 5 | Single: 973 Multi: 2,043 |
Single: 696 Multi: 1,872 |
Single: 725 Multi: 1,902 |
Single: 768 Multi: 2,685 |
Single: 1,208 Multi: 4,310 |
Single: 1,155 Multi: 3,356 |
Single: 811 Multi: 2,690 |
Single: 1,038 Multi: 2,890 |
The A16 5G is equally outdated when it comes to connectivity. Whereas present flagships already characteristic WiFi 7, the A16 5G works with WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.3, which is not the newest commonplace. Nonetheless, the gradual knowledge switch with the USB 2.0 port is especially annoying, though it at the least works through a Sort-C port.
The Galaxy A16 5G assessment unit additionally helps the brand new 5G transmission commonplace. After all, you possibly can solely reap the benefits of this in case your smartphone contract helps 5G connectivity.
Digicam
Flipping it over, we discover a triple digicam configuration with a 50 MP wide-angle shooter, a 5 MP extremely wide-angle shooter, and a 2 MP macro digicam. If we have been to match the A16 with the technical specs of its predecessor, we discover that nothing has modified right here. The identical applies to the entrance digicam, which nonetheless contains a 13 MP shooter and has no autofocus. The Galaxy A16 5G information movies in a most of 1,080p at 30 frames per second.
Execs:
- Produces usable images in the course of the day
- Zooming out attainable due to the extremely wide-angle lens
Cons:
- Evening pictures are nonetheless disappointing
- Poor high quality of the extremely wide-angle digicam stays the identical
- Falls far in need of total expectations
A few of my largest criticisms when reviewing the Galaxy A15 5G have been associated to the digicam setup. Samsung relied on a top quality degree that’s typical for entry-level units, which may produce stunning footage with the wide-angle digicam in the course of the day, however that is about it. Since Samsung makes use of the identical digicam module, the identical factors of criticism stay. Examples may be discovered within the following gallery:
Undergood lighting circumstances, akin to a sunny winter day, the primary digicam can actually rating with good picture high quality. The Galaxy A16 5G reduces the 50 MP decision of the primary digicam to 12 megapixels through pixel binning. Nonetheless, in the event you have been examine the complete decision with the outcomes produced by pixel binning, there is no such thing as a actual distinction in high quality.
Quite, the big variety of megapixels implies that the digicam tends to provide noise in poor lighting circumstances. The smartphone suppresses this noise and pictures turn out to be muddy-looking. The issue can be not solved if we have been to allow Evening Mode. Theoretically, a excessive decision ought to carry benefits when zooming in. Sadly, this didn’t occur as we see a excessive lack of element right here.
Selfies are additionally hardly convincing with the Galaxy A16 5G, with the entrance digicam being extra appropriate for video telephony.
Battery and charging
Like most sub-$200 smartphones, the Galaxy A16 5G boasts a big 5,000 mAh battery. This have to be charged utilizing a cable, and the quick-charging perform ought to work with 25 W. Nonetheless, charging instances are comparatively lengthy in actuality.
Execs:
Cons:
- No wi-fi charging help
- Quick charging is gradual even with an appropriate charger
In our assessment, the Galaxy A16 5G stood out positively for its lengthy battery life. The battery benchmark from PC Mark gave the smartphone a runtime of 12h 47m, so you must be capable of get by with the cellphone for 2 days and not using a energy outlet. This additionally makes the A16 5G an excellent companion for multimedia purposes. Along with the gorgeous show, this makes it an excellent companion for lengthy commutes.
Charging instances Galaxy A16 5G
| Charging standing | Cost time |
|---|---|
| 0 % | 0h 0m |
| 10 % | 0h 12m |
| 20 % | 0h 23m |
| 50 % | 0h 56m |
| 75 % | 1h 29m |
| 100 % | 2h 05m |
Nonetheless, because the desk of charging instances exhibits, the A16 5G must be plugged in for a comparatively very long time when the battery is empty. Although Samsung supplies the smartphone with a quick charging perform that may cost the cellphone at 25 W, you need to wait over 20 minutes even for a 20% battery cost. The entry-level smartphone additionally doesn’t help wi-fi charging.
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G technical specs
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Samsung Galaxy A16 5G |
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| SoC | |
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| Essential digicam |
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| Selfie | |
| Battery capability |
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Conclusion
Samsung makes it tough for us tech journalists as soon as once more! For lower than $200, the Galaxy A16 5G is a smartphone that’s undoubtedly value recommending. That is attributed to the nice show, the excellent battery life, and the lengthy replace guarantee of six years. If you wish to primarily use your smartphone for browsing the net, making calls, and utilizing apps akin to Instagram or TikTok, you’ll be glad for half a dozen years.
Nonetheless, those that need a bit extra will quickly be dissatisfied with the Galaxy A16 5G all too rapidly. Even for this yr, there may be little or no efficiency functionality left by the processor. You’ll be able to anticipate occasional stutters and lengthy app loading instances. It’s merely annoying that Samsung has disregarded the three.5 mm audio port and carried over the slightly poor digicam setup from final yr. The Galaxy A16 5G stays a purchase order advice—however with extreme limitations!
