Samsung
Galaxy A16 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
Device summary
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2024 | 2026 |
| Starting price | — | $1,300 |
| Display size | — | 6.9-inch |
| Dimensions | 77.9 mm × 164.4 mm × 7.9 mm | 78.1 mm × 163.6 mm × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 192 g | 214 g |
| Front material | — | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Back material | — | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | — | Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Privacy Display |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | — | 2600 nits |
| Protection | — | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | — | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM | — | 12 GB, 16 GB |
| Storage | — | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | — | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | — | Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.4 · 2x Optical Quality Zoom |
| Ultra-wide camera | — | Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Telephoto camera | — | Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom |
| Rear camera 4 | — | Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/2.9 · 5x Optical Zoom / 10x Optical Quality Zoom |
| Front cameras | — | Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 |
| Video recording | — | 4K at 120 fps, 8K at 30 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Typical capacity | — | 5000 mAh |
| Rated capacity | — | 4855 mAh |
| Wired charging | — | 60 W |
| Wireless charging | — | 25 W |
| Charging standard | — | Super Fast Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | — | 5G, LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | — | Wi‑Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| USB | — | USB‑C |
| NFC | — | Yes |
| eSIM | — | Yes |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | — | Armor Aluminum |
| Ingress protection | — | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- Galaxy A16
- 2024
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 2026
Starting price
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- $1,300
Display size
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9-inch
Dimensions
- Galaxy A16
- 77.9 mm × 164.4 mm × 7.9 mm
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 78.1 mm × 163.6 mm × 7.9 mm
Weight
- Galaxy A16
- 192 g
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 214 g
Front material
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Back material
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Display
Display technology
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Privacy Display
Refresh rate
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 120 Hz
Peak brightness
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 2600 nits
Protection
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Performance
Chipset
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
RAM
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 12 GB, 16 GB
Storage
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.4 · 2x Optical Quality Zoom
Ultra-wide camera
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9
Telephoto camera
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom
Rear camera 4
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/2.9 · 5x Optical Zoom / 10x Optical Quality Zoom
Front cameras
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2
Video recording
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 4K at 120 fps, 8K at 30 fps
Battery & charging
Typical capacity
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
Rated capacity
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 4855 mAh
Wired charging
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 60 W
Wireless charging
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 25 W
Charging standard
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Super Fast Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity
Cellular
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5G, LTE
Wi‑Fi
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Wi‑Fi 7
Bluetooth
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Bluetooth 6.0
USB
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- USB‑C
NFC
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Yes
eSIM
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Yes
Build & durability
Frame
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Armor Aluminum
Ingress protection
- Galaxy A16
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
Galaxy A16
22 g lighter
Height
Galaxy A16
0.8 mm taller · minor difference
Width
Very similar width
Thickness
Very similar thickness
User Experience Summary
Galaxy A16
Strengths
- Six-year software update pledge is highly unusual at this price
- Bright, colorful AMOLED display outperforms typical budget LCD rivals
- 5,000mAh battery comfortably covers a typical day of use
Compromises
- Gestures feel unreliable for the first few minutes after a restart or update
- 5MP ultrawide and 2MP macro lenses struggle in most conditions
- 4GB RAM configuration feels noticeably more limited than the 8GB variant
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Strengths
- 60W wired charging — major upgrade over S25 Ultra
- Privacy Display for commuting and office shoulder-surfing resistance
- Brighter 200MP main and versatile periscope zoom
Compromises
- Heavy, wide chassis limits one-handed and pocket comfort
- Aluminum instead of titanium divides premium buyers
- Privacy Display trade-offs and S Pen software stagnation