Samsung Galaxy A16 Review: Features, Price, and Performance
Samsung Galaxy A16
- Network Technology: GSM, HSPA, LTE
- Launch: Announced in October 2024, released in November 2024
- Body:
- Dimensions: 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)
- Weight: 200 g (7.05 oz)
- Build: Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
- IP54 (dust and splash resistant)
- SIM: Nano-SIM, Dual SIM option
Display:
- Type: Super AMOLED, 90Hz refresh rate
- Size: 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm² (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels, ~385 ppi
Platform:
- OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1, with up to 6 major Android upgrades
- Chipset: Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
Memory:
- Card slot: microSDXC (shared SIM slot)
- Internal: Options of 128GB with 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM, or 256GB with 8GB RAM
Cameras:
- Main Camera:
- 50 MP (wide), f/1.8, AF
- 5 MP (ultrawide), f/2.2
- 2 MP (macro), f/2.4
- Video: 1080p@30fps
- Selfie Camera: 13 MP (wide), f/2.0, Video: 1080p@30fps
Sound:
- Loudspeaker: Yes
- 3.5mm Jack: No
Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth: 5.3, A2DP, LE
- Positioning: GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
- NFC: Yes (dependent on market)
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0
- Radio: FM radio (dependent on market)
Battery:
- Type: 5000 mAh
- Charging: 25W wired
Miscellaneous:
- Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass, virtual proximity sensing
- Colors: Gray, Water Green, Midnight Blue
- Models: SM-A165F, SM-A165F/DS, SM-A165M, SM-A165M/DS
- SAR: 0.31 W/kg (head), 1.08 W/kg (body)
- Price: Approx. $179.87 / £126.02 / €168.85
Performance:
- AnTuTu: 387,422 (v10)
- GeekBench: 1,920 (v6)
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 345
- Display: 808 nits max brightness (measured)
- Battery Life: Active use score of 14 hours 43 minutes
Let's take a closer look at what the Samsung Galaxy A16 has to offer.
Design and Finish :
The Samsung Galaxy A16 continues the elegant design language that has become a trademark of Samsung's A-series. The device has a plastic back and frame, giving it an elegant look while remaining affordable. The back of the phone has a matte finish, which makes it less susceptible to fingerprints and easier to maintain a clean look over time. Although the back is made of plastic, it is well-built and feels stable in the hand.
The phone has relatively narrow bezels around the 6.5-inch display, making for an impressive visual experience. The front camera is housed in a small teardrop-shaped notch at the top of the screen, making it unobtrusive and unobtrusive to the viewing area. The back of the phone features a four-camera setup housed in a rectangular module in the top-left corner. This design follows the trend of incorporating multiple cameras for versatility in photography.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A16 looks beautiful and modern, and despite being made of plastic, it looks and feels like a more expensive device.
Screen :
The Galaxy A16's 6.5-inch screen is its standout feature in the mid-range market. It features an IPS LCD panel with Full HD+ resolution (2408 x 1080 pixels), which provides crisp and vibrant images for a smartphone in this price range. The screen has good brightness and color reproduction, making it perfect for everyday use. B. For surfing the internet, watching videos, and gaming.
Though it's not an AMOLED display like some high-end Samsung smartphones, the IPS LCD technology offers decent color accuracy and good viewing angles, especially considering the price. The display is sharp enough for reading and watching HD videos, but you won't get the deep blacks and high contrast that AMOLED screens offer.
The screen also supports a 60Hz refresh rate, which is the standard for low- and mid-range smartphones. The refresh rate may not be as stable as higher-end phones with 90Hz or 120Hz displays, but it should still provide a stable and responsive experience for everyday tasks.
The phone has relatively narrow bezels around the 6.5-inch display, making for an impressive visual experience. The front camera is housed in a small teardrop-shaped notch at the top of the screen, making it unobtrusive and unobtrusive to the viewing area. The back of the phone features a four-camera setup housed in a rectangular module in the top-left corner. This design follows the trend of incorporating multiple cameras for versatility in photography.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A16 looks beautiful and modern, and despite being made of plastic, it looks and feels like a more expensive device.
