The Galaxy A16 5G has launched, but you could be forgiven for missing it.
Samsung’s new budget phone has been listed on the company’s French and Dutch sites, but without any official launch event or press release.
Given the quality of January’s Galaxy A15 5G and A15 (4G), we have high hopes for its successor, which is only available with 5G at the moment.
Here’s everything we know about its release date, price, and specs that could help this entry-level device stand out from the crowd.
When will the Samsung Galaxy A16 be released?
The Galaxy A16 5G is already listed on Samsung’s regional websites, including Samsung Netherlands (via SamMobile) and Samsung France (via GSMArena), suggesting that the phone is close to being officially released elsewhere.
Although no exact release date has been given yet, SamMobile says shipments will begin by end of October 2024. Samsung usually rolls out its devices gradually across different markets, so other regions like India and Thailand could receive the A16 5G soon after its European launch.
However, although previous generations were available in the UK and US, it is unclear when the A16 5G might arrive in these markets.
Since then, Samsung has also unveiled the Galaxy A16 (4G LTE) in France. However, the phone does not appear to be available for purchase at the time of writing.
As a reminder, here is when the previous models were released:
Samsung France / Samsung Netherlands
How much will the Samsung Galaxy A16 cost?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is offered at the recommended retail price of $229 (Netherlands) or $249 (France) in Europe. This marks a slight increase compared to the Galaxy A15 5G, which launched at around $190-200.
According to a previous leak from a European retailer (via SamInsider), the Galaxy A16 4G will be priced at $209.90 (around $223/£183). Both models will have 128 GB of storage.
GSMArena suggests that the 128GB model will be paired with 4GB of RAM, while the 256GB version will offer 8GB.
Here’s how much previous models cost at launch:
Prices for other regions have not yet been officially announced, but they are expected to align with European prices, taking into account local taxes and currency conversions.
What specifications and features will the Samsung Galaxy A16 have?
The Galaxy A16 5G brings several notable improvements in design, performance, and software support. Here’s an overview of what the device offers.
Design
The Galaxy A16 5G features a slim design at just 7.9mm thick, although this sleekness comes at the cost of losing the 3.5mm headphone jack.
It comes in multiple colors, including midnight blue, turquoise, and gray, offering a modern aesthetic.
The phone also has an IP54 rating, giving it protection against dust and water splashes, although it is not completely waterproof.
As expected, its right side features the “Key Island” where the power and volume rocker buttons are located, which is raised compared to the rest of the right side. It lets you easily access these important controls just by touch.
The power button also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The rear houses a vertically aligned triple camera setup, along with an LED flash.
Display
The phone features a larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an upgrade from the Galaxy A15 5G’s 6.5-inch panel.
With Full HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate (both unchanged), the Galaxy A16 5G should deliver vibrant visuals and smooth scrolling.
Samsung France / Samsung Netherlands
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 by region. In Europe, it packs the Exynos 1330 chipset, while GSMArena reports that markets like India and Thailand are expected to receive the Dimensity 6300 variant.
Both versions 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.
Samsung France / Samsung Netherlands
Although we don’t yet know how these processors will perform in practice, recent leaks shed some light on this.
The Geekbench listing (via MySmartPrice) revealed the performance of the Galaxy A16 5G with MediaTek’s Dimensity 6300 chipset.
Single-core and multi-core scores of 514 and 1464, respectively, suggest a performance improvement over its predecessor, making it more than capable of handling everyday tasks and moderate gaming.
Cameras
The camera setup on the Galaxy A16 5G is quite versatile for a budget phone. The rear camera system includes a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens.
On the front, there is a 13 MP selfie camera housed in the waterdrop notch. The Galaxy A15 5G featured the exact same configuration.
Samsung France / Samsung Netherlands
Samsung could introduce incremental improvements in image processing and software features, but that remains to be seen.
Battery and charging
The Galaxy A16 5G comes with a beefy 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging.
According to a report from Android Headlines, it is likely that the 4G and 5G models will come with a 25W charger included in the box.
However, as is the case with most budget phones, there is no wireless charging.
Software
The phone will come with Android 14 and One UI 6.1, ensuring the latest features and security right out of the box.
However, it’s unlikely to include a Galaxy AI, which is reserved for Samsung’s most expensive phones.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Galaxy A16 5G is its software support. Samsung offers a full six years of Android updates and security patches, which is the best commitment of any budget phone.
This expanded support means the Galaxy A16 5G will stay updated until at least 2030, making it an attractive choice for those who don’t want to upgrade their phone frequently.
Samsung France / Samsung Netherlands
That’s everything we currently know about the Galaxy A16. In the meantime, be sure to check out the best budget phones currently available to see what Samsung will be up against.
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