Galaxy A16 5G units will currently cost around €220 for the base model with 128GB/4GB RAM. However, reputable sources do not seem to have the phone yet and it’s not universally available.
Galaxy A25 costs about the same as Galaxy A16 5G. It’s not even the base model with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. It comes with 128GB and 6GB RAM, so it’s much more future-proof.
Despite Samsung’s promise of only four major OS upgrades, we have a much higher level of faith in the A25’s long-term performance. Moreover, the Galaxy A25’s display refreshes at 120Hz instead of 60Hz. Stereo speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a slightly higher-resolution 8MP ultrawide camera round out the features.
Price and Specifiction
Alternatively, last year’s Galaxy A15 5G is better value and cheaper. A16 5G through and through, is very similar to the A16 5G. Compared to the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset you get shorter software support and up to four major OS upgrades.
A15 5G’s pluses include a 3.5mm audio jack and a wide range of memory configurations, including an interesting “middle of the road” 128GB/6GB.
Among Xiaomi’s price-range offerings, the Redmi Note 13 is among the most popular. Among its highlights are its 6.67-inch AMOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 6GB of RAM even in the base model and 12GB up to 12GB overall, and a 108MP main camera.
A Poco X6 would be even better if you paid just a bit more. The base configuration includes 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
It also features a decently powerful Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip. Due to its high brightness and Dolby Vision certification, the display is a real treat. Besides stereo speakers, you will also find OIS on the main 64MP camera. Fast 67W charging is also available with the 5,100 mAh battery.
Our verdict
Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G has a good build quality and can cover most of your needs. Samsung recently pledged to upgrade modest devices to Android 6.0 up to six times. Despite all of its added features, One UI offers a lot to love.
Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G, however, appears to be behind the times in more ways than one. Samsung doesn’t offer the same budget value as other competitors. For instance, the phone is only IP54-rated, lacks stereo speakers, and has only a 90Hz refresh rate and quite modest maximum brightness on the display.
The performance of the Exynos 1330 chipset is modest at best. Despite a few Android updates, the UI doesn’t run very smoothly or snappily, which makes us worry about usability. Even a budget phone nowadays has less than 4GB of RAM.
As for the A16 5G’s cameras, we are less impressed with their 1080p video capture and in general, their capabilities. Active Use Score is decent, but charging time is not.
You all know the adage, “Never let bad pricing deceive you”. While such a general statement is subject to nuance, we believe it very accurately describes the Galaxy A16 5G at the moment.
You can save some money by choosing the more affordable Galaxy A15 5G, which is quite similar to the far superior Galaxy A35.
The Galaxy A16 5G can indeed become popular, even massively popular if priced right, but the way things stand now, we cannot recommend it. Shop around before making a decision.
