Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Review: Sticks to the Midrange Formula

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is the South Korean firm’s newest addition to its Galaxy A sequence of smartphones, and it’s a midrange handset that runs on Android 14, and the corporate has promised as much as six main Android OS upgrades. Its direct rivals in the identical worth section (beneath Rs. 20,000) are the Poco X6, Realme Narzo 70 Professional, Infinix Be aware 40 Professional 5G, Moto G85, OnePlus Nord CE Lite, in addition to Samsung’s personal Galaxy M35 5G mannequin.

Pricing for the Galaxy A16 5G is about at Rs. 18,999 (8GB+128GB) and Rs. 20,999 (8GB+256GB), however how does it fare in opposition to related smartphones in a really aggressive worth section? After spending a while with the handset because it was launched in India, listed below are my ideas.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: S-Tier Design

• Dimensions – 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm
• Weight – 192g
• Colors – Blue Black, Gold (On this assessment), Mild Inexperienced

Lately, Samsung’s midrange and premium midrange smartphones have began to resemble its flagship fashions. We noticed this with the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 (Review), and now the Galaxy A16 is the most recent telephone from the corporate to bear a resemblance to the Galaxy S24. There are some notable variations, although — the Galaxy A16 5G has a polycarbonate again with plastic edges.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is provided with a triple rear digital camera setup

Samsung has geared up the Galaxy A16 5G with the Key Island on the suitable fringe of the telephone, which homes the quantity rocker and energy buttons. The SIM tray and reminiscence card tray are situated on the left edge, whereas the underside edge features a USB Sort-C port and a speaker grille.

This handset ships with out an included cowl, and that is the way it was used during the assessment. Whereas it is simple to grip with out utilizing a case, the plastic edges have a tendency to select up scratches after some time, so you will positively need to purchase a third-party cowl for the Galaxy A16 5G. You may additionally must buy a charger, because the telephone solely ships with a USB Sort-C cable and a SIM ejector device.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Software program: Helpful Options, Pointless Bloatware

• Software program – One UI 6.1
• Model – Android 14
• Newest safety patch – September 1, 2024

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G ships with One UI 6.1, based mostly on Android 14. It’s the similar software program that runs on the costlier Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 fashions. This implies you get help for Samsung’s SmartThings, Pockets, TV and different purposes. Sadly, it does not provide help for Good Lock, which permits a good larger stage of customisation and management over Samsung telephones.

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G runs on One UI 6.1, which relies on Android 14 (Faucet to develop)

Like different smartphones out there on this worth section, the Samsung Galaxy A16 will obtain third-party purposes after establishing the telephone when the default setup choices are chosen, so it is crucial to concentrate when you are establishing the telephone for the primary time. The telephone downloaded apps and video games like Paytm, CallApp, Water Kind, Adobe Photoshop Specific, Snapchat, and a handful of different apps that may also be uninstalled.

When it comes to software program help, the Galaxy A16 5G far exceeds expectations from any handset on this worth class. Samsung says it’s going to present as much as six years of OS upgrades for the smartphone, which implies it ought to be updated till at the very least 2030. It is really spectacular that Samsung has dedicated to updating the Galaxy A16 5G with six main Android OS updates, whereas its most costly A-series mannequin out there right this moment — the Samsung Galaxy A55 — will get 4 upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Efficiency: Might be Higher

• Processor – Mediatek Dimensity 6300
• Reminiscence – 8GB LPDDR4X
• Storage – 256GB UFS (Unspecified model)

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, the successor to the Dimensity 6100+ launched in 2023. This chipset has two Cortex-A76 efficiency cores (2.4GHz) which might be barely sooner than those on final 12 months’s processor (2.2GHz), together with six Cortex-A55 effectivity cores (2GHz). It additionally has the identical Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU as MediaTek’s older chip.

The Cortex-A76 cores on the Dimensity 6300 look like displaying their age, as I observed some lagging and stuttering in day-to-day use. Regardless of these visible stutters, the smartphone is usable when working apps like Chrome, WhatsApp, Google Maps, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter).

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G benchmark take a look at outcomes (Faucet to develop)

You will not be capable to use the Galaxy A16 5G to play resource-intensive video games akin to Name of Obligation: Cell or Free Hearth Max — these titles don’t really feel as clean as different video games in the identical worth section. However, it may possibly run Asphalt Legends: Unite on the bottom graphics settings or informal video games like Indignant Birds Pop! and Bubble Witch 3 with none points.

On artificial benchmark checks, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G delivered decrease scores than different equally priced smartphones like Moto G85 and the Infinix Note 40 5G. These outcomes aren’t stunning because the competitors is provided with extra succesful processors, such because the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 and the MediaTek Dimensity 7020.

In actual fact, Samsung’s personal Exynos 1380 SoC, which powers the handset (in addition to the Galaxy M35 5G) in different markets, has extra highly effective Cortex A78 efficiency cores. It will have been a a lot better match for the smartphone — contemplating it has a six-year lengthy software program help window.

This is a useful desk to point out you ways the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G fares in opposition to different smartphones in in style benchmark checks.

