Gone are the days of buying a new mobile phone every year. Even two-year upgrade cycles are becoming less common. Nowadays, even entry-level mobile phones have been available for several years. And some, like the new Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, can last for a very long time.
This phone boasts a support period of 6 years. This means you will receive OS updates and security patches until October 2030. Please understand it well. The 250 euro phone gets longer support than most flagship models. This includes recent Samsung smartphones (for example, the S23 series is only supported for 5 years) and recent Pixels (the Pixel 7 series is also supported for 5 years). Even Apple, once the undisputed champion of cell phone longevity, isn’t at the forefront. iOS 17 ended support for the iPhone X and 8, which was six years ago (at the time).
Some manufacturers, such as Samsung and Google, are extending support for their flagship series to seven years. But we didn’t expect the lifespan of entry-level models to exceed five years so soon. For example, the previous model Galaxy A15 5G is scheduled for five years of support. It includes only 4 OS updates and 5 years of security patches. A16 has 6 years of both OS updates and security patches.
Samsung is equipping the Galaxy A16 5G with Dimensity 6300 or Exynos 1330. For example, 1330 was previously used in the Galaxy A14 5G. It’s not a great chip, but it’s an obvious choice given the price.
The phone also has improved dust and water resistance, and while it’s only rated IP54, it’s still much better than the A15 without anything. It also retains a microSD slot for expandable storage. However, the 3.5mm headphone jack is gone. Times are changing.
Another change this year: There is no 4G model. There’s no reason to delay, at least not yet, since the A15 and A15 5G were launched at the same time. Of course, like 3G-only phones, 4G-only phones will eventually become obsolete. But is that moment now, or would you have preferred a cheaper 4G phone (with 6 years of support)?
Indeed, 6 years of support is a great way to reduce e-waste. But do you think a low-end phone like the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G will last until 2030 and won’t be a pain to use?
