Samsung has quietly, or perhaps accidentally, launched the Galaxy A16 5G. The company hasn’t made an official announcement but listed the new budget phone on its website. Though the device isn’t on sale yet, the listing reveals its specs and features. Among those is a massive update support of six years, including six major Android OS updates. The Korean firm may soon unveil its 4G version too.
Galaxy A16 5G official with six years of updates
Samsung has listed the Galaxy A16 5G on its official website in the Netherlands. The listing confirms six years of updates for the budget 5G phone. The device runs Android 14 out of the box and will receive OS updates up to Android 20. It will also pick up security patches until the end of 2030. That’s more feature and security updates than flagship phones from 2023, including the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 5.
No other brand commits to such long update support for budget phones (the Galaxy A16 5G is expected to cost around $200). Well, you don’t get updates for six years on most flagship Android phones either — Samsung offers seven years of updates on its 2024 and newer flagships, including the Galaxy S24 FE. Hopefully, the hardware can hold up for as long as the A16 5G receives software updates.
The phone is no slouch in other departments. It sports a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) and 90Hz refresh rate. Samsung hasn’t specified its octa-core chipset, which runs at a peak speed of 2.4GHz. It is probably the Exynos 1330 if we are to believe leaks. Samsung offers 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, though more configurations may be available elsewhere.
You get a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary shooter, a 5MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. For selfies, the Galaxy A16 5G has a 13MP front-facing camera. Do not expect fancy or premium features like OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) but you get autofocus, digital zoom, slow-motion videos, and FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) video recording at 30fps (frames per second).
You can insert a 1.5TB micro SD card for more storage
If 128GB of storage is too little for you, the Galaxy A16 5G boasts a micro SD card slot. You can insert cards up to 1.5TB capacity, so you never run out of storage space. Note that the card slot is shared with the second SIM. If you decide to use two nano-SIM simultaneously, you can insert a storage card. The phone is compatible with 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular networks with multiple sub-6GHz 5G bands.
Fueled by a 5,000mAh battery, this budget phone from Samsung charges at 25W speed via a USB Type-C 2.0 port. The company promises up to 18 hours of video playback and 16 hours of internet usage over Wi-Fi. The Galaxy A16 5G supports GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, and QZSS location technologies alongside Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v5.3, and NFC (may not be available in some regions).
The Galaxy A16 5G also boasts an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. It is strong enough to handle a few splashes, though you shouldn’t submerge the phone underwater. Sensors onboard include Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, and Virtual Proximity Sensing. A 3.5mm headphone jack is missing, and it’s unclear if you can use an adapter via the USB-C port.
The handset comes in Blue Black, Light Gray, Gold, and Light Green colors with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 software experience. You also get the Korean firm’s award-winning Knox security, including Knox Vault. The whole package comes in a relatively slim profile of just 7.9mm and weighs 200 grams. The Korean firm may soon announce the price and availability details for the Galaxy A16 5G globally.