Whereas it will get much less vibrant throughout the day in winter, the 6.7-inch Full-HD+ (1,080×2,340 pixels) Tremendous AMOLED show on the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G was vibrant sufficient once I took the telephone outdoor, besides when it was in direct daylight. The ambient mild detection took a few seconds to reply once I took the telephone out of my pocket, however it cranked up the brightness to the utmost stage, and I may learn the contents of my display screen with none points.

The show on the Galaxy A16 5G is vibrant sufficient so long as lengthy as you keep away from direct daylight

I did not discover any touchscreen associated points whereas utilizing the Galaxy A16 5G. The refresh price switches between 60Hz or 90Hz, however there is not any choice to mechanically swap between the 2. The upper refresh price is certainly the one to go for, and it barely has a noticeable influence on battery life.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Cameras: Respectable Daytime Images

• Foremost digital camera – 50-megapixel (f/1.8), AF, as much as 1080p/ 30fps video
• Ultrawide digital camera – 5-megapixel (f/2.2)
• Macro digital camera – 2-megapixel (f/2.4)
• Selfie digital camera – 13-megapixel

The first digital camera on the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G captures first rate photos throughout the day, particularly when taking pictures topics with ample pure mild, however some fast-moving topics would possibly seem blurry. Some colors seem a bit of extra vibrant than ordinary, however they appear nice when shared on social media. 

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Digital camera Samples. Prime to backside – Major, Ultrawide, Major (Faucet photos to develop)

Sadly, the 5-megapixel ultrawide digital camera does not produce pictures which might be remotely pretty much as good as the first digital camera. Photos lack element, they usually can seem overexposed in vibrant situations. Even when there’s sufficient mild, zooming in on the picture reveals a variety of smoothening.

Samsung has additionally geared up the handset with a 2-megapixel macro digital camera, which works reliably throughout the day, however colors can seem a bit of washed out in comparison with the first digital camera. I needed to faucet on some topics within the viewfinder to ensure they had been in focus.

As soon as once more, the 50-megapixel digital camera on the Galaxy A16 5G is essentially the most dependable when clicking photos in low-light situations. The digital camera app has a built-in evening mode, however you will must allow it manually. The mode does not work on the ultrawide digital camera, which delivers noisy and blurry photographs at evening.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Digital camera Samples. Prime to backside – Low Mild, Macro (Faucet photos to develop)

On the entrance, there is a 13-megapixel selfie digital camera that may be very dependable for selfies and video calls. It really works properly throughout the day, capturing clear pictures and colors which might be reproduced precisely. At evening, the digital camera nonetheless takes first rate photos if there’s sufficient mild. In very low mild situations, the selfie digital camera nonetheless captures a substantial quantity of element, with a little bit of softening.

The first digital camera on the Galaxy A16 lacks optical picture stabilisation (OIS), which is clear whereas capturing movies. You’ll be able to seize movies in as much as 1080p decision at 30fps, and clips captured throughout the day are usable in case you aren’t transferring round too rapidly. The video high quality drops sharply in low-light situations.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Battery: Lasts Lengthy, Costs Slowly

• Battery Capability – 5,000mAh
• Wired Charging: 25W (USB Sort-C)

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is provided with a 5,000mAh battery that gives about two days of backup with conservative use. On days once I used the handset for longer intervals (about 6 hours of display screen on time), the telephone delivered a couple of day and a half of battery life. That is on par with the course for smartphones on this worth section.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G offers over 24 hours of battery backup on a single cost

Like the corporate’s different smartphones, the Galaxy A16 5G does not ship with a charger within the field. Utilizing a third-party 18W charger, the telephone took practically two hours to cost — the battery stage was at 35 p.c after half-hour and 66 p.c after an hour.

In our HD video battery loop take a look at, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G lasted for 19 hours and 45 minutes, which is barely decrease than the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite (22 hours and 17 minutes) however greater than the Infinix Be aware 40 (17 hours and 56 minutes). It is vital to do not forget that it is a artificial take a look at for offline video playback, and the telephone gives dependable battery backup for day-to-day use.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Assessment: Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G resembles one of many firm’s most costly smartphones, and it subjectively appears to be like extra “premium” than the competitors. It’s straightforward to carry, and it has a vibrant show. The handset additionally has a big battery, which delivers ample battery backup at a single cost.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G faces a variety of competitors from different telephones beneath the Rs. 20,000 mark

You additionally get six years of software program updates — that is good, however provided that the smartphone stays snappy sufficient for as a few years. The presence of the Dimensity 6300 chipset and the lacklustre ultrawide digital camera are two components holding this smartphone again.

There are a handful of different smartphones beneath the Rs. 20,000 mark that supply arguably higher efficiency than the Galaxy A16 5G, together with the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite (Review), the Infinix Be aware 40 5G (Review), and the Moto G85 (Review).

Different equally priced handsets which you could take into account embody the Poco X6 and the Realme Narzo 70 Professional. One other handset that you must take into account over the Galaxy A16 5G is the Galaxy M35 5G (Review), which is provided with higher specs (together with an Exynos 1380 chipset) and is out there in the identical worth section.