Samsung continues to strengthen its position in the budget smartphone segment with the release of the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G. Launched in October 2024, this smartphone offers impressive features for its price, including 5G connectivity, a large AMOLED display, a robust battery, and a competent camera setup. In this Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review, we’ll look at the key specs and features of the Galaxy A16 5G to see how it measures up to expectations.
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Review: Design and Build Quality
Firstly the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review, looks at the Galaxy A16 5G sports a sleek and modern design that is characteristic of Samsung’s Galaxy A-series. The phone features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, which stands out in this price range for its vibrant colours, deep blacks, and high contrast ratio. This AMOLED display not only enhances the viewing experience but also helps with battery efficiency. It also has a 90Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations feel smooth and fluid.
Despite being a budget phone, the IP54 protection gives the Galaxy A16 5G some degree of water and dust resistance, making it durable for everyday use. The back panel is made of plastic, a common material in budget phones, but it still feels solid in hand. Available in colours like black and blue, the phone has a modern, minimalist look, which appeals to users who prefer a clean design.
Display
One of the standout features of the Galaxy A16 5G is its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display. With a 1080 x 2400 resolution, the screen offers crisp visuals, making it ideal for consuming media, whether you’re watching videos, browsing the web, or playing games. The 90Hz refresh rate further enhances the fluidity of the user experience, allowing for smoother scrolling and improved responsiveness when interacting with apps.
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review suggests For a budget smartphone, an AMOLED display at this size and resolution is impressive, giving the A16 5G a competitive edge over many similarly priced models that still rely on LCD screens. Samsung has also ensured that the display offers good visibility even under direct sunlight, making it practical for outdoor use.
Performance
Looking at the performance the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review revealed under the hood, the Galaxy A16 5G is powered by either the Exynos 1330 or the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, depending on the region. Both chipsets are optimized for everyday tasks, such as web browsing, video streaming, and social media use, without lagging. However, while it handles day-to-day tasks efficiently, the performance in heavy gaming or intensive multitasking may not be as robust as flagship models, which is expected in this price range.
The phone comes in two variants: 128GB of storage with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of storage with 8GB of RAM. The microSDXC slot allows for additional storage, giving users the flexibility to store more files, apps, and media without running out of space.
Software
The Galaxy A16 5G runs on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI layered on top. Samsung’s One UI is known for its user-friendly design, offering a clean and intuitive interface. The software comes with a range of customization options and useful features, including Samsung Knox for enhanced security. For a budget device, it’s a plus that Samsung continues to offer an operating system that’s regularly updated with security patches and features, helping users stay up to date with the latest software developments. The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review also revealed the handset will receive 6 years of updates which is fantastic news
Camera Setup
The camera system of the Galaxy A16 5G is competitive for its price point our Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review shows, especially with the inclusion of a 50MP main camera. This camera offers decent picture quality in well-lit conditions, with sharp details and accurate colours. In low-light scenarios, the camera struggles a bit with noise, but considering the price, it performs admirably. In addition to the main sensor, the phone also features a 5MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. These additional lenses offer more versatility, allowing users to capture wide-angle shots or close-up details.
The 13MP front-facing camera is housed in a small notch at the top of the display. It performs well for selfies and video calls, producing clear and detailed images. Although it lacks the more advanced features found in higher-end models, it is more than sufficient for social media sharing and everyday use.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review shows the battery life is another strong point of the Galaxy A16 5G. Equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, the phone is designed to last a full day of moderate usage. This includes tasks like web browsing, social media, and video streaming. For light users, the phone could potentially last even longer, making it a great option for those who need reliable all-day performance without frequently reaching for the charger.
The phone supports 15W fast charging, which is modest but reasonable for a budget device according to our Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review. While it doesn’t compete with the ultra-fast charging seen in flagship models, it will still charge the phone in a reasonable amount of time. The large battery and energy-efficient AMOLED display combine to give the Galaxy A16 5G solid battery performance for its price.
5G Connectivity
As the name suggests, the Galaxy A16 5G supports 5G connectivity, a notable feature for a budget smartphone. With 5G, users can expect faster download and upload speeds, better streaming quality, and improved overall network reliability. This future-proofs the device, ensuring that users will be able to take advantage of the growing 5G infrastructure in the coming years. It also sets the A16 5G apart from other budget smartphones that may still rely on 4G LTE technology.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review shows the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is an excellent addition to Samsung’s budget lineup, offering a solid combination of features, including a large AMOLED display, a capable 50MP camera, 5G connectivity, and a long-lasting battery. While it may not perform at the level of flagship devices in terms of raw power or advanced camera capabilities, it excels in delivering a well-rounded experience at an affordable price. For users looking for a budget-friendly 5G smartphone with reliable performance and a premium display, the Galaxy A16 5G is certainly worth considering as shown Samsung Galaxy A16 5G review.
Arthur is a senior member of the communications team who has worked at several well-known companies over the past 10 years. As a writer with many years of experience in the technology sector, focusing on reviewing mobile phones and accessories, he has written about many products or has been hands-on with them at some point
