Name: Samsung Galaxy A16 4G
Brand: Samsung

Our verdict

The Galaxy A16 is Samsung’s low-cost 4G phone, sold in the UK as the SM-A165F with 4GB of memory and 128GB of storage. It has a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP54 rating, which covers dust and splashes but not swimming. Samsung’s UK launch announcement promises six generations of Android updates and six years of security support from launch. GSMArena measured 14 hours 43 minutes in its Active Use Score, a strong battery result, and Notebookcheck praised the bright screen. All three reviews we used found performance modest: GSMArena called 4GB “the bare minimum” and noticed long app load times, and Tech Advisor summed it up as “a solid but uninspiring budget smartphone”. No charger is in the box. We have not tested it ourselves: this review draws on Samsung’s UK specifications and hands-on reviews of the 4G model by Tech Advisor, Notebookcheck and GSMArena.

Buy it if

You want a low-cost phone for calls, messages, maps and video
You plan to keep your phone for years and want long software support
Battery life matters more to you than speed

Skip it if

You play demanding games or switch between lots of apps
You need 5G or an eSIM
You care about camera quality beyond simple daylight snaps

Everyday use

A first or replacement phone

A large, clear screen, Samsung’s familiar One UI software and long update support make it a straightforward choice for messaging, browsing and video calls.

Long days away from a charger

All three reviews found battery life strong, at around 15 hours in Notebookcheck’s Wi-Fi browsing test, and Tech Advisor expects about two days of light use. You will need to buy a 25W charger separately for the fastest top-ups.

Storing lots of photos and music

A microSD card adds space for photos and music. It shares the second SIM position, so check the required SIM/card combination before buying. It does not increase the phone’s 4GB of working memory.

The details, in plain English

Screen

The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen is Full HD+ and runs at up to 90Hz for smoother scrolling. Notebookcheck measured a peak of 733 nits and found it bright enough outdoors, with good colours. GSMArena measured 808 nits with auto brightness but still listed a dim display among its cons, and noted there is no HDR video or always-on display. Notebookcheck detected PWM flicker, a rapid pulsing of the screen at low brightness, which it warned could cause eyestrain for some people.

Performance

The selected 4G phone uses MediaTek’s Helio G99 with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. Notebookcheck explicitly tested that configuration and found performance in line with other G99 phones. GSMArena reported adequate everyday speed but some lag, while Tech Advisor also found performance unremarkable. Tech Advisor discusses more than one regional chipset, and GSMArena does not identify its tested memory configuration; their figures must not be treated as measurements of this exact UK unit. This is a phone for patient everyday use, not demanding gaming.

Battery and charging

The 5,000mAh battery impressed all three reviewers. GSMArena measured an Active Use Score of 14 hours 43 minutes, Notebookcheck recorded about 15 hours in its Wi-Fi browsing test, and Tech Advisor found it lasts about two days of light use or a full day of heavy use. Charging figures differ: with Samsung’s 25W charger, GSMArena reached 53% in 30 minutes and a full charge in 79 minutes, Tech Advisor found about 50% in 30 minutes and a full charge in about 80 minutes, while Notebookcheck reported just under two hours. No charger is included, only a USB-C cable.

Cameras

There is a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro and a 13MP selfie camera. GSMArena found the main camera “fairly decent for a budget device” in daylight but not impressive at night, and called the ultra-wide “unimpressive”. Notebookcheck agreed the ultra-wide is soft, and Tech Advisor found the main camera good in daylight but low-light shots poor. Video tops out at 1080p, and GSMArena found no stabilisation, so footage on the move can look shaky.

Software, updates and features

The phone launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Samsung’s UK launch announcement promises six Android generations and six years of security updates. Support runs from launch, not from the day you buy. We have not freshly confirmed the precise UK calendar endpoint or the patch installed on a new unit. GSMArena notes that Galaxy AI and Samsung DeX are absent. NFC handles contactless payments and the fingerprint reader is in the power button. There is no 3.5mm headphone socket, and the selected model has a single speaker.

Strengths and drawbacks

What it does well

Samsung’s UK launch promise includes six Android generations and six years of security support
Strong battery life: GSMArena measured a 14 hour 43 minute Active Use Score
6.7-inch AMOLED screen at 90Hz; Notebookcheck measured a peak of 733 nits
Expandable microSD storage and NFC for contactless payments
IP54 dust and splash resistance and a sturdy build, praised by GSMArena and Notebookcheck

What to watch out for

Modest speed: GSMArena found 4GB of memory “the bare minimum” with long app load times
Weak ultra-wide camera, poor low-light photos and 1080p video with no stabilisation (GSMArena, Tech Advisor)
No 5G, no eSIM and no charger in the box
Single speaker, and Notebookcheck found it harsh at full volume
Notebookcheck detected screen flicker at low brightness that may bother sensitive eyes

Motorola’s Moto g15 is another basic 4G phone to compare, with an LCD screen rather than AMOLED. In their original A16 reviews, GSMArena and Tech Advisor preferred some rival Xiaomi and Poco models for performance and value. Those are launch-era comparisons, not checked current-price savings. We have not tested the alternatives side by side.

Alternatives we have reviewed

Product	Our verdict	Price	Buy
Samsung Galaxy A16 4G (this one)	A sensible budget phone for everyday basics, with a large AMOLED screen, long battery life and an unusually long update promise.	£169RRP · 4GB/128GB SM-A165F, RRP recorded 31 Oct 2026	Check price
Samsung Galaxy A17	A sensible budget Samsung for everyday essentials on a roomy screen, as long as you check you are buying the 4G SM-A175 version you want.	£169RRP · 128GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026	Check price
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G	A sensible basic Samsung for calls, streaming and long ownership, provided you accept slower speed when several apps are open.	£199RRP · 128GB, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026	Check price
OPPO A6x	A sensible choice for someone who wants a cheap, simple phone with a big screen and lots of storage, provided they accept a low-resolution screen and modest speed.	£119128GB storage, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026	Check price

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Where our findings come from

This research-based review uses Samsung’s original UK LTE launch announcement and current UK smartphone warranty page, the exact Currys 4G/4GB/128GB listing, and independent 4G reviews by Tech Advisor (Connor Jewiss, 21 March 2025), Notebookcheck (Florian Schmitt, 20 April 2025) and GSMArena (29 November 2024). Notebookcheck identifies its 4GB/128GB Helio G99 test unit. GSMArena’s memory configuration and Tech Advisor’s precise regional sample are not confirmed, so their results remain attributed and qualified. No A16 5G review is substituted. The former Samsung product link now redirects, and the exact UK support endpoint/current patch is not freshly established. UK launch pricing, warranty and retailer details were rechecked on 31 October 2026. The buying button links directly to the named UK seller and is not an affiliate link. We have not tested this product ourselves. Measurements and listening or camera findings belong to the named reviewers.

Samsung Galaxy A16 4G review