5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy A16

While many of our regular readers might have a deeper understanding of the mobile world, many Android users are simply looking for a device that’s as cheap as possible without being a total burden to use.

Recently, we dove into Amazon’s best-seller list, and it turns out that the Samsung Galaxy A16 is the sixth best-selling phone. At under $200, I get the appeal, as it’s a cheap phone with decent software support. For some users, it could be worth buying the older budget phone, but here are five other devices you might also want to take a closer look at instead.

Samsung Galaxy A17

The most obvious alternative would be the A16’s newer brother, the Samsung Galaxy A17 ($250 on Amazon). Like many other phones this year, the Galaxy A17 is a minor upgrade. There’s a slightly improved design this time around, and the screen is now much brighter and has better Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Beyond that, the only major change is the addition of Optical Image Stabilization to the camera package.

The rest of the package remains pretty much identical, with a similar 6.7-inch panel, the same 5,000mAh battery, and an identical camera configuration outside of the OIS upgrade. There’s even the same IP54 rating and support for microSD cards.

When this little has changed, I would normally recommend users to pick up the previous model for a discount. Right now, the Galaxy A16 runs for around $175, though it varies depending on the retailer. That’s a great price, but it’s also only around $70 less than the newer version. If you’d prefer longer software support and a more polished design, it might be worth checking out.

Moto G Stylus (2025)

The 2025 Moto G Stylus ($300 on Amazon) might be a year old, but it actually isn’t all that different than its 2026 successor, and yet you can find it for as little as $300. While that’s a $125 price increase, performance also jumps. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is a fair step up from the Exynos 1330 in the Galaxy A16, and you’ll even get 8GB of RAM. In contrast, the Galaxy A17 packs just 4GB of RAM and, as a result, often struggles with resource management.

It’s not just the processor. While both phones have somewhat similar 6.7-inch displays and 50MP camera packages, Motorola offers a slightly higher resolution for its screen, and its camera package has OIS and a much more impressive secondary 13MP ultrawide shooter. The same story applies to the battery life, as both have a 5,000mAh battery, but the Snapdragon’s optimizations likely help it edge ahead, and there’s also a much more impressive 68W wired charging onboard, as well as 15W wireless.

Software-wise, Motorola has a cleaner skin, and there’s even a stylus for those who find the appeal in such a thing. On the flip side, it has very limited software support, which is a true weakness here. If you plan to keep the phone for a long time and aren’t the kind to turn to custom software, the Moto G Stylus is harder to recommend. Still, if you really just need a cheaper phone to get you by for a couple of years, it’s still probably more than up for the job on the software side, and you’ll benefit from stronger hardware.

Moto G Power (2025)

Last year’s Moto G Power ($200 on Amazon) is another decent alternative to the Galaxy A16, especially if you don’t mind getting it in renewed condition ($165 on Amazon). The MediaTek 6300 processor isn’t necessarily much different than the Exynos onboard, but you do get double the RAM at 8GB in total.

The Moto G Power also wins out when it comes to camera performance, even if they look fairly similar on paper. They both have 50MP main cameras, but Motorola’s camera punches a bit harder and is backed by a higher-resolution ultrawide shooter. You’ll also find an IP69 rating, which makes it better against dust and water than the Galaxy A16 with its IP54 splash resistance. Unlike Samsung, Motorola’s budget device also has a headphone jack.

The Moto G Power is going to outperform in almost every way. It also has a much more attractive design that features vegan leather. Still, it isn’t perfect, as the 6.8-inch LCD display is a bit of a downgrade over the AMOLED on the Galaxy A16. As with the Moto G Stylus, you also only officially get one more major Android update. Samsung is much better for support, though Motorola does provide limited security patches longer than this typically.

Google Pixel 10a

The truth is that the ultra-budget tier in the US is pretty much dominated by Samsung and Motorola. Samsung is going to cost more, while Motorola has worse software support. If you can only spend $150-$300, any of the three options above will certainly do the job. For those who can afford to spend a bit more, the Google Pixel 10a ($599 on Amazon) is hard to ignore.

The Pixel 10a costs nearly double the price of the Galaxy A16, but that extra cash delivers an experience that will put any of the previous options to shame. The Google Tensor G4 might not be the fastest chip, but it’s still a near-flagship-capable SoC that will run circles around the Exynos 1330. There’s also double the RAM, a slightly larger battery, 10W wireless charging, and an IP68 rating with the Pixel 10a.

On paper, the cameras don’t seem that different, as Samsung has a triple configuration with a 50MP main camera. In contrast, the less-assuming dual package on the Pixel is only 48MP, though it is paired with a 13MP ultrawide shooter. There’s more to a good camera than just the megapixel count, and the Pixel 10a offers a much higher quality sensor that’s combined with Google’s software expertise to create a camera experience that is much closer to what you’d expect from a flagship.

Google’s flagship might have better hardware, but it’s the software that really helps sell the experience. Google has put a ton of effort into refining Gemini features for its Pixel series, and you’ll also get Google’s excellent seven-year OS update and bug-fix guarantee.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

While the Google Pixel 10a is a choice, some users truly prefer Samsung’s design language and custom UI. If that sounds like you, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE ($367 on Amazon) is another option for those who don’t mind spending a bit more than the budget-tier options on this list.

While both phones look somewhat similar and even pack the same display size, the Galaxy S25 FE has a dramatically higher-quality display. The Galaxy S FE’s Exynos 2400 might not be as impressive as a flagship chip, but it’s still a massive improvement over the Galaxy A16’s lower-end Exynos SoC and is supported by 8GB of RAM. Likewise, you’ll find the Galaxy S25 FE has a much stronger camera package across all three lenses. It also has a 3x 8MP Telephoto shooter, instead of the 2MP macro shooter it replaces from the A16.

As you’d imagine, the software support on both phones will be very similar as far as the length of commitment goes. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE has the advantage of a few higher-end software features that are usually left out of the budget crowd, so that’s also worth keeping in mind. As for how much it will cost? The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is now a year old, and that means you can find it for under $500 in new condition, or just a tad under $400 if you consider getting it in renewed condition.