The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G appears to be a reliable option in the South Korean giant’s budget phone segment, falling in the sub-£200/$200 price range. Much like its predecessor, the Galaxy A15 5G, this latest version offers a clean design and a large display, aiming to provide a satisfying user experience without breaking the bank. While it inherits some of its predecessor’s strengths, such as a capable main camera in good lighting conditions and the promise of regular software updates, the Galaxy A16 5G also carries some familiar drawbacks, most notably sluggish performance. This review delves into the various aspects of the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G to determine whether it represents a compelling option in the competitive budget phone market.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G adheres to the uniform design language that Samsung has increasingly adopted across its smartphone range, excluding its flagship foldable and Ultra models. This means that despite its budget-friendly £199 price tag, the A16 5G shares a visual resemblance to more premium Samsung devices like the £649 Galaxy S24 FE. The device features a familiar flat-edged plastic body and is available in black, blue, light green, and light gray. While the power/fingerprint and volume buttons protrude slightly, minor differences compared to the higher-end models include a larger bottom bezel and a softer edge to the plastic frame. However, the phone maintains a certain level of fit and finish and feels substantial in the hand despite its plastic build. Measuring 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9mm, it is quite large but relatively slim, even thinner than the A15 5G. Weighing 200g, it has a noticeable heft. A notable omission at this price point is an IP rating for water and dust resistance. While this isn’t unexpected, those who prioritize this feature may want to consider alternatives like the Motorola Moto G75 5G, albeit at a higher cost.

Display and Speakers

The Galaxy A16 5G features a larger 6.7-inch display compared to its predecessor, while maintaining vibrant Super AMOLED colors and a reasonably smooth 90Hz refresh rate. While some may find the 90Hz refresh rate less modern compared to the more common 120Hz, we see it as a reasonable compromise given the phone’s performance limitations. Importantly, the refresh rate is 50% more responsive than the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus displays. Peak brightness reaches 800 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM), matching the Galaxy A15 5G. This brightness level is suitable for indoor use and even outdoors on overcast days, although it may appear somewhat dim during brighter summer conditions. The display features a waterdrop-shaped selfie notch, which we note looks a bit dated. Furthermore, the screen bezels, especially the elongated bottom bezel, are described as massive. While the screen is adequate for viewing visual content, it lacks the immersive “drawing on a surface” quality found in more expensive Samsung devices. Frustratingly, the Galaxy A16 5G relies on a single speaker on the bottom bezel instead of stereo audio. While this single speaker can be quite loud, it tends to become piercing at higher volume levels and lacks a balanced low end, though it remains clear at more moderate volume levels.

Specifications and Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is powered by the Exynos 1330 processor in the global model reviewed, paired with a modest 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It’s worth noting that Samsung hasn’t announced much about the processor, perhaps due to the use of different chipsets depending on the region. A MicroSDXC slot is included for storage expansion. The combination of the Exynos 1330 and 4GB of RAM results in mediocre performance, a persistent weakness in Samsung’s sub-£200 smartphone lineup.

While general app navigation can be smooth once the phone warms up and isn’t burdened by excessive background processes, minor stuttering and crashes are common when running and switching between multiple apps. Doubling the RAM to 8GB would have significantly improved these lags. For users accustomed to budget phones, this performance lag may be less noticeable, but those with experience using a wide range of devices will likely notice it. Therefore, high-end gaming isn’t recommended on this device; while it can run games like Genshin Impact at the lowest settings, it requires considerable patience. Benchmark tests indicate that the Galaxy A16 5G offers, at best, a slight upgrade in CPU and GPU performance compared to the Galaxy A15 5G. It’s worth noting that the £200 Moto G55, which is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 chipset, outperforms it in these tests.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G’s camera system mirrors that of its predecessor, the Galaxy A15 5G. It features a 50MP primary rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 5MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 2MP macro lens, which is described as useless. The front camera, housed in a waterdrop notch, is a 13MP sensor. With this setup, image quality is described as very average, even with Samsung’s commendable image processing.

