The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Oppo A16e and the Samsung Galaxy A04. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A04 edges out the Oppo A16e thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset and potentially better software support. While both are budget options, the A04 offers a small performance boost and the reliability of the Samsung brand, making it the slightly better choice.
| 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 | 2022, March 21 | 2022, August 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 24 | Available. Released 2022, October 10 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.31 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 | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| 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 (~83.0% 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 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762D Helio P22 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11, ColorOS 11.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 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 | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (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 | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 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 | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4230 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White | Black, Green, White, Copper |
| Models | CPH2421 | SM-A045F, SM-A045F/DS, SM-A045M |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 70 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) |
Oppo A16e
- Affordable
- Large Display
- Reliable Brand (Oppo)
- Slow Charging (10W)
- Less Powerful Chipset
- Basic Camera
Samsung Galaxy A04
- Slightly Better Performance
- Samsung Brand Reputation
- Potentially Better Display
- Good Battery Life
- Basic Camera
- HD+ Resolution
- Plastic Build
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large, LCD displays, likely around 6.5 inches. Expect similar resolutions (likely HD+). The Samsung Galaxy A04 might have slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles due to Samsung's display technology, but the difference will be minimal at this price point. Brightness will likely be a common weakness for both.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs are likely similar, with both phones featuring a primary camera around 13MP and a depth sensor. Image quality will depend heavily on software processing. Samsung's image processing is generally considered slightly better, potentially resulting in more vibrant and detailed photos. Low-light performance will be a challenge for both.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A04 holds a slight advantage here. Its Helio P35 chipset is a step up from the A16e's Helio P22. While both are octa-core processors, the P35's higher clock speeds on some cores translate to a more responsive experience, especially when multitasking or running slightly more demanding apps. Expect both to struggle with graphically intensive games.
Battery Life
Both phones likely feature a 5000mAh battery, promising all-day battery life with moderate usage. However, the Samsung Galaxy A04's more efficient chipset could give it a slight edge in battery endurance. The Oppo A16e's 10W charging is a significant drawback compared to faster charging standards.
Buying Guide
The Oppo A16e is ideal for users prioritizing a simple, reliable phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media. The Samsung Galaxy A04 is a better fit for those who want a bit more performance for multitasking and occasional gaming, and appreciate Samsung's One UI.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A04 has a slightly more powerful chipset, making it marginally better for gaming, although neither phone is designed for demanding titles.
❓ Which phone will receive longer software updates?
Samsung generally provides longer software update support than Oppo in the budget segment, so the Galaxy A04 is likely to receive updates for a longer period.
