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Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy A16
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A16

₹15,499

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy A16 is priced lower at ₹15,499, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹6,965.

Samsung Galaxy A16 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy A16 features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers —. Both offer the same refresh rate.

Performance

Samsung Galaxy A16 runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by the —. Both phones share the same chipset, so raw performance will be near-identical.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy A16 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has —. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy A16 packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses —. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy A16 runs —. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G ships with —. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy A16

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy A16

₹15,499

Pros

  • 6-year software update promise is extraordinary at ₹15,499 — the best in class for budget buyers
  • Super AMOLED FHD+ display punches well above its price bracket
  • NFC included at this price enables Google Pay — rare below ₹16,000 in the Samsung range
  • 8GB RAM Plus (virtual) supports more apps running simultaneously

Cons

  • Dimensity 6300 performance is entry-level — demanding gaming and heavy multitasking will feel sluggish
  • No IP rating — zero water resistance protection
  • 25W charging on 5000 mAh takes ~90 minutes
  • 90Hz AMOLED is good but competitors offer 120Hz at similar prices

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

Pros

  • At ₹22,464 it carries IP68 water resistance — extremely rare at this price in 2025
  • 177g weight is exceptionally light for a phone with these specifications
  • 32MP selfie camera with portrait video — still competitive for social media users
  • Wireless charging support is rare at this price point

Cons

  • Exynos 2100 has reached a performance ceiling — newer mid-range chips can outpace it in benchmarks
  • OS updates have ended (hit 4-year limit) — no longer receives Android version upgrades
  • No expandable storage — 256GB only
  • 25W wired charging is slow and no charger is included in box
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Starting Price
₹15,499
Lower price
₹22,464
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
—
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
2 options
1 options
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Screen Size
6.7 inches
6.4 inches
Resolution
2340 × 1080 px FHD+
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
Panel Type
Super AMOLED
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Refresh Rate
90Hz
120Hz
Brightness
800 nits peak
1300 nits peak
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Processor
MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (6nm)
Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm)
CPU Cores
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
Octa-core (1× 2.9GHz + 3× 2.8GHz + 4× 2.2GHz)
RAM
8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
8GB LPDDR5
Storage
128GB / 256GB eMMC 5.1
256GB UFS 3.1
Expandable Storage
Up to 1TB via microSD
No
GPU
—
Mali-G78 MP14
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Main Camera
50MP f/1.8
12MP f/1.8 OIS
Macro Camera
5MP f/2.4
—
Depth Camera
2MP f/2.4
—
Front Camera
13MP f/2.2
32MP f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 30fps
4K @ 60fps
Ultra-Wide Camera
—
12MP f/2.2
Telephoto Camera
—
8MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
4500 mAh
Charging Speed
25W wired
25W wired
Wireless Charging
No
15W (Qi)
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.0
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB Type-C 2.0
NFC
Yes
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Body Material
Plastic frame and back
Plastic frame and back (matte finish)
Dimensions
166.6 × 77.4 × 7.9 mm
155.7 × 74.5 × 8.2 mm
Weight
196g
177g
Fingerprint Sensor
Side-mounted
Under-display (optical)
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
—
IP Rating
—
IP68 (1.5m, 30 min)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
OS at Launch
Android 14
Android 12
UI
One UI 6.1
One UI 4.1
Update Promise
6 years OS, 6 years security
—
Current OS
—
Android 15 (One UI 7)
Update Status
—
Reached end of OS updates (4 years completed)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy A16

8GB RAM / 128GB
₹15,499
8GB RAM / 256GB
₹17,999

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

8GB RAM / 256GB
₹22,464
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy A16 or Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy A16 starts at ₹15,499 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and offers — with —. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy A16 and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 starts at ₹15,499 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹6,965. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy A16 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
Samsung Galaxy A16 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides —. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy A16 or Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G includes —. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
Is Samsung Galaxy A16 better than Galaxy F16 5G?
The Galaxy A16 offers a full FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display (versus F16's 90Hz SAMOLED), NFC, and 8GB RAM at a comparable starting price. The F16 uses the same Dimensity 6300 chip. For connectivity and display quality, the A16 edges ahead. If budget is tight, the F16 at ₹12,499 is the better value.
Is Samsung Galaxy S21 FE still worth buying in 2025?
The S21 FE at ₹22,464 is a unique case: IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, 32MP selfie, and a lightweight 177g body in this price range is genuinely rare. However, its OS updates ended in 2026 (4-year limit from 2022 launch). Security patches continue until 2027. If you plan to use it for 1–2 years, it is still capable. For longer ownership, consider newer phones with active update cycles.
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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.