Samsung’s A-series is celebrated for balancing affordability with innovation, and the new Galaxy A16 is no exception, offering an entry-level 5G experience. Design-wise, it mirrors the premium look of the Galaxy S24 series, but the similarities end there. Its display and performance are far from top-tier yet serve everyday users well enough.
Samsung Galaxy A16
Rs 18,999
What Is Good?
- Good and familiar design
- Vibrant, punchy and big display
- Handles everyday tasks well
- Decent battery life
- 6 years of software support
What Is Bad?
- Poor thermal management
- Bloatware apps
- Unnatural skin tones during selfies
But is the Samsung Galaxy A16 the right budget-friendly pick in India, or do better options exist? Let’s find out in my review.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A16 is available in two variants on Samsung’s eStore, Flipkart and Amazon.
| Smartphone | Configuration | Price | Availability |
| Samsung Galaxy A16 | 8GB + 128GB | Rs 18,999 | Samsung eStore, Flipkart and Amazon |
| 8GB + 256GB | Rs 21,999 |
Design and Display
The moment I saw the Samsung Galaxy A16, my first thought was—wow, this phone is massive! It’s not just tall; it’s got some serious width too. I got my hands on the Gold variant for this review.
Design-wise, it’s the same story as most Samsung phones, whether flagship or mid-range—the rear panel sticks to the tried-and-true formula. However, I wasn’t impressed by how easily it picked up smudges—it became visibly dirty after a short while, which I disliked. To make matters worse, the back panel is so smooth that it slipped right off a car seat and ended up under the driver’s seat. A protective case feels like a must-have for this phone.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 192 grams |
| Thickness | 7.9mm |
| Colours | Gold, Blue Black and Light Green |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grilleTop: Secondary microphone
Right Side: Power button and volume buttons Left Side: SIM tray |
As noted in the table above, this phone has an IP54 rating. In comparison, other smartphones in this price range, such as the Lava Agni 3 and Realme 13 Pro, boast IP64 and IP65 ratings, respectively. A slightly higher IP rating would have added a sense of safety for consumers.
That said, I appreciate the subtle indents along the edges near the power and volume buttons, as they offer a comfortable grip when holding the phone for extended periods.
As for the display, the waterdrop-style notch feels like a relic of the past. Sure, “old is gold,” but innovation is the game’s name. Devices such as the Lava Agni 3, Infinix GT 20 Pro, and Nothing Phone (2a) in this price segment, all feature modern, more refined notch designs that provide a premium look.
As for the 90Hz refresh rate, it feels a bit sluggish, likely because I’m accustomed to the smoothness of a 120Hz panel. The difference is noticeable. That said, for someone coming from a 60Hz display, this would feel like a big step up rather than a drawback.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.7-inch |
| Type | Super AMOLED display |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 800 nits Tested: 703 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 05 nits |
The thickness of the bottom chin bezel is noticeable. It feels out of place compared to the otherwise well-proportioned bezels.
I binged Gilmore Girls on Netflix, and the display delivered punchy colours that were surprisingly delightful. The speaker quality was a mixed bag. It works fine if you keep the output at 70 per cent, but crank it up, and things go south fast.
Hardware and Software
Budget warriors like the Vivo T3 Lite, Realme C65, iQOO Z9 Lite, and Tecno Pova 6 Neo—running on the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC as the Samsung Galaxy A16—stand out in the sub-Rs 15,000 category. In our Antutu score graph, the Tecno Pova 6 Neo snatched the crown, with the others trailing behind in an orderly fashion.
Now, while Antutu scores aren’t the gospel truth for real-world performance, they do give a neat snapshot of where each phone stands on the battlefield. But, real-world usage is where most phones have to win the war.
Speaking of which, the Samsung Galaxy A16 holds very well in the day-to-day grind—calls, messages, casual gaming, and social media scrolling are a breeze. Heavy games like Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI are handled decently, but the thermal management could use an upgrade. Things start heating up faster than a summer noon after a bit of gaming.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| Storage | Up to 256GB |
| Storage Test | 410402 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 87 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | One UI 6.1, based on Android 14
6 years of OS updates, 6 years of security updates |
| Connectivity Details | Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
The Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with One UI 6.1, built on Android 14. The software feels very familiar if you’ve used a Samsung phone before, but it comes loaded with the usual barrage of bloatware. Pre-installed apps like Facebook, Spotify, Netflix, Snapchat, Truecaller, Mappls, PhonePe, and Adobe Photoshop are all there, ready to greet you.
On the bright side, Samsung is offering six years of OS and security updates—a solid win for anyone who values longevity in their smartphone.
Cameras
On the back, the Samsung Galaxy A16 has a triple camera setup complemented by a 13-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
I captured a few daylight shots using the 50-megapixel primary camera of the Samsung Galaxy A16. While it’s clear that the image quality doesn’t top the charts for this price range, the captures are still social media-ready. The details aren’t particularly sharp, but the colours add a dramatic touch to the overall output. That said, the photos lack dynamic range, which is a noticeable drawback.
In portrait shots, the subject’s skin tones often appear washed out in some images. On the bright side, the background blur does an excellent job of separating the subject.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel wide autofocus f/1.8 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 5-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture |
| Tertiary Camera | 2-megapixel macro, f/2.4 aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 13-megapixel wide, f/2.0 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 2K at 30fps |
The ultra-wide shots, on the other hand, are a pleasant surprise. The edges don’t appear overly stretched, which is great, and the camera retains a good amount of detail. To see how the colours turn out, take a look at the ultra-wide samples below.
As for low-light photography, it performs fairly well, but only up to a point. In environments with good artificial lighting, it captures decent detail. However, lens flare remains a significant drawback.
The selfie camera, however, is where the Galaxy A16 seriously struggles. While the selfies don’t require additional editing, they lack a natural appearance and often seem like a filter.
Battery and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A16 houses a 5000mAh battery but skips including a charging adapter in the box. This means you’ll need to factor in the cost of purchasing a charger separately.
Using a 66W PD charger, I managed to fully charge the phone in 1 hour and 16 minutes. While the charging time crosses the one-hour mark, it’s still within an acceptable range.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 25W, no charger in the box |
| Charging Time | 1 hour 16 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test | 11 hours 57 minutes |
On the PCMark Battery test, the Galaxy A16 clocked nearly 12 hours of runtime. That said, rivals like the Realme 13 Pro and Realme 13+ outlasted it by a notable margin. You can check out our PCMark graph below for a detailed comparison.
In terms of real-world usage, the phone offers decent battery performance. However, if you’re a heavy user, you’ll likely find yourself reaching for the charger after about six to seven hours.
Verdict
So, should you pick the Samsung Galaxy A16 from the herd of smartphones?
This smartphone boasts a large display with vibrant, punchy colours. The 90Hz refresh rate adds a nice touch, ensuring a smoother overall experience. For everyday tasks, it handles things smoothly without any noticeable lags or stutters.
But when it comes to gaming, things start to heat up after about 30 minutes, with the top panel becoming warm. If gaming is a priority, the iQOO Z9 or Poco X6 would be a smarter choice. The camera performance is decent, but if you’re a selfie enthusiast, you might want to consider other options.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A16 is a good pick if you’re after a big, vibrant display, reliable software, smooth performance for everyday tasks, and decent battery life. However, in the under-Rs 20,000 category, phones like the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite or iQOO Z9s offer a more balanced, all-around experience.
