Galaxy A16 5G: testing Samsung’s budget smartphone

Compared to the Galaxy A15, the Galaxy A16 is slightly larger, and Samsung’s also installed a new chipset in the 5G version. The 4G version still uses the old set. Nevertheless, the longer update period is a good reason to opt for this new model.

Plastic instead of glass

Samsung has saved on materials in the Galaxy A16 5G, among other things. The back and frame are made of plastic – not glass and metal as is currently the case with more expensive smartphones. That doesn’t bother me much; the plastic on the A16 looks high-quality and is comfortable enough to hold. However, be prepared for the odd fingerprint on the reflective back.

The design highlight for me is that slight bulge around the volume and power buttons in the otherwise flat frame. Speaking of the power button, it also contains a reliable fingerprint sensor. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A16 has IP certification too. IP54 confirms protection against splashing water.

Samsung has also added a larger display to the Galaxy A16 – 0.2 inches bigger compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A15. Its 2340 × 1080 pixels are now spread over 6.7 inches. A pixel density of 386 ppi is really high, ensuring a sharp and detailed image. The AMOLED display achieves a refresh rate of 90 hertz, lower than the 120 hertz currently used on more expensive Android smartphones. However, it’s still enough for a smooth display.

The smartphone’s low price is reflected in the display’s comparatively wide bezel and the generous front camera cut-out. In addition, a brightness of 800 nits isn’t the highest, but still just enough in sunshine.

Two solid cameras

Samsung doesn’t appear to have made any changes to the camera setup compared to the Galaxy A15. The Galaxy A16 has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The front camera delivers selfies with a resolution of 13 megapixels.

I’m pretty satisfied with the main camera given a the phone’s price. The colour reproduction looks natural and could be even more intense for my taste. But that’s perfectly all right. Same goes for how it handles contrasts and the level of detail. It’s more than sufficient for general smartphone or social media use. Any differences to pricier models are only noticeable when upsizing images on a PC screen.

The ultra-wide-angle camera falls behind the main camera in terms of quality. Colours appear paler and the level of detail decreases. However, images are fine enough on the smartphone itself.

Zoom is only available digitally. It looks decent up to 2x magnification.

The macro camera with its low resolution doesn’t convince me, so don’t get the Galaxy A16 if that’s important to you.

Night mode is worth it when things get dark, ensuring a sharper and better illuminated image. However, it’s only available for the main camera.

I’m also very satisfied with the front camera. It delivers selfies with pleasant colours with a high level of detail. If desired, it can also produce a beautifully blurred background in portrait mode.

I’m undecided on dark snapshots. Although night mode provides the image with a little more sharpness, it brightens it considerably. In terms of colour, I prefer Automatic.

Just enough power

With the Exynos 1330, Samsung relies on its own entry-level chipset for the Galaxy A16 5G. It has four gigabytes of RAM at its disposal, comparatively little, and the smartphone does seem slow to me at various points. Sometimes an app takes longer than I’m used to or the response time during navigation is longer than on more powerful smartphones. However, users who aren’t used to the speed of top smartphones should be satisfied with the A16.

In benchmark tests, the Galaxy A16 5G outperforms its predecessor model with the Helios G99 – albeit only slightly. Incidentally, this chipset is also found in the slightly cheaper 4G version of the Galaxy A16. However, if you spend around 100 euros or francs extra, you can get a much more powerful smartphone in the Nothing Phone (2a).

The Exynos 1330 equips the Galaxy A16 5G with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 5. You can also expand the 128 or 256 gigabyte memory with a microSD card, which may be worth it here, as the surcharge for extra memory is comparatively high.

Average battery that charges at a leisurely pace

At 5,000 mAh, the battery of the Galaxy A16 5G has the same capacity as those in many more expensive smartphones. In the PCMark Work 3.0 battery test, it lasted 9 hours and 57 minutes at maximum display brightness. Pretty decent.

The battery is charged via a USB-C port, taking up to 25 watts. For faster charging speeds or wireless charging, you’ll have to go for a pricier model.

All Samsung services, except Galaxy AI

Samsung offers the Galaxy A16 5G with Android 14 and the One UI 6.1 user interface, so you’ll have access to numerous Samsung apps and services. Just not Galaxy AI. The smartphone’s performance isn’t sufficient for that.

EU requirements are having an impact on update periods, as it turns out. Even for this entry-level Galaxy A16 model, Samsung wants to deliver security updates until 31 October 2030. Similarly, there will be six major Android updates in the same period.