Samsung Galaxy A16 launches with 6 years of Android updates, half the price of Pixel 8a

Ben Schoon | Oct 7 2024 - 11:02 am PT

Samsung is setting a new record for Android updates per dollar, as the new Galaxy A16 has launched with a low price and 6 years of Android updates.

Over the past year, the longevity of software support has become more important on Android, with Google pushing Pixels to 7 years of security and OS updates, and Samsung following right behind, matching that number on its flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Z devices in 2024.

But as the price gets lower, so does the commitment for updates. Samsung’s most affordable device with the 7-year update policy was the $649 Galaxy S24 FE. For Google, the most affordable is the $499 Pixel 8a.

That’s changing now though as Samsung is also offering an extended update policy on one of its most affordable smartphones.

The new Galaxy A16, which Samsung has posted on its website in some countries such as the Netherlands and France, now gets 6 years of software support, including full Android OS upgrades. Samsung confirms that the device will get a total of 6 Android OS upgrades, with support available through “at least October 2030.” Out of the box, the Galaxy A16 runs Android 14.

In a footnote, Samsung does say that the policy is “subject to change.”

Outside of that extended support, Samsung’s new Galaxy A16 looks like a pretty solid choice for its mere €229 (around $250 USD) price tag. It has 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 50MP main camera with a 5MP ultrawide and 2MP macro, as well as a 6.7-inch FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED display. There’s also a 5,000 mAh battery and the device is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6300 or Exynos 1330, varying by region (that is, according to GSMArena, as Samsung’s website doesn’t list the specific chip).

There’s no word on when the Galaxy A16 will be available in the United States, but its predecessor didn’t launch in the US until January.