Budget phones are significantly more fun to review than flagship devices. I get to highlight the value of less-expensive smartphones and help people who want to save money while making a smart purchase. Samsung had to make compromises to keep the Galaxy A16 affordable, but it made the right choices. It’s not a perfect device, and I didn’t expect it to be for $200. Still, if you’re coming from an older J-series Galaxy or a previous A-series device, it’s an ideal upgrade, especially with Samsung’s promise of extended software support.
If you don’t enjoy spending over $1,000 on your phone but still want something that can do the basics well, the Samsung Galaxy A16 might just be your next purchase; here’s why.
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
- SoC
- Exynos 1330
- RAM
- 4GB
- Storage
- 128GB
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
The Samsung Galaxy A16 features a large 6.7-inch display in a slimmer design and now comes with an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. It offers 6 years of OS and security updates. Under the hood, it’s powered by an Exynos 1330 chipset. The budget smartphone also retains key features from its predecessor, like a 5,000 mAh battery, microSD slot, and triple-lens camera.
Pros & Cons
- Gorgeous display
- Six years of software support
- Solid battery life
- Only 4GB of RAM
- Glastic back
- Poor secondary camreas
Price, specs, and availability
The Samsung Galaxy A16 is available through Samsung, Best Buy, and Amazon for $200, but frequent sales often drop the price below $175. It’s sold in one configuration in the US, with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — something I’ll return to later. Samsung offers the Galaxy A16 unlocked in two colors: Blue Black, and Light Grey. A non-5G variant of the Galaxy A16 is available overseas; however, for this review, I’ll only be referring to the 5G variant.
The Galaxy A16 will work well with all major US carriers and most MVNOs. I used mine on both AT&T and T-Mobile without encountering problems.
Specifications
- SoC
- Exynos 1330
- Display type
- Super AMOLED
- Display dimensions
- 6.7″
- Display resolution
- 1080p
- RAM
- 4GB
- Storage
- 128GB
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
- Charge speed
- 25W
- Charge options
- Wired charging
- SIM support
- Nano and eSIM
- Operating System
- One UI 6.1, Android 14
- Front camera
- 13MP
- Rear camera
- 50MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro
- Cellular connectivity
- 5G
- Weight
- 200g
- IP Rating
- IP54
- Colors
- Blue Black and Light Grey
- Price
- $200
You won’t always feel like you’re using a $200 phone
Gorgeous display and decent performance
Last year’s Galaxy A15 had an excellent display, but Samsung’s done even better with this year’s panel. The Galaxy A16 has the best screen I’ve seen on a phone under $200, and that’s a significant reason why you should consider picking one up. It features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED 1080p panel that refreshes at 90Hz. It’s more vibrant and saturated than last year’s display, and it has better color accuracy. Samsung has also improved brightness, making the Galaxy A16 perfectly viewable outdoors on a sunny day.
Games like Pokémon GO look fantastic, and I enjoyed scrolling through Instagram. It’s easy to get lost in the viewing experience, and I never felt like I was using a budget phone when watching content. Displays on less-expensive phones used to be dismal, drab LCD panels with little saturation or brightness. I’m glad that trend reversed, and Samsung provides a gorgeous screen on the Galaxy A16.
The Galaxy A16’s performance is somewhat mixed. It’s important to maintain perspective; this is a $200 (or less) device, so you won’t get the same smooth experience you would from a midrange phone. However, for the money, the Galaxy A16 does the job. Daily staples like WhatsApp and Instagram function well. Sure, it’ll take an extra second to load apps, and I did encounter frequent stutters when pulling down the notification shade, but it was never anything disqualifying or unbearable. I never had to perform any hard resets, and once apps are up and running, the phone lets you enjoy the 90Hz experience.
I hoped that Samsung would opt for a Dimensity 6300 chipset in the US version of the Galaxy A16. The Exynos 1330 is solid, but I slightly prefer the MediaTek processor. I also wish Samsung made the higher RAM variants available in the United States. Other regions received 6GB and even 8GB options, which would provide a noticeable performance boost. More RAM means the Galaxy A16 doesn’t have to be as aggressive in closing apps, as more of the system is cached. The fewer times a budget chipset has to open programs, the better, and more RAM would make the Galaxy A16 a much smoother performer.
