The Galaxy A16 is here.
Samsung quietly launched its latest budget phone in Europe, before bringing it to the US a couple of months later.
But what has changed from last year’s Galaxy A15 5G and A15 (4G) , and are both 4G and 5G models contenders to be among the best budget phones once again?
Here’s everything you need to know about their release dates, pricing and key specs. Alternatively, read our full Galaxy A16 5G review to see what we think of the phone in use.
When was the Samsung Galaxy A16 released?
The Galaxy A16 was released in 4G and 5G variants in the UK and elsewhere in Europe in November 2024. You can buy them from the Samsung website .
However, it wasn’t until January 2025 that the phone launched in the US, and even then, it was only the 5G variant. It’s available directly from Samsung .
As a reminder, here’s when the previous models came out:
- Samsung Galaxy A15 – January 2024
- Samsung Galaxy A15 5G – January 2024
- Samsung Galaxy A14 – January 2023
- Samsung Galaxy A14 5G – March 2023
Jon Mundy / Foundry
How much does the Samsung Galaxy A16 cost?
The Galaxy A16 5G costs £199 in the UK and $199.99 in the US. The 4G version is £169 in the UK.
Here’s how much the previous models cost at launch:
- Samsung Galaxy A15 – £169
- Samsung Galaxy A15 5G – £199/$199.99
- Samsung Galaxy A14 – £179/$150
- Samsung Galaxy A14 5G – £219/$199.99
What specs and features does the Samsung Galaxy A16 have?
While the Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A16 (4G) don’t differ from each other beyond 5G connectivity, they both bring several notable enhancements in terms of design, performance, and software support from their predecessors.
Here’s a breakdown of what they offer.
Design
The Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A16 (4G) feature a slim design at just 7.9mm thick, although this sleekness comes at the cost of losing the 3.5mm headphone jack.
They are available in multiple colours, including Midnight Blue, Turquoise, and Gray, offering a modern aesthetic.
The phones also have an IP54 rating , giving them protection against dust and splashes of water, although they’re not fully waterproof.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
As expected, the right side features the ‘Key Island’, where the power and volume rocker buttons are. ‘Key Island’ is raised from to the rest of the right side and allows you to easily access these important controls through touch alone.
The power button also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The back houses a vertically aligned triple-camera setup, plus an LED flash.
Display
Both phones boasts the same 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an upgrade from the 6.5-inch panel on the Galaxy A15 5G .
With a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate (both unchanged), the Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A16 (4G) should deliver vibrant visuals and smooth scrolling.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The front camera is housed in a small waterdrop notch, maintaining a minimal bezel design.
Performance
Under the hood, the A16 5G varies its processor depending on the region. In Europe, it features the Exynos 1330 chipset, while GSMArena reported that markets like India and Thailand are expected to receive the Dimensity 6300 variant.
On the other hand, the Galaxy A16 (4G) uses the same chipset as its predecessor, the A15 4G – the Mediatek Helio G99.
Both phones come with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable via Micro-SD card up to an impressive 1.5TB, a first for Samsung Galaxy phones .
Jon Mundy / Foundry
A Geekbench listing (via MySmartPrice ) revealed the performance of the Galaxy A16 5G with MediaTek’s Dimensity 6300 chipset.
The single-core and multi-core scores of 514 and 1464, respectively, suggest a performance boost over its predecessor, making it more than capable of handling everyday tasks and moderate gaming.
Cameras
The camera setup on the Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A16 (4G) is the same and quite versatile for a budget phone. The rear camera system includes a 50Mp main camera, a 5Mp ultrawide lens and a 2Mp macro lens.
On the front, there’s a 13MP selfie camera housed in the waterdrop notch. The Galaxy A15 5G featured exactly the same setup.
Samsung France / Samsung Netherlands
Battery & Charging
Both phones come with a robust 5,000 mAh battery and support for 25W fast charging.
However, as is the case for most budget phones, there’s no wireless charging.
Software
The phones run on Android 14 with One UI 6.1 , ensuring the latest features and security right out of the box. However, they don’t include any Galaxy AI , which is reserved for Samsung’s more expensive phones.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A16 (4G) is their software support. Samsung is offering a full six years of Android updates and security patches, which is the best commitment of any budget phone .
This extended support means the phones will remain up-to-date until at least 2030, making them both an attractive choice for those who don’t want to upgrade their phone frequently.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Looking for alternatives? Check out the best budget phones currently available to see what Samsung is up against.
Author: Artur Tomala, Mobile Writer, Tech Advisor
Artur is a Mobile Writer at Tech Advisor, where he covers a range of smartphone, tablet and smartwatch-related topics. He has been working in the tech industry since 2021, including time spent leading a team focused on mobile news, reviews and product rankings. As an ambassador for the productivity app Notion, he runs training workshops and creates advanced templates to help people stay organised and productive.
Recent stories by Artur Tomala:
- Samsung Galaxy A26: Everything you need to know
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