While the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has yet to be formally unveiled, Samsung has revealed that it will be the company’s first cheap smartphone to receive six generations of Android upgrades and six years of security fixes. So, if you buy a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, you can expect it to run the newest Android OS until 2030 – a level of software support that is almost unheard of at this price.
Not only is it a candidate for the best cheap phones, but it also has a strong chance of unseating the Moto G 5G (2024) as the top option in our best cheap phones under $300 list.
Samsung appears to have jumped the gun a little with a listing for the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G on its Dutch website (via Android Planet), revealing numerous noteworthy advancements over its predecessor, the $200 Galaxy A15 5G.
This time around, Samsung is increasing the screen size from 6.5 inches to 6.7 inches Super AMOLED display, shrinking down the design to a width of 7.9mm (from 8.4mm on the A15 5G), and, sadly, eliminating the 3.5mm headphone port. The latter did earn the A16 5G an upgraded IP54 rating for basic dust and water protection, which is another first for a low-cost Samsung smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has 4GB of RAM and a 5,000 mAh battery that charges at 25W, much like its predecessor. However, it does include a new octa-core CPU, which is thought to be the Exynos 1330 chip (Samsung does not specify processor names in its official specs list). It starts with 128GB of storage, which can be expanded to 1.5 TB using a microSD card.
In terms of camera arrangement, anticipate more of the same. The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, like the A15 5G, features 50MP main, 5MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro lenses on the rear, as well as a 13MP selfie camera on the front.Color possibilities include Blue Black, Light Gray, Gold, and Light Green, however availability may vary by market.
And, as previously said, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is the first in Samsung’s budget smartphone line to receive six years of Android OS and security updates. Given that Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phones, such as the Galaxy S24, are eligible for seven years of upgrades — just one year extra — the A16 5G has a clear advantage.
It is unclear how much it will cost. Samsung’s Dutch website does not offer a pricing, but its French website does, at €249, which is the same as the A15 5G. We expect the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G to be priced similarly to its predecessor, so anywhere between $200 and $250. Shipments are planned to begin shortly, so stay tuned.
Samsung also just unveiled the Galaxy S24 FE, which looks to have a little edge by including Galaxy AI capabilities and compatibility for Samsung DeX. Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G offers huge savings.
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Specification :
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Announced | 2024, October 07 |
| Status | Coming soon. Exp. release 2024, October |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| IP Rating | IP54, dust and splash resistant |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm² (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) |
| OS | Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Chipset | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) or Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) or Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | Triple: 50 MP (wide), 5 MP (ultrawide), 2 MP (macro) |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie Camera | 13 MP, f/2.0 (wide) |
| Selfie Video | 1080p@30fps |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm Jack | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 25W wired |
| Colors | Blue Black, Light Gray, Gold, Light Green |
| Models | SM-A166B, SM-A166B/DS, SM-A166P, SM-A166P/DS, SM-A166E, SM-A166E/DS |
| SAR EU | 0.38 W/kg (head), 0.94 W/kg (body) |
| Price | About 250 EUR |
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Disclaimer : The Price & Specs May Be Different From Actual. Please confirm with the retailer before ordering.
IMPORTANT: Please always check and confirm the above details with the official notification / website.