Samsung's A and F series represent their mainstream, value-focused smartphone offerings. The Galaxy F16 and A16 both aim to deliver a solid smartphone experience without breaking the bank, but they take slightly different approaches. The F16 prioritizes processing power with a newer Dimensity chipset, while the A16 focuses on maximizing battery endurance and display visibility. This comparison will dissect the key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A16 emerges as the better choice. Its exceptional 45:10h battery endurance and 808 nits of peak brightness provide a more consistently usable experience, especially for media consumption and everyday tasks. While the F16 offers a slight CPU performance edge, the A16’s longevity and screen visibility are more impactful for the average user.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 11 | 2024, October 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 13 | Available. Released 2024, November 20 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) | 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Bling Black, Vibing Blue, Glam Green | Gray, water green, midnight blue |
| Models | SM-E166P, SM-E166P/DS | SM-A165F, SM-A165F/DS, SM-A165M, SM-A165M/DS, SM-A165F/DSB |
| Price | ₹ 13,300 | € 117.89 / $ 122.00 / £ 97.99 |
| SAR | 1.08 W/kg (head) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 0.31 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | - | 45:10h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class B (180 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class C |
Samsung Galaxy F16
- Slightly faster CPU performance with the Dimensity 6300.
- Potentially better gaming performance in less demanding titles.
- Modern chipset architecture.
- Battery life is unknown and likely inferior to the A16.
- Display brightness likely lower than the A16.
Samsung Galaxy A16
- Exceptional battery life (45:10h endurance).
- Bright and visible display (808 nits).
- Efficient Helio G99 chipset.
- Slightly slower CPU performance compared to the F16.
- May struggle with demanding multitasking.
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A16 boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 808 nits. This translates to excellent visibility in direct sunlight, a common pain point for budget smartphones. While the F16’s display specifications are currently unknown, it’s unlikely to match the A16’s brightness. Both devices likely utilize LCD panels given their price points, but the A16’s higher brightness is a clear win for outdoor usability. We expect both to have standard 60Hz refresh rates, prioritizing battery life over smooth scrolling.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications beyond the presence of sensors, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the price bracket, both phones likely feature a primary sensor around 50MP, accompanied by auxiliary lenses of limited utility (likely a 2MP macro and depth sensor on both). Image processing will be a key differentiator, and Samsung’s software optimizations could provide a slight edge to either device. The absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either model suggests that low-light performance will be heavily reliant on software processing.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy F16 is equipped with the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Galaxy A16 utilizes the Mediatek Helio G99 (6nm) with a similar octa-core configuration, but clocked slightly lower at 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55. The Dimensity 6300’s higher clock speed on the prime cores suggests a modest performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. However, both chipsets are built on the same 6nm process, meaning thermal management should be comparable. The G99 is known for its efficiency, potentially offsetting the F16’s raw CPU power in sustained workloads. Neither chipset is a gaming powerhouse, but the F16 may offer slightly smoother performance in less demanding titles.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A16 truly shines in battery performance, delivering an impressive 45:10h endurance and 14:43h of active use. This is a substantial advantage over what we’d expect from the F16, which lacks published battery endurance data. Both phones support 25W wired charging, suggesting similar 0-100% charging times (around 1.5-2 hours). However, the A16’s larger battery capacity and optimized power efficiency mean you’ll spend less time tethered to a charger.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy F16 if you frequently engage in moderately demanding tasks like light gaming or multitasking and prioritize a slightly snappier user interface. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A16 if you prioritize all-day battery life, need a bright and visible display for outdoor use, and primarily use your phone for communication, social media, and casual content consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Helio G99 in the Galaxy A16 struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG?
While the Helio G99 isn't a flagship gaming chip, it's capable of running PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. Expect some frame drops during intense firefights. The focus of the A16 is not gaming, but it can handle casual gaming sessions without major issues. The F16's Dimensity 6300 will offer a slight improvement, but neither phone is designed for hardcore gaming.
❓ How does the 25W charging compare on both phones, considering the A16 has a larger battery?
Both the Galaxy F16 and A16 support 25W wired charging. While the A16 has a larger battery, the efficiency of the Helio G99 chipset and Samsung’s charging optimization should result in comparable 0-100% charging times – likely around 1.5 to 2 hours. The A16’s larger battery capacity means you’ll get significantly more usage from each charge, despite the similar charging speed.
❓ Is the difference in CPU clock speed (2.4GHz on F16 vs 2.2GHz on A16) noticeable in everyday use?
The 0.2GHz difference in CPU clock speed between the Dimensity 6300 and Helio G99 is unlikely to be dramatically noticeable in typical everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging. The Dimensity 6300 may feel slightly snappier when launching apps or multitasking, but the difference will be subtle for most users. The A16’s optimized power efficiency may even result in a smoother overall experience despite the slightly lower clock speed.
