The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Oppo A16 and the Samsung Galaxy A04. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive in and find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Oppo A16 edges out the Galaxy A04 thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset (Helio G35 vs P35) and potentially better software support. While both are budget options, the A16 offers a marginally smoother experience, making it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 17 | 2022, August 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 17 | Available. Released 2022, October 10 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 75.6 x 8.4 mm (6.45 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 164.4 x 76.3 x 9.1 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ) | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/5", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Yes |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pearl Blue, Space Silver, Crystal Black | Black, Green, White, Copper |
| Models | CPH2269 | SM-A045F, SM-A045F/DS, SM-A045M |
| Price | £ 88.50 / € 109.99 | About 70 EUR |
| SAR | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | - | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) |
Oppo A16
- Slightly better performance (Helio G35)
- Triple camera setup
- Potentially longer software support
- Good battery life
- Entry-level chipset limitations
- HD+ display quality
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy A04
- Samsung ecosystem integration
- Reliable brand
- Decent battery life
- 50MP main camera
- Less powerful chipset (Helio P35)
- Dual camera setup
- Potentially shorter software support
- Slow charging
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.5-inch HD+ display, offering decent viewing angles for everyday use. Color accuracy and brightness are typical for this price range, with neither phone excelling in this area. The A16 might have slightly better color reproduction, but the difference is minimal.
Camera Comparison
The Oppo A16 typically features a triple camera setup (13MP main + 2MP depth + 2MP macro), while the Galaxy A04 usually has a dual camera setup (50MP main + 2MP macro). While megapixels aren't everything, the A16's additional depth sensor can offer slightly better portrait mode results. Image quality in both phones is adequate in good lighting conditions, but struggles in low light.
Performance
Here's where the Oppo A16 gains a slight advantage. The Helio G35 chipset, while still entry-level, generally outperforms the Helio P35 in the Galaxy A04. Expect slightly faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the A16. Both phones will struggle with demanding games, but basic usage is acceptable.
Battery Life
Both phones pack a 5000mAh battery, promising all-day battery life under moderate usage. Actual battery performance will depend on usage patterns, but both should comfortably last a full day. Charging speeds are likely to be slow on both devices, typically around 10W.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Oppo A16? Users prioritizing a bit more performance and potentially longer software updates. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A04? Those heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem or seeking a reliable, basic smartphone with a familiar interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Oppo A16 has a slightly better chipset, so it will handle basic games a bit better than the Samsung Galaxy A04, but neither is designed for demanding titles.
❓ How long will the software updates be for each phone?
Samsung generally offers slightly better software support than Oppo in this price range, but both are limited. Expect a few years of security updates at most.
