Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: Cheap smartphone technology is moving fast and Samsung appears to have a solid game plan to stay a step ahead. The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is arriving as the newest economical 5G option in the brand’s beloved A-series.
Fit for young consumers and budget-minded shoppers alike, it strikes a good balance between modern features, clean design and Samsung’s tried-and-true software.
But with strong rivalry from the likes of Realme, Redmi and Infinix, does the Galaxy A16 5G really keep its head above the water? So what does this affordable 5G phone offer?
Construction: Keep it Simple and Keep it Clean
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G adopts the brand’s traditional minimalist design. The phone has a matte finish on the polycarbonate back that looks fresh and keeps grime and fingerprints at bay.
A triple-camera module is arranged vertically, none of them featuring a large camera bump, and a discreet Samsung logo sits at the bottom.
At roughly 194 grams and 8.4mm thick, the phone has a solid heft but it’s not overly weighty. Available in Black, Light Blue and Silver, three vibrant colours to bring the customer younger for the bib, which is the advantage.
It’s not particularly flashy, but it’s tidy, practical, and attractive enough to play in its segment.
Display: Big and Basic
Up front, the Galaxy A16 5G features a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with HD+ resolution (1600 x 720) and a 90Hz refresh rate.
It’s not AMOLED or Full HD+, but it gets the job done for casual uses like YouTube, browsing and social media.
Animations and scrolling are kept smooth thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate, and indoors or in moderate outdoor light, brightness is good.
It’s not perfect for hardcore content watchers, but for an entry-level 5G phone, it stands pretty strong.
Performance: For Everyday Use or Work
Inside, the Galaxy A16 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC paired with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB internal storage.
The chipset is capable of providing a smooth, lag-free experience when mail calling, opening apps, light gaming or simply just flicking around from app to app.
The phone also has RAM Plus, a feature that taps into virtual memory to assist with multitasking. Games such as Subway Surfers, Clash of Clans and even BGMI at low settings run fairly well, though make no mistake, this isn’t a gaming phone.
The 5G support also means you won’t be left behind in terms of networking, which is great for this category in particular.
Camera Configuration: Enough to Get the Job Done
The Galaxy A16 5G sports a dual rear camera setup that is headlined by a 50MP primary sensor and accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor. In good lighting, the main camera takes crisp, vivid shots with Samsung’s usual color tuning.
Portrait shots come with a good edge detection and the level of detail preservation is good, for the price.
Low-light photos have visible grain and lack detail though Night Mode saves the day in terms of usability. The 8MP front camera takes social-media-ready selfies, although it can be somewhat lacking in dynamic range.
It’s a workable camera system — don’t expect professional-level results.
Battery & Charging:
You power through your day thanks to a long last battery.
Battery up to 5000mAh You get a 5000mAh battery in the A16 5G, which is acceptable for one full day of use.
The battery is also good enough to last a second day on light usage with around average screen-on time.
The phone has 15W wired charging, which might feel a little slow in 2024, but there’s also the power efficiency of the processor to balance things out.
A full charge lasts roughly 2 hours — which might strain your patience if you’re on the rush.
Software: Samsung One UI Core
The A16 5G is powered by One UI Core 6, which is based on Android 14. While it’s a watered down version of One UI, the phone still gets some useful features including Dark Mode, Digital Wellbeing, Dual Messenger, and Samsung ecosystem integration.
That’s paired with 2 years of OS updates and an extra 2 years of security patches from Samsung, which is more than most brands are packing into a phone in this price bracket, and a big win for longevity.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Clean and attractive design
Avail 5G at an attractive price
Long battery life
90Hz refresh rate
Samsung’s strong and predictable software and update policy
Decent camera when it comes to daylight shots
Cons:
Only HD+ resolution
No ultra-wide camera
Slow 15W charging
Basic gaming performance
Lacks stereo speakers
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is designed for people who need value performance or future-proof 5G speeds or long battery life—nothing more yet nothing less in a known Samsung product.
It isn’t the most high-spec or gimmick-filled product, but it does the basics well.
If you’re not lusting after high-end specs, but still need a solid, affordable 5G phone that you can count on to see some good years of software support, the A16 5G represents a pair of smart choices for budget seekers.