While Samsung makes some of the most impressive Android flagships around, the company also makes a ton from its more wallet-friendly budget and midrange phones. As a matter of fact, the Galaxy A16 recently arrived for buyers in the UK, and folks after a reasonably-priced Samsung phone might want to take a look at this one. With that said, we’ve provided a quick rundown of what you can expect, should you decide to grab the Samsung Galaxy A16.
CHECK OUT: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: 5 Things You Need to Know!
Design and Display
Take one look at the Galaxy A16’s all-plastic body and you’ll know right away that this is indeed a budget smartphone – the waterdrop notch on the top of the display accented by the fairly wide chin at the bottom are clear giveaways that this is by no means a “premium” device. It does incorporate some newer design elements though, such as the flat sides and rear panel, as well as the individual camera bumps that are reminiscent of what you’d see on Samsung’s more expensive S-series phones.
There’s a decent display however, which consists of an AMOLED panel measuring at 6.7 inches, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 (FHD+) and a 90hz refresh rate. Not the most spectacular setup, but it will be ideal for most moderate users, especially if you’re after a phone that’ll let you browse social media, binge your favourite movies and series, and maybe even do a bit of gaming on the side.
Internals, Software and Cameras
Speaking of gaming, the Galaxy A16 will be enough for most mobile games, although we’d steer clear of heavier titles like Genshin Impact, for example. Beating inside the phone is the Helio G99, a 6nm chipset from MediaTek. It’s a budget SoC that we’ve seen before on countless other affordable devices, and it’s accompanied by 4GB of RAM, alongside 128GB of expandable storage. There’s also an option for a 6GB RAM variant with 256GB of built-in storage. Meanwhile, the phone is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery, another staple of most budget phones these days.
The phone runs on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, meaning that you’ll get access to a ton of different exclusive apps and software from Samsung. It’s also scheduled to get up to six major Android upgrades, which should be ideal for folks who like to keep their phones for a long time.
As for cameras, the Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with a triple-camera setup on the rear panel, which includes a 50MP main shooter, a 5MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The front meanwhile houses a 13MP selfie camera. Video recording for both the front and rear cameras maxes out at 1080p resolution, at 30fps. As with most of the phone it’s a basic setup, but should be good enough for the occasional snapshot and social media post.
Pricing and Availability
As we mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy A16 is now available in the UK via Samsung, as well as third-party retailers and online stores. It’s priced at £199, making it much more affordable than phones like the Google Pixel 9 and iPhone 16, for example. Of course there are limitations when it comes to hardware and performance, but for people after the Android essentials, then the Galaxy A16 is worth checking out.
