The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G and Moto G Power 5G (2025) are two of the most compelling budget smartphones in 2025, each offering features that rival more expensive devices. The Galaxy A16 5G stands out with an impressive six years of software updates, ensuring it stays secure and up-to-date for a long time. Meanwhile, the Moto G Power 5G (2025) brings wireless charging and a rugged build, which are uncommon at this price point. This comparison will help you decide which phone offers the best value based on your priorities, whether it’s a long-lasting device or a durable one with modern conveniences.
Why Compare These Phones?
Choosing a budget smartphone can be tricky because you want the most features for your money. The Galaxy A16 5G and Moto G Power 5G (2025) are popular choices because they pack advanced features into affordable packages. The Galaxy A16 5G appeals to users who want a phone that will stay relevant for years, thanks to its software support. The Moto G Power 5G (2025), on the other hand, targets those who need a tough phone with unique features like wireless charging. Understanding their strengths helps you pick the one that fits your lifestyle.
Design and Durability
The Galaxy A16 5G has a simple, clean design with a flat display and a waterdrop-style selfie camera. Its bezels are slim, but the larger chin gives it a slightly dated look. The back is made of plastic with three vertically aligned cameras, making it lightweight and easy to hold. While functional, the design doesn’t feel as modern as some competitors, but it’s practical for everyday use. The phone’s IP54 rating protects against dust and light splashes, which is decent but not exceptional for a budget device.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) offers a more contemporary design with slim, uniform bezels and a punch-hole selfie camera, giving it a premium appearance. Its rear has a leather-like finish that feels grippy and resists fingerprints, a nice touch for a budget phone. The camera bump houses two sensors and an LED flash, adding to its sleek look. Durability is a major strength, with IP68/IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance and MIL-STD-810H military-grade protection, making it ideal for users who need a phone that can handle tough conditions.
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Moto G Power 5G (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Plastic back, waterdrop camera | Leather-like finish, punch-hole |
| Durability | IP54 | IP68/IP69, MIL-STD-810H |
| Display Protection | None specified | Gorilla Glass 5 |
Display
The Galaxy A16 5G features a 1080p Super AMOLED display, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks, which makes videos and photos look stunning. With a brightness of up to 800 nits, it’s great for indoor use but may struggle in bright sunlight. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, which is a nice bonus for a budget phone. AMOLED technology also allows for lower minimum brightness, making it comfortable to use in dark environments without straining your eyes.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) uses a 6.7-inch LCD panel, which is larger than the Galaxy’s 6.5-inch screen but lacks the rich contrast of AMOLED. Its colors are less vivid, and dark scenes may appear washed out. However, it reaches 1000 nits of brightness, better for outdoor visibility, and has a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother interactions. Gorilla Glass 5 protects the screen, increasing its longevity. Its minimum brightness of 2.5 nits might feel too bright in complete darkness, which could be a drawback for nighttime use.
| Display Feature | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Moto G Power 5G (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Super AMOLED, 1080p | LCD, 1080p |
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1000 nits |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has a triple rear camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens. The main camera takes solid photos in daylight with good detail and dynamic range, but the ultrawide produces softer images with less clarity. The macro lens is mostly ineffective, making the setup feel like two usable cameras. The 13MP front camera delivers natural-looking selfies but struggles in low light, where noise can appear. The ability to record 4K video and switch lenses during shooting adds versatility.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) features a dual rear camera system with a main sensor and an ultrawide lens, both equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS). This helps reduce blur, especially in videos, giving it an edge over the Galaxy A16 5G, which lacks OIS. Photos are decent in good light but falter in low-light conditions. The Moto supports 6x digital zoom with acceptable quality but is limited to 1080p video recording. A downside is the inability to switch lenses mid-shoot, which limits flexibility compared to the Galaxy’s setup.
| Camera Feature | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Moto G Power 5G (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Cameras | 50MP main, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro | Main + ultrawide, OIS |
| Front Camera | 13MP | Not specified |
| Video Recording | 4K | 1080p |
| OIS | No | Yes |
Performance
Both phones handle daily tasks well, but their performance varies slightly. The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G scores 435,926 on AnTuTu, with a strong CPU score of 152,349, suggesting it’s snappy for tasks like browsing or messaging. In Geekbench, it achieves a single-core score of 968, ideal for quick app launches. However, its GPU score of 62,976 is lower, indicating it may not excel in graphics-heavy games. The 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test shows consistent performance, with scores of 366 (high) and 359 (low), suitable for casual gaming.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) slightly outperforms with an AnTuTu score of 447,351, driven by better GPU (69,041), memory, and UX scores, making it better for gaming. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 2,056 edges out the Galaxy’s 2,031, aiding multitasking. The 3DMark test yields higher scores (386 high, 381 low), suggesting better thermal management during extended use. While the performance gap is small, the Moto G Power 5G (2025) may feel smoother in demanding scenarios like gaming or running multiple apps.
| Benchmark | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Moto G Power 5G (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu Score | 435,926 | 447,351 |
| Geekbench Single-Core | 968 | 782 |
| Geekbench Multi-Core | 2,031 | 2,056 |
| 3DMark High Score | 366 | 386 |
Software
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G offers an exceptional six years of OS and security updates, meaning a phone bought in 2025 will stay updated until 2031. This is rare for budget phones and ensures long-term security and access to new features. It ships with Android 14 and Samsung’s One UI, which is user-friendly but may include some pre-installed apps. This extended support makes the Galaxy A16 5G a smart choice for users who keep their phones for several years.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) provides two OS upgrades and three years of security patches, which is less impressive. It comes with Android 15 out of the box, giving it a slight edge in software freshness initially. Motorola’s software is cleaner, with fewer pre-installed apps, offering a near-stock Android experience. However, the shorter update period means it may become outdated sooner, potentially affecting security and compatibility with newer apps over time.
| Software Feature | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Moto G Power 5G (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| OS Updates | 6 years | 2 upgrades |
| Security Updates | 6 years | 3 years |
| Initial OS | Android 14 | Android 15 |
Battery and Charging
Both the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G and Moto G Power 5G (2025) have 5,000mAh batteries, which can easily last over a day with typical use, such as browsing, calling, and streaming. This capacity is standard for budget phones and ensures you won’t need to charge frequently. The Galaxy A16 5G supports 25W wired charging, which is decent but takes longer to fully charge compared to faster options in this price range.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) stands out with 30W wired charging, allowing quicker top-ups, which is great for users on the go. Even more impressive is its 15W wireless charging, a rare feature in budget phones, offering the convenience of cable-free charging if you have a compatible pad. The Galaxy A16 5G lacks wireless charging, which might disappoint users who value this modern feature.
| Battery Feature | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Moto G Power 5G (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Wired Charging | 25W | 30W |
| Wireless Charging | No | 15W |
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G likely offers better value for users who prioritize long-term software support and a superior AMOLED display. Its six years of updates ensure it remains secure and functional for years, and the vibrant screen enhances media consumption. The camera system is more versatile, and performance is solid for everyday tasks, making it a reliable choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a phone that lasts.
The Moto G Power 5G (2025) shines for those who need a durable phone with modern features like wireless charging. Its rugged build, with IP68/IP69 and military-grade protection, is perfect for active users, and the faster charging speeds add convenience. While its LCD display and shorter software support are drawbacks, the phone’s design and unique features make it a strong contender. Your choice depends on whether you value longevity or durability and convenience.