Screen :
The Galaxy A16's 6.5-inch screen is its standout feature in the mid-range market. It features an IPS LCD panel with Full HD+ resolution (2408 x 1080 pixels), which provides crisp and vibrant images for a smartphone in this price range. The screen has good brightness and color reproduction, making it perfect for everyday use. B. For surfing the internet, watching videos, and gaming.
Though it's not an AMOLED display like some high-end Samsung smartphones, the IPS LCD technology offers decent color accuracy and good viewing angles, especially considering the price. The display is sharp enough for reading and watching HD videos, but you won't get the deep blacks and high contrast that AMOLED screens offer.
The screen also supports a 60Hz refresh rate, which is the standard for low- and mid-range smartphones. The refresh rate may not be as stable as higher-end phones with 90Hz or 120Hz displays, but it should still provide a stable and responsive experience for everyday tasks.
Performance :
Inside the Samsung Galaxy A16 is the Exynos 850 chipset, a mid-range processor designed for efficient performance in everyday use. Paired with 4GB of RAM (some models offer up to 6GB), the Exynos 850 chipset can easily handle basic tasks like web browsing, social media use, and light multitasking.
It may struggle with more demanding tasks like high-end gaming or intensive multitasking, but it should be more than enough for most users. Light games like casual games and older titles run smoothly, but graphically intensive games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile may require lower settings for smoother performance.
64GB of internal storage is standard at this price point, but if you need more space, expansion via microSD card (up to 1TB) is supported, a handy feature for those who store a lot of media, apps, and other files. In terms of performance, the Galaxy A16 offers great features for its price, but users looking for top-notch performance in games and demanding applications may find the device a bit limited.
Camera :
The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy A16 is a big selling point for this mid-range device. The phone comes with four cameras on the back, including a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. This versatile setup allows users to try out different photography styles, from wide-angle shots to close-ups.
The 48MP main camera is capable of capturing clear, detailed images even in bright lighting conditions. Samsung's software enhancements such as AI Scene Optimization improve color accuracy and exposure for vibrant photos. The camera may struggle a bit in low light, but the Night Mode feature improves low-light performance and allows you to capture more details in low-light environments.
The 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera is useful for taking long landscape and group photos, but image quality may decrease slightly at the edges. The 2MP macro sensor allows you to take close-ups of small objects, while the 2MP depth sensor enhances Portrait mode with better subject separation and bokeh effect.
On the front, the Galaxy A16 features a 13MP selfie camera that can take clear and detailed selfies. The front camera with features such as AI beautification and portrait mode provides a good experience for social media fans and frequent video callers.
The camera system is not groundbreaking, but it does provide a comprehensive photography experience, especially for a device in this price range. It should meet the needs of users who enjoy taking photos and sharing them on social media.
The 5000mAh battery on the Samsung Galaxy A16 will allow you to use the device all day without needing to charge it. With moderate usage, such as browsing the internet, social media, and watching videos, the device will easily last a full day. The battery is large enough that you can use it for a long time without worrying about it running out of juice quickly.
The device supports 15W fast charging, which is reasonable for a phone in this price range. While not as fast as some higher-end devices that support 25W or 45W charging, the 15W charging speed is still efficient and should be able to fully charge your phone in around 90 minutes depending on your usage. The combination of a large battery and efficient performance ensures users good endurance even during extended media consumption or light gaming.
Software and Features :
The Samsung Galaxy A16 runs on One UI 3.1 based on Android 11, providing a clean and user-friendly experience. One UI offers a variety of customizations and features, including dark mode, app drawer, and one-handed mode. Samsung is well-known for its timely software updates, and the A16 is likely to receive security patches and major operating system upgrades for the next few years.
The One UI interface also includes features such as Samsung Knox for enhanced security, Edge Panel for quick access to apps, and Bixby for voice control, although many users prefer Google Assistant for voice commands. The software is smooth to navigate, and Samsung's customizations are widely praised for their ease of use.
