Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G has finally landed — well, sort of. While Samsung hasn’t rolled out the red carpet with an official announcement, the phone is already quietly hanging out on Samsung’s website in the Netherlands. Although the price tag is still a mystery, we do know one thing for sure: this device is getting six years of updates! Yes, six years! That means you can hold onto this phone and keep it fresh with security and software updates through 2030.
Galaxy A16 5G specs and features:
- Updates: Guaranteed 6 years of Android OS and security updates (up to Android 20).
- Display:
- 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display
- Full HD+ resolution
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Infinity-U notch design
- Processor: Exynos 1330 chipset.
- RAM: 4GB.
- Storage: 128GB internal storage, expandable up to 1.5TB via microSD card.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh battery with 25W fast charging support.
- Rear cameras:
- 50MP primary camera
- 5MP ultra-wide camera
- 2MP macro camera
- Front camera: 13MP for selfies and video calls.
- Design:
- 7.9mm slim profile
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- Durability: IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Color options: Blue Black, Light Gray, Gold, and Light Green (availability may vary).
Six years of updates is a first for Samsung’s non-flagships
Like Google Pixel 8 and newer, Samsung’s flagship phones released in 2024 are setting the bar high with seven years of updates. But now, it seems the rest of Samsung’s lineup is catching up. The Galaxy A16 5G, though not a flagship, is guaranteed to receive six years of love from Samsung. It will ship with Android 14 right out of the box, so if you’re thinking long-term, expect it to reach Android 20 or whatever wild version Android will be at in 2030.
If you’re the kind of person who tends to drop their phone into puddles or gets caught in dust storms (hey, it happens), the A16 5G has your back. With an IP54 rating, it’s splash-resistant and dust-protected, which, for a budget-friendly device, is not too shabby. Sure, it’s not as water-tight as the pricier Galaxy phones with their IP67 and IP68 ratings, but let’s be honest — it’s still a solid feature for a phone in this range.
Sleek design, big battery, and plenty of power under the hood
At just 7.9mm thick, the Galaxy A16 5G is slim, but that does come with a small sacrifice — no 3.5mm headphone jack here. But fear not, wireless fans, the trade-off for sleekness isn’t too bad. Underneath that slim frame, there’s a massive 5,000 mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging, so you’re good to go all day. Powering it is the Exynos 1330 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, although there’s likely a 6GB RAM to be in the offing. And if 128GB doesn’t sound like enough, guess what? You can expand it with up to a whopping 1.5TB microSD card.
Snap it all with a triple-lens 50MP shooter
The A16 5G packs a triple-lens camera on the back with a 50MP main lens, supported by a 5MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro lens for those close-up shots. Up front, you’ll find a 13MP selfie camera inside the Infinity-U notch on the 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display. With a Full HD+ resolution and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, that screen will make your Netflix binge sessions or TikTok scrolls feel super slick.
Color options and availability
When it lands, you should be able to grab the Galaxy A16 5G in a variety of colors, including Blue Black, Light Gray, Gold, and Light Green, although color availability might vary depending on where you are in the world. While Samsung is still keeping the price and wider availability under wraps, we’ll likely see more details soon.
Now, for those reading this in Kenya, there’s no official word yet on when the Galaxy A16 5G will arrive or how much it will cost. But just for reference, the Galaxy A15 5G is currently retailing at Kshs 20,500 for the 6GB/128GB variant, so the A16 5G will definitely command a heftier price tag.
Image credits: Samsung