Samsung commits to the long-term
Extended support for a budget device
If the display is the primary reason to pick up a Galaxy A16, its software is a close second. The phone ships with One UI 6.1 on Android 14 out of the box, but an update to One UI 7 is expected soon. One UI is excellent software for a budget phone, and I’m excited to see how Samsung’s upgraded One UI 7 changes the experience. However, it’s not just the software that draws me to the Galaxy A16; it’s the support.
Samsung promises six years of software upgrades and security patches for the Galaxy A16 — a massive amount for a budget device. I can’t claim to know how Android 20 will run on your phone in 2030, but I’m pleased the company is at least committing to optimizing software on an inexpensive device for that long.
You won’t find a full suite of Galaxy AI features on your Galaxy A16, and I wouldn’t expect to see them in the future. Currently, I view that as a benefit, as Galaxy AI still requires further refinement before I’m convinced it has a positive impact on the user experience.
Enough power to last the entire day
Decent battery life and a serviceable camera
I expected slightly better performance from the Galaxy A16’s 5,000mAh battery, but I still got an entire day of mixed use on a single charge. 25W wired recharging speeds aren’t exactly blistering, but I wouldn’t expect much more for this price. Similarly, wireless charging is not available on the Galaxy A16. I’m accustomed to easily getting through two days of use on other budget devices due to their low-powered chipsets, but you won’t feel limited by the Galaxy A16.
Cameras are another mixed bag. I’ll address the Galaxy A16’s secondary sensors later, but I want to focus on its 50MP primary shooter. Like last year, the main camera performs exceptionally well for the money in good lighting conditions. I get a crisp image with vibrant colors and decent contrast. As expected, low-light performance falls off quickly, but I’m not asking the Galaxy A16 to do much more than it does.
It’d be unreasonable to demand photography similar to a Google Pixel 9a for less than half the price. The Galaxy A16 will capture that memory and score a few likes on Instagram without difficulty — and that’s all I’d expect.
It’s not all fun and games
Samsung definitely cut corners
I mentioned that Samsung didn’t give us more RAM in the United States, but that’s not the only gripe I have with the Galaxy A16. I hate when companies include subpar camera sensors in phones just to claim a device has more lenses. The 5MP ultrawide sensor and 2MP macro lens on the Galaxy A16 are borderline unusable, and I’ll never understand why companies insist on including low-quality macro cameras on budget phones.
I’d rather Samsung didn’t bother and save us a few bucks on the price, or take that money and improve another area of the phone. It smells like pure marketing foolishness, and I’m not falling for it.
I appreciate that Samsung still included a microSD card slot for expandable storage, but I regret it took away the 3.5mm headphone jack from last year’s model. A highlight of budget phones is often the inclusion of legacy, fan-favorite features, so I was disappointed to see another one removed on the Galaxy A16. It also lacks an always-on display. I used to understand why budget phones with LCD panels didn’t have them, but with OLED screens and large batteries on even affordable phones, I don’t get the exclusion.
I also can’t stand the glastic backs Samsung puts on some of its phones. I’ve hated it on every device I’ve seen it on, as it doesn’t look premium, and it quickly becomes a magnet for fingerprints and unsightly smudges. I understand Samsung can’t use glass, but I’d rather the company take Motorola’s approach with eco-leather or textured designs for its budget phones.
It’s a minor complaint, easily remedied with a case, but Samsung could do better. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor can be a touch finicky, but I attribute that mainly to the phone’s budget performance.
Should you buy it?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 is a budget workhorse, and if you can pick one up on sale or through a carrier discount, it’s hard to beat. Yes, there are some aspects I wish were improved, and you can get better-performing midrange phones for a few more dollars, but the Galaxy A16 will be purchased by millions around the world this year for a reason. If you’re looking for a phone that excels at the basics while saving a significant amount of money, the Galaxy A16 is worth considering.
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
- SoC
- Exynos 1330
- RAM
- 4GB
- Storage
- 128GB
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
Samsung definitely made compromises on the Galaxy A16 5G to keep costs down, but it gets the basics right. The Exynos 1330 isn’t a powerhouse, especially with only 4GB of RAM, but Instagram scrolls are pleasant and WhatsApp works well. It’s 5,000mAh battery is enough for a single day of mixed use, and it features a gorgeous display.
