Review Summary
Expert Rating
Ahead of its much-anticipated flagship Galaxy S25 series launch, Samsung is solidifying its affordable lineup with the launch of Galaxy A16 5G. Priced at Rs 18,999 in India for the 128GB base model and Rs 21,999 for the 256GB variant, the Galaxy A16 5G is available across major retail stores and online platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart. The handset has been designed for lifestyle users who prefer longevity, offering three times the OS upgrades typically provided in this segment. But does this feature alone make it a worthwhile choice, or is there more to this device than meets the eye? Find more in our detailed review.
Table of Contents
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a reliable, future-ready device that is well-suited for everyday needs. With six years of OS updates promise, the phone is designed to last through 2030 and is a good option for those looking to enter the Samsung ecosystem. Battery life comfortably covers a full day of light use, though heavier usage may require additional charging. Samsung deserves credit for offering an ultra-wide camera, which most smartphones in the segment now skip. However, its camera performance remains modest and there’s room for improvement.
Design and display
The Samsung Galaxy A16 takes its design cues from the more expensive Galaxy A-series smartphones, Galaxy A35 (review) and A55 (review). The A16 boasts a flat back and edges, with curved edges, rounded corners, and individual triple camera rings. On the right side, a slightly raised area marks the volume and fingerprint buttons, making them easier to identify by touch. Honestly, I didn’t have much difficulty accessing the buttons on the smartphones I have reviewed so far with the raised surface.
| Smartphone | Thickness | Weight | IP Rating |
| Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | 7.9mm | 192 grams | IP54 |
| Moto G85 | 7.6mm | 173 grams | IP52 |
| OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite | 8.1mm | 191 grams | IP54 |
Overall, I like the design and weight distribution of the Galaxy A16 5G. Despite its tall profile, the handset feels comfortable in the hand and reaching the far corners is easy. Its fairly lightweight design also makes it easy to use for hours. I am not the biggest fan of the glossy back, which is prone to fingerprints and smudges. This was quite noticeable in the Gold colour variant we received for review. The handset also comes in Light Green and Blue Black colour options.
As for I/O, the phone sports a USB Type-C port sandwiched between the speaker grille and SIM ejector tray at the bottom edge.
In terms of viewing experience, the Samsung Galaxy A16 utilises a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display outputs punchy and vibrant colours with a high contrast ratio for impressive image quality at least indoors. The outdoor visibility might be a challenge due to sub-par 800 nits of peak brightness. During our lab test with 1,700 nits of ambient brightness, the handset could only achieve 716 nits of maximum brightness. Its HDR brightness was even lower at 339 nits, resulting in a slight loss in dynamic range while watching movies in well-lit environments.
| Smartphone | Display size | Peak brightness |
| Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED | 800 nits |
| Moto G85 | 6.67-inch pOLED | 1,600 nits |
| OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite | 6.67-inch AMOLED | 2,100 nits |
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G features a single bottom-firing speaker. While it may not offer the immersive experience of stereo speakers, it delivers a loud output, reaching a peak of 81 decibels in our speaker test. This is louder than the Moto G85, which offers a maximum output of 79.9 decibels with its stereo speakers. In terms of audio quality, the Galaxy A16 5G’s speaker produces clear sound at 70-80 percent volume.
Cameras
For photography, the Samsung Galaxy A16 is equipped with a triple camera setup comprising a 50MP primary sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The dedicated ultra-wide lens assists users in capturing landscape shots with a wider field of view, giving Samsung devices an edge over most smartphones within the segment. The camera performance, however, is average at best with the smartphone only offering better colour reproduction in lowlight than two of its closest competitors – the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite and Moto G85.
Read on for a detailed analysis of the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G camera performance with its closet arch-rivals.
Daylight
In daylight conditions, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G and Moto G85 produce images with cooler tones, adding a slight dramatic effect. However, the former stands out with better dynamic range and finer details. But the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite outperforms both smartphones in terms of superior details and colour accuracy. This could be credited to the OnePlus smartphone’s 108MP primary camera instead of 50MP.
Portrait
None of the smartphones in this comparison provide good edge detection for portrait shots using the primary camera. Each phone relies on computational processing to separate the foreground from the background, but the results are subpar, with noticeable warping around the subjects’ edges — a common issue among affordable smartphones. However, the Moto G85 stands out for its slightly higher contrast and superior facial detailing.