Connectivity and extra features :
The Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with standard connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. It supports dual SIM functionality, which is handy for users who want to manage multiple numbers for work or personal use.
The phone also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rare but appreciated feature on many smartphones these days, allowing users to enjoy wired audio without an adapter. For charging and data transfer, the phone uses a USB Type-C port, which offers faster data transfer speeds compared to the traditional MicroUSB standard.
Inside the Samsung Galaxy A16 is the Exynos 850 chipset, a mid-range processor designed for efficient performance in everyday use. Paired with 4GB of RAM (some models offer up to 6GB), the Exynos 850 chipset can easily handle basic tasks like web browsing, social media use, and light multitasking.
It may struggle with more demanding tasks like high-end gaming or intensive multitasking, but it should be more than enough for most users. Light games like casual games and older titles run smoothly, but graphically intensive games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile may require lower settings for smoother performance.
64GB of internal storage is standard at this price point, but if you need more space, expansion via microSD card (up to 1TB) is supported, a handy feature for those who store a lot of media, apps, and other files. In terms of performance, the Galaxy A16 offers great features for its price, but users looking for top-notch performance in games and demanding applications may find the device a bit limited.
Camera :
The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy A16 is a big selling point for this mid-range device. The phone comes with four cameras on the back, including a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. This versatile setup allows users to try out different photography styles, from wide-angle shots to close-ups.
The 48MP main camera is capable of capturing clear, detailed images even in bright lighting conditions. Samsung's software enhancements such as AI Scene Optimization improve color accuracy and exposure for vibrant photos. The camera may struggle a bit in low light, but the Night Mode feature improves low-light performance and allows you to capture more details in low-light environments.
The 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera is useful for taking long landscape and group photos, but image quality may decrease slightly at the edges. The 2MP macro sensor allows you to take close-ups of small objects, while the 2MP depth sensor enhances Portrait mode with better subject separation and bokeh effect.
On the front, the Galaxy A16 features a 13MP selfie camera that can take clear and detailed selfies. The front camera with features such as AI beautification and portrait mode provides a good experience for social media fans and frequent video callers.
The camera system is not groundbreaking, but it does provide a comprehensive photography experience, especially for a device in this price range. It should meet the needs of users who enjoy taking photos and sharing them on social media.
Battery Life :
The 5000mAh battery on the Samsung Galaxy A16 will allow you to use the device all day without needing to charge it. With moderate usage, such as browsing the internet, social media, and watching videos, the device will easily last a full day. The battery is large enough that you can use it for a long time without worrying about it running out of juice quickly.
The device supports 15W fast charging, which is reasonable for a phone in this price range. While not as fast as some higher-end devices that support 25W or 45W charging, the 15W charging speed is still efficient and should be able to fully charge your phone in around 90 minutes depending on your usage. The combination of a large battery and efficient performance ensures users good endurance even during extended media consumption or light gaming.
Software and Features :
The Samsung Galaxy A16 runs on One UI 3.1 based on Android 11, providing a clean and user-friendly experience. One UI offers a variety of customizations and features, including dark mode, app drawer, and one-handed mode. Samsung is well-known for its timely software updates, and the A16 is likely to receive security patches and major operating system upgrades for the next few years.
The One UI interface also includes features such as Samsung Knox for enhanced security, Edge Panel for quick access to apps, and Bixby for voice control, although many users prefer Google Assistant for voice commands. The software is smooth to navigate, and Samsung's customizations are widely praised for their ease of use.
Connectivity and extra features :
The Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with standard connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. It supports dual SIM functionality, which is handy for users who want to manage multiple numbers for work or personal use.
The phone also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rare but appreciated feature on many smartphones these days, allowing users to enjoy wired audio without an adapter. For charging and data transfer, the phone uses a USB Type-C port, which offers faster data transfer speeds compared to the traditional MicroUSB standard.
Conclusion :
The Samsung Galaxy A16 is a great choice for users looking for an affordable and reliable smartphone with a robust design, decent performance and great camera features. With a large display, quad camera and 5000mAh battery, the device offers a versatility for everyday use, media viewing and casual photography.
