Samsung Galaxy A16 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Samsung was once the smartphone maker with the most phones launched each year, catering to many product segments. However, the South Korean tech conglomerate soon realised its mistake and streamlined its smartphone lineup into Galaxy Z, Galaxy S, Galaxy A, Galaxy M, and Galaxy F smartphones. While Galaxy Z and Galaxy S get all the attention, the Galaxy A series is quietly making its impact with models like the Galaxy A16 5G, Galaxy A14 5G, and others.

Can Samsung offer affordable phones with features similar to the ones found on its flagship devices? Yes, the answer is the Galaxy A-series. Here’s a look at how Galaxy A16 5G compares to Galaxy A14 5G and which device you should pick between the two.

Samsung A16 5G vs A14 5G: Galaxy A-series phones compared

The premise of Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A14 5G is a smartphone that mimics the design of the Galaxy S series with a significantly less impact on your wallet. The A16 5G and A14 5G are affordable phones that are well-designed and offer a good balance in terms of performance and price.

If you are looking for a Galaxy that is reasonably priced and offers decent performance then the choice boils down to either the Galaxy A14 5G or the Galaxy A16 5G. Here’s how the two stack up against each other.

Samsung A16 5G vs A14 5G: Design and display

The striking thing about the design of the Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A16 5G is how close they are to Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus in terms of their look. This uniformity and consistency in design help Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A16 5G to look more premium in their segment. They both use a plastic frame and plastic back with the A16 5G being thinner than the A14 5G, but only the former is IP54-certified.

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The A16 5G has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate while the A14 5G gets a 6.6-inch LCD display. The AMOLED display offers better image quality with vibrant colours and deeper blacks, while the LCD tends to have higher brightness levels. As a lighter and thinner device with a slightly bigger display, the Galaxy A16 5G definitely wins here.

Samsung A16 5G vs A14 5G: Hardware

On the hardware front, the Galaxy A16 5G is equipped with a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip. This is an octa-core chipset with two Cortex A76 cores for performance and six Cortex A55 cores for efficiency. It comes with 8GB of RAM and the option to choose between either 128GB or 256GB storage. The Galaxy A14 5G uses a Samsung Exynos 1330 chip, which is a 5nm octa-core chip with two Cortex A78 cores and six Cortex A55 cores.

In India, the Galaxy A14 5G is available with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and an option of either 64GB or 128GB storage. Both smartphones support 5G networks. In terms of connectivity, they both support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB Type-C port for charging. Both smartphones house a large 5,000mAh battery with A16 5G supporting 25W charging while A14 5G settles for slower 15W charging.

Samsung A16 5G vs A14 5G: Camera(s)

On the back of the Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy A14 5G, Samsung has generously fitted three camera sensors. The reality, however, is that not all these cameras are useful. The Galaxy A14 5G has a 50MP main camera and dual 2MP cameras for macro and depth. While the depth camera does serve a purpose, the 2MP macro shooter is lacklustre at best.

The Galaxy A16 5G, on the other hand, has a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro shooter. They both rely on a 13MP camera for selfies. The Galaxy A16 5G clearly has a better camera setup than Galaxy A14 5G.

Samsung A16 5G vs A14 5G: Software

The Galaxy A16 5G runs Android 14 with Samsung promising 6 years of OS upgrades while the Galaxy A14 5G, which launched with Android 13 will only get two major software updates and four years of security updates. Regardless of the base version of Android, both smartphones run OneUI, Samsung’s own interface based on Android.

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With OneUI, you are looking at one of the most customisable versions of Android and it also offers robust security. The extended software and security updates mean you won’t be wondering whether your phone will receive an update.

Samsung Galaxy A14 vs Galaxy A16 5G: Price and verdict

The Galaxy A14 is the more affordable of the two starting at Rs 11,599. The Galaxy A16 5G, meanwhile, starts at Rs 15,999. When you look at Galaxy A14 5G details, it is apparent that the A14 5G is a budget smartphone that is also a bit older than the Galaxy A16 5G. The Galaxy A14 5G may offer a larger display but the use of LCD panels gives me a pause. Its performance is quite good but lacks an IP rating and its cameras are relatively weak.

The specs alone make the Galaxy A16 5G a better phone than the Galaxy A14 5G. When you look at the complete package, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a no-brainer here thanks to its AMOLED display, a useful ultra wide-angle camera, IP54 rating, and faster 25W charging.