Selfie
The Moto G85 outshines both the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite and the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G to deliver better selfies. The handset does deliver slightly dramatic images, with boosted colours, but the overall results look satisfying with an acceptable level of facial detailing for the price.
Low light
In low light, all three smartphones are capable of capturing long-exposure images with their respective night modes. However, they struggle to keep up with the details and colour accuracy. Owing to its larger sensor size, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite produces slightly sharper images than the two. It even handles lens flare more efficiently, though its colours, particularly the reds, do not appear sharp. For those prioritising colour accuracy in low-light shots, the Samsung Galaxy A16 does the best job of keeping hues close to natural.
Performance and software
The Samsung Galaxy A16 draws power from MediaTek’s Dimensity 6300 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. This budget-friendly chipset performed smoothly, with no noticeable stuttering or lag during basic activities. The device also handled light multitasking, social media scrolling, and streaming without issues. However, power users might want to consider other options.
The Galaxy A16 5G delivers modest synthetic benchmark results for the price, especially when compared to the iQOO Z9 (review) – currently selling for as low as Rs 18,499.
While the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G isn’t really a gaming phone, it is still capable of running graphically demanding titles such as BGMI, Call of Duty, and Real Racing 3 with better frame rates than some of the competitors within the segment. That said, its thermal management needs improvement. I noticed an increase in the phone’s temperature after playing the respective games for 30 minutes each.
As for the software, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G runs Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1 out of the box. The handset is guaranteed six years of major OS and security updates, which is exceptional for a sub-Rs 20K-worth smartphone. The software experience is consistent with other Samsung devices released this year, allowing users to enjoy a uniform experience across devices. That also means you will get loads of third-party apps, including those from Microsoft’s suite.
Being a budget-focused device utilising a modest chipset, the Galaxy A16 5G lacks the richness of the Galaxy AI. However, you can still enjoy features like NFC, connected experience, Quick Share, and more.
| Smartphone | Pre-installed apps | OS updates |
| Samsung Galaxy A16 | 53 | 6 years OS + 6 years security |
| Moto G85 | 34 | 2 years OS + 4 years security |
| OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite | 50 | 2 years OS + 3 years security |
Battery and charging
The Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with a 5,000mAh battery, delivering 9 hours and 42 minutes of screen time on the PCMark battery test—a respectable score, if not the best. Battery optimisation for multimedia consumption is solid; streaming a 30-minute YouTube video consumes just 4 percent of the battery, which is competitive within its class. While gaming for 90 minutes, the handset’s battery was depleted by 25 percent in aggregate.
Heavy users will need to recharge the device at least once during the day. However, for regular tasks like checking emails, browsing, social media scrolling, and video streaming, the handset can last an entire day with about 20–25 percent battery remaining.
Samsung continues to skip the charger box. During our charging test, the Galaxy A16 5G took 79 minutes to go from 20 to 100 percent.
| Smartphone | Charging speed | Charging time (20-100 percent) |
| Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | 25W | 79 minutes |
| Moto G85 | 33W | 62 minutes |
| OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite | 80W | 50 minutes |
Final verdict
Whether you should consider buying the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G or not depends on your use case and requirement. The handset should appeal to those who prefer infrequent upgrades or want an affordable smartphone to experience Samsung’s rich ecosystem. Its tall, vibrant display also makes it a great choice for those who enjoy watching movies on their smartphones.
Power-focused users and photography enthusiasts may want to choose alternatives such as the Moto G85, iQOO Z9, and OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite. However, for light-to-moderate users who prioritise a balance of durability, Samsung’s One UI software experience, and longevity, the Galaxy A16 is best suited.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Reasons to buy
- Flat-back design and well-positioned buttons make the phone comfortable to use.
- The Super AMOLED display provides vibrant and crisp visuals at least indoors.
- Equipped with a dedicated ultrawide lens to capture landscape images.
- Six years of OS and security updates surpass the typical support window in the price range.
Reasons not to buy
- Underwhelming camera performance for the price.
- Supports slower 25W charging than some competitors, and the charger is sold separately.
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