Samsung’s $200 budget phone launches this month with more guaranteed updates than Apple’s latest flagship

Samsung’s mid-range A-series offers smartphones with some top-of-the-line features at compelling prices. Take the upcoming Galaxy A56 for example. The device, which is expected to be released sometime in March this year, is reported to feature 45W fast charging, akin to the flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra, at more than half the starting price. However, Samsung’s A-series doesn’t just consist of mid-range powerhouses, but also lower-end pocket-friendly devices.

The South Korean tech giant released its Galaxy A16 in some European countries back in November last year for £199 (roughly $245), and the device is now officially making its way to the US.

Starting Thursday, January 9, the Galaxy A16 will be available across the US via retailers, carriers, and on Samsung.com for $200 — that’s the same price as the Galaxy A15.

Budget-focused at best, the device sure does pack a punch in the software update department. For $200, the device offers six years of OS and security updates, which is just one year fewer than the flagship S24 series. For reference, its predecessor, the Galaxy A15, offered four years of software support.

What else is new with the Galaxy A16?

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A phone that’s a phone

For starters, the new device boasts a bigger 6.7-inch display, compared to its predecessor’s 6.5-inch panel. The two devices, otherwise, share the same display specs — a Super AMOLED 90Hz panel with 800 nits brightness. Paired with a bigger display, the new device also boasts thinner bezels and an overall slimmer body.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy A16 is powered by the in-house Exynos 1330 chipset, marking a move away from its predecessor’s MediaTek chipset. It’s worth noting that a MediaTek version of the device is available in other regions.

The Galaxy A16 is also poised to be more durable than its predecessor, complete with IP54 water and dust resistance. This should prevent the device from malfunctioning if it is splashed from any direction or angle.

There’s a lot that hasn’t changed

The Galaxy A16, similar to its predecessor, will be available in a 4GB RAM option, with 128 and 256GB storage variants. As always, MicroSD card support means you can expand your device’s storage, while a 3.5mm jack means you’ll be able to plug in your ear/headphones to listen to music.

The camera setup remains unchanged. The new device boasts a triple-camera setup on the rear, complete with 50 MP (wide), 5 MP (ultrawide), and 2 MP (macro) shooters. The new device, however, did gain support for gyro-EIS for 1080p at 30fps video recording.

Both devices offer NFC, side-mounted fingerprint readers, virtual proximity sensing, an accelerometer, and a compass. Powering it all is an unchanged 5,000mAh cell that supports 25W fast charging.

The new device will be available to purchase starting January 9 in Blue Black colorway.