The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is one of the cheapest smartphones in the Samsung universe. It was released at the end of 2024, and enough feedback has already been gathered to give us a realistic picture of what it's like in everyday use.
Appearance
With its 6.7-inch display, the Galaxy A16 5G is larger than its predecessor, the 6.5-inch Galaxy A15. The external appearance is reminiscent of the angular frame housing that is already familiar in the A series, which is made of plastic in this price range. The glossy blue-black, light green, or light gray back cover is prone to fingerprints and features Samsung's signature triple camera lens. While it doesn't feel particularly premium, it's not bad either. The device is not waterproof, but unlike its predecessor, it is dust and splash resistant according to its IP54 certification.
Customer opinions on the external appearance are divided. One customer, for example, highlights the large display, saying that “the display is top-notch, the image is sharp, just as it should be.” Another customer, however, is disappointed with the aesthetics, saying that the phone is “quite heavy and much thicker than the old A12.” Overall, most users are satisfied with the size and appearance, although some note that it feels less premium compared to more expensive models.
Hardware
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G comes with a number of features that would have been unimaginable in this price range in the past.
Display
Samsung has also built an OLED screen into the A16 5G, which provides excellent contrast and good colors. During testing, the brightness was 1040 nits, which is quite good, and the pixel density of 388 ppi (2340 x 1080 pixels on 6.7 inches) is also perfectly fine. The display refresh rate is a maximum of 90 Hertz, but can be set to 60 Hertz for energy savings.
Customers are generally satisfied with the display. One customer, for example, says: "The screen is sharp, bright, and provides adequate color reproduction – really top notch for the price! Movies, YouTube, and social media look great on it." Overall, everyone was satisfied with the display.
CPU and Performance
The phone runs on Samsung's Exynos 1330 processor, which, according to the test, provides “satisfactory” performance, an improvement over its predecessor's “adequate” rating. It scored 1950 points on the Geekbench 5 multi-core test, compared to 1790 points for the A15, and 938 points on the Geekbench 6 single-core test, compared to 691 points for the A15. Although it's not a rocket, several buyers say it's sufficient for “everyday use” and “everything runs smoothly, without major delays.” In fact, one buyer pointed out that he uses the device quite actively for social media, scheduling appointments, and emailing, and that it works quite well for this purpose.
Another buyer, however, found that the phone gets very hot during active use, and on top of that, the side fingerprint sensor is faulty and often fails to recognize fingerprints. He was alone in this opinion, so it may have been just an unfortunate purchase, but it is worth paying attention to this flaw.
Another customer noted that the phone seemed slow at first, but this was due to a factory energy-saving setting that limits CPU usage to 70%. After turning this off, the phone runs much more smoothly.
Data connection
The phone supports 5G, which provides fast mobile internet on all frequencies commonly used in Europe. It supports the Wi-Fi 5 (WLAN ac) standard at 2.4 and 5 GHz, and also features Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC (for example, for mobile payments). However, the USB-C port is slow (USB 2.0). There is no jack connector.
Cameras
There are three cameras on the back: a 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The photo quality was only convincing in good lighting conditions without zoom, and even then only with acceptable detail. Zoom shots are hardly usable, and the camera does not perform well at night either.
Customer reviews are mixed in this area as well. One customer said the camera is “not as detailed as the A51” but “suitable for occasional photography.” Another buyer shares a similar opinion: “The camera takes good pictures, especially in daylight... It's okay in low light, but not outstanding.” Based on this, it can be concluded that those who occasionally take a photo are satisfied with it, but it is not the most important feature for them.
Battery
The battery capacity is 5000 mAh. During testing, the runtime was 9 hours and 40 minutes, which is one hour shorter than the A15 (10 hours and 46 minutes). The charging speed is not outstanding (97 minutes for a full charge, 26% in 15 minutes, 51% in half an hour), and there is no wireless charging.
Customer reviews are quite mixed, with one saying, “However, the battery life leaves something to be desired, and the phone has to be charged every night.” In contrast, another customer claims that “The battery is absolutely impressive with 1.5 days of battery life, even with intensive use and partial streaming.” This difference probably depends on usage habits.
Software
Samsung guarantees six years of software updates for the Galaxy A16 5G from the date of release, which means it will still be receiving updates in 2030. This is a real selling point.
Customers generally found Samsung's user interface (One UI) easy to use. One customer wrote: “The smartphone is exactly as I imagined it... all in all, it's self-explanatory. It's great, I'm more than satisfied!” Several people emphasized that they appreciate the long update guarantee, which was a very important factor for them.
Summary
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is the best Samsung model in the A10 series to date. Particularly positive features include the faster processor, the large and bright OLED screen, and the long update guarantee. It is important to note that this test and customer reviews primarily refer to the 5G version (SM-A166B). The LTE version (SM-A165F) not only lacks 5G, but also has a slower processor.
Overall, the Galaxy A16 5G is a good value smartphone for those looking for a reliable device for everyday use who don't need high-end features. While it's not a powerhouse and the camera isn't outstanding, the long software support and OLED display make it attractive in this price range. However, it is worth paying attention to heat generation and possible problems with the fingerprint sensor, as some buyers have pointed out.
