The Samsung Galaxy A16 is the 4G version of the Galaxy A16 5G. Samsung France announced both models on October 15, 2024, and the 4G model went on sale in November 2024. It is an entry-level phone with a large OLED screen and long software support. It is not sold in the US. Samsung later released the Galaxy A17 as its successor. Still, the A16 remains listed in markets such as South Africa and Argentina.
Design and display
The Galaxy A16 is 7.9 mm thick, down from 8.4 mm on the Galaxy A15. It measures 164.4 x 77.9 mm and weighs 200 g. Samsung gave it an IP54 rating for dust and water splashes. The back has a matte finish, unlike the glossy 5G model.
The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display has a 1080 x 2340 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Its peak brightness is 800 nits. The selfie camera sits in a small notch at the top.
Performance
The phone runs on the MediaTek Helio G99, a 6nm chip. It has two 2.2GHz Cortex-A76 cores and six 2.0GHz Cortex-A55 cores. It is the same chip as in the Galaxy A15. The main model pairs it with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. A microSD card of up to 1.5TB fits in a hybrid slot shared with the second SIM.
The Galaxy A16 5G differs mainly in its chip and network support. It uses the Exynos 1330 or the Dimensity 6300, depending on the market, and adds 5G. The display, cameras, battery and charging speed are the same on both phones.
Cameras
On the back, there is a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with autofocus. A 5MP f/2.2 ultrawide and a 2MP f/2.4 macro camera join it. The main camera has no optical stabilization. Video recording reaches 1080p at 30fps. The front camera has 13MP and an f/2.0 aperture.
Battery and charging
The 5,000mAh battery supports 25W Super Fast Charging. The charger is sold separately, so the box includes only the phone, a USB-C cable and a SIM tool. Wireless charging is not supported.
Software and updates
The Galaxy A16 launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Samsung promises six generations of OS upgrades and six years of security updates. The phone also includes Samsung Knox Vault and NFC for contactless payments.
Should you buy the Galaxy A16?
The Galaxy A16 fits buyers who do not need 5G. It offers a big OLED screen, splash resistance and long updates for little money. It also keeps a microSD slot. On the other hand, it has a single speaker and no headphone jack, and the charger costs extra. Buyers who want 5G should look at the Galaxy A16 5G. The newer Galaxy A17 replaces this model in Samsung’s lineup.