In good lighting conditions, the 50MP primary camera can capture decent images with adequate exposure and dynamic range. Samsung’s color science, now more natural than in the past, prevents images from appearing flat or muddy, a common problem with older budget phone cameras. However, image quality deteriorates quickly outside of ideal conditions. The 5MP ultrawide camera suffers from a significant drop in quality, exhibiting noticeable noise and a clear loss of detail and color tone. Close-up shots, obtained by cropping from the main sensor, produce only acceptable, if slightly grainy, results at 2x zoom, while 4x and 10x zooms produce severely blurry images.

In low-light environments, even the main camera struggles, with sharpness fading in dimly lit settings. Night mode shots lack clarity due to the lack of optical image stabilization (OIS), which would allow for longer shutter times. On the brighter side, the 13MP front camera performs very well for its price, capturing reasonably detailed selfies in good lighting, with the added benefit of a telephoto or wide-angle option.

Battery and Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which offers solid, predictable endurance. It can typically last for two days with light use, which is still commendable, though no longer exceptional. However, alarm bells are ringing in the results of the PCMark Work 3.0 battery benchmark, which simulates sustained daily use, which yielded a result of just 10 hours and 24 minutes. This is significantly lower than the Galaxy A15 5G (with approximately four hours and 30 minutes) and the Moto G55 (with approximately three hours). While it’s not the worst among modern affordable phones, it lags significantly behind the best performers.

Samsung doesn’t include a charger in the box, which could be a major inconvenience for budget-conscious buyers who might be purchasing their first smartphone. The phone supports 25W wired charging, the same as its predecessor. Using Samsung’s 65W charger, the Galaxy A16 5G charged from empty to 26% in 15 minutes and reached 51% in 30 minutes, with a full charge taking approximately one hour and 25 minutes, which isn’t considered fast charging. Wireless charging isn’t supported, which is typical for phones in this price range under £200, but the slightly more expensive Moto G75 5G offers this feature.

Operating System

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G runs Android 14, with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 skin on top. While this isn’t the latest version of Android, there’s nothing to be concerned about. A notable feature is Samsung’s promise of extensive six-year updates, which extends until October 2030, providing an excellent long-term guarantee for a phone in this price range. One UI 6.1 will feel familiar to users of recent Samsung phones and tablets, maintaining a broadly consistent look and feel across the product range. One UI is described as a clean and highly customizable user interface. Slowdowns during use are attributed to poor phone performance rather than a UI issue. The phone is also not the worst offender when it comes to pre-installed software (bloatware). While TikTok and Pinterest may be listed as “essential” apps during setup, and Spotify and Netflix come pre-installed without mentioning it, the number of third-party apps pre-installed is relatively limited.

Conclusion and Recommended Purchase?

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is positioned as a decent budget phone from Samsung, boasting an attractive design and a powerful AMOLED display for under £200/$199. However, it’s noticeable that there hasn’t been much improvement over the Galaxy A15 5G, with similarly sluggish performance and a similarly average camera setup. The big positive is Samsung’s promise of significantly improved software updates. Conversely, battery life appears to have deteriorated slightly, especially under sustained use. In conclusion, while the Galaxy A16 5G is a perfectly acceptable budget phone, we believe better value can likely be found by either stretching your budget a little or seeking discounts on more powerful hardware. The combination of its aesthetics and attractive display with the promise of long-term update support makes it a contender, but the disappointing performance and battery life compared to its predecessor raise questions about value for money.

Phone Price

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Price

The Samsung A16 5G price in dollars is approximately $185.

In Egypt: 10,500 Egyptian pounds

In Saudi Arabia: 700 riyals

In the UAE: 625 dirhams

In Algeria: 25,000 dinars

In Iraq: 244,000 dinars

In Morocco: 2,150 dirhams

In Jordan: 135 dinars

In Tunisia: 750 dinars

In Libya: 899 dinars

In Oman: 70 riyals

In Kuwait: 57 dinars

In Qatar: 670 riyals

In Bahrain: 70 dinars

In Sudan: 133,000 Egyptian pounds

Note: The price is for the 128+4 GB version.

Price may vary depending on the date of purchase and the store.