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Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

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 S26 Ultra
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

4.7(605)

₹1,39,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy A16 is priced lower at ₹15,499, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹1,24,500.

Samsung Galaxy A16 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy A16 features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy A16 runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy A16 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy A16 packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra uses 5000 mAh, 60W. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a larger 5000 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy A16 runs —. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra ships with Android 16, One UI 8.5. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy A16

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

89%

Very Good

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 S26 Ultra

₹1,39,999

Pros

  • 200MP camera with 5× periscope telephoto
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — class-leading performance
  • Privacy Display feature is unique
  • S Pen stylus included
  • 60W fast charging is fastest in the S series
  • 7-year software guarantee

Cons

  • Starts at ₹1,39,999 — very expensive
  • Large and heavy at 214g
  • No 100W+ charging like OnePlus 13
  • No charger in the box
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Starting Price
₹15,499
Lower price
₹1,39,999
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
March 2026
User Rating
—
4.7/5 (605 ratings)
Higher rating
Available colours
2 options
Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen Size
6.7 inches
—
Resolution
2340 × 1080 px FHD+
3120 × 1440 (QHD+, 499 ppi)
Panel Type
Super AMOLED
—
Refresh Rate
90Hz
1–120Hz (adaptive)
Brightness
800 nits peak
3000 nits peak
Size
—
6.9 inches
Type
—
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Protection
—
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Privacy Display
—
Yes (world first)
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Processor
MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (6nm)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
CPU Cores
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
—
RAM
8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
12 GB / 16 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
128GB / 256GB eMMC 5.1
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 4.0
Expandable Storage
Up to 1TB via microSD
—
Architecture
—
3nm TSMC
AnTuTu Score
—
~3,900,000
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main Camera
50MP f/1.8
—
Macro Camera
5MP f/2.4
—
Depth Camera
2MP f/2.4
—
Front Camera
13MP f/2.2
12 MP, f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 30fps
—
Main
—
200 MP, f/1.7, OIS, 100× Space Zoom
Telephoto 1
—
50 MP, f/2.9, 5× optical zoom, OIS
Ultra-wide
—
50 MP, f/1.9, 120° FOV
Telephoto 2
—
10 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom
Video
—
8K @30fps, 4K @60fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
—
Charging Speed
25W wired
—
Wireless Charging
No
25W wireless
Capacity
—
5000 mAh
Wired Charging
—
60W super fast charging
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
6.0
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
NFC
Yes
Yes
S Pen
—
Yes (included, with Air Actions)
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Body Material
Plastic frame and back
—
Dimensions
166.6 × 77.4 × 7.9 mm
78.1 × 163.6 × 7.9 mm
Weight
196g
214 g
Fingerprint Sensor
Side-mounted
—
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
Nano SIM + eSIM
Build
—
Armour Aluminium frame, Gorilla Armor 2
Water Resistance
—
IP68 (1.5m/30 min)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
OS at Launch
Android 14
—
UI
One UI 6.1
One UI 8.5
Update Promise
6 years OS, 6 years security
—
OS
—
Android 16
Updates
—
7 years OS + security
AI Features
—
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Call Screen, Privacy Alerts)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy A16

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

12GB RAM / 256GB· Cobalt Violet
₹1,39,999
12GB RAM / 512GB· Black
₹1,59,999
16GB RAM / 1024GB· Sky Blue
₹1,89,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy A16 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy A16 or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy A16 starts at ₹15,499 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 and offers 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. 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 S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 starts at ₹15,499 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹1,24,500. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy A16 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy A16 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra provides 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP. 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 S26 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy A16 comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra includes 5000 mAh, 60W. 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 S26 Ultra worth buying over S26?
Yes, if camera versatility and S Pen productivity matter. The S26 Ultra has a 200MP camera (vs 50MP on S26), 5× periscope telephoto, 100× Space Zoom, integrated S Pen, faster 60W charging, QHD+ display, and Privacy Display technology. At ₹1,39,999 vs ₹87,999, the premium is for dedicated photographers and power users.
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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.