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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A16

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

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

View details →
Samsung Galaxy A16
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A16

₹15,499

View details →
Expert verdict

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

Performance

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

Camera

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

Battery

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

Software & Ecosystem

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

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy A16

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

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

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
Full specifications

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

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

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

8GB RAM / 256GB
₹22,464

Samsung Galaxy A16

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

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

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy A16?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy A16 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy A16 starts at ₹15,499 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 S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy A16?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and the Samsung Galaxy A16 starts at ₹15,499 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 S21 FE 5G have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy A16?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy A16 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 S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy A16?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy A16 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 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.
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.
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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.