It is not only in the high -end that the manufacturers go for war. On the contrary, more affordable phones are also legion and compete in arguments to land in the pockets of those whose budget is limited. A comparison in good and due form is specially relevant in this case to avoid the traps, since manufacturers do not hesitate to sacrifice elements to lower the bill.
Today, let’s face tenors from Xiaomi and Samsung, the Redmi Note 14 and Galaxy A16: Design, screen, battery, overlay, photo … We tell you in each area that is the best to find the device you need. Please note: if we have tested the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G in 01net, concerning the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 We tested its 4G declination. However, we have decided to retain its 5G version here, slightly different on the price and characteristic side, for a more coherent duel.
Design: Xiaomi starts in the lead
With the Galaxy A16, Samsung does not reinvent the wheel and offers a design as it is used, especially on the side of the three photo sensors. All in plastic with false glass and metal airs, the smartphone is IP54 certified to resist splash and dust. Its dimensions: 160.1 x 76.8 x 8.4 mm for 200 g. We will note the presence of a notch fairly marked on the facade around the selfie sensor.
This time IP64 certified to be truly waterproof for dust, the Redmi Note 14 5G has other advantages compared to its opponent. Devoid of notch, lighter (190 g) and slightly smaller (162.4 x 75.7 x 8 mm), it also embraces the whole plastic.
This smartphone is also one of the few to still offer a jack. Also note that if the Redmi Note 14 5G incorporates its fingerprint reader under the screen, the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is satisfied with an aging sensor on the power button.
In short, unless you keep absolutely at the look of Samsung terminals, normally a little more durable and solid however, Xiaomi offers here a slightly more convincing copy.
Screen: Xiaomi prevails
If in certain areas it is difficult to decide between the two solutions here concerned, on the screen side the observation is clear. On the one hand, we therefore have Samsung, which chooses an AMOLED FHD+ slab of 6.7 inches which, if it remains perfectly usable, multiplies the faults beyond its notch.
Its refresh rate only rises to 90 Hz when almost all the competition embraces the 120 Hz, its 903 cd/m² brightness peak is not extremely high and its 84.5 % body/screen ratio is not the most convincing in the sector. Same thing for its color loyalty, with a Delta E 2000 always above 4 in the different modes offered. We have known Samsung better when it comes to calibration.
Then comes the Redmi Note 14 5G. Measuring 6.67 inches, its AMOLED FHD+ slab this time reaches 120 Hz maximums. If the occupation of space, measured at only 83.9 %, is slightly less good than at Samsung, the rest, however is better. Its color loyalty revolves more around 3, and its maximum brightness exceeds 1000 nits.
Global, Xiaomi therefore offers a better screen, even if the Samsung solution remains correct for this price range
Performances: Samsung disappoints
Samsung was a little stingy on the screen side, and this is on the performance side. Equipped with an exynos 1330 house sock, the Galaxy A16 5G offers 8 cores at 2.4 GHz. Accompanied by only 4 GB of RAM, this solution does not make a miracle with performances that quickly show their limits, especially in play. Add to this only 128 GB of storage space (fortunately stretch via microSD, like the Xiaomi) and a Wi-Fi 5 chip 5 more young, and you get a sufficient solution for daily navigation, but little cut to last or support the launch of many applications.
At Xiaomi, for the 5G version of the Redmi Note 14 we chose the Qualcomm Dimensity 7025-Ultra. With 8 cores at 2.5 GHz, this SoC can take advantage of 6 or 8 GB of RAM here. Still not enough to do miracles with gourmet video games, but enough to enjoy better fluidity than at Samsung on a daily basis. Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC are also there, but versions with 128, 256 or 512 GB of storage are offered. Obviously, we will have to agree to pay a little more for that.
Advantage to Xiaomi for performance and storage therefore.
Autonomy and recharge: solutions that blow hot and cold
On the autonomy side, the two manufacturers are almost equal. The battery of the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is 5000 mAh, and therefore slightly less important than that of 5110 mAh of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G. Fortunately for him, optimizing the Samsung smartphone allows him to win. The latter’s solution can hold about 8 p.m., when that of Xiaomi runs out of steam after 4 p.m.
On the other hand, Xiaomi does better concerning rapid recharging. This can climb to 45 W, when Samsung is satisfied with too modest 25 W. Thus, a little less than 2 hours are necessary to fully recharge the Galaxy A16 5G, against only a little more than 1 hour for the Redmi Note 14 5G. Unsurprisingly, no wireless recharge in this duel.
More important autonomy (Samsung) or faster recharge (Xiaomi), it’s up to you to choose what has your preference according to your uses.
Photo: Xiaomi more generous
Our two gladiators offer the same trio on the back: a high-angle sensor, an ultra-angle sensor and a macro sensor. Let us immediately note that in one case as in the other, the latter is especially there to make it pretty as the results obtained with are poor.
On the other hand, Xiaomi is once again better than Samsung for other sensors. The Redmi Note 14 5G offers a more convincing and versatile 108 MP -MP sensor (to zoom in in its photos in particular) than that of only 50 MP for Samsung. When the conditions are good, the two terminals do well, with an advantage for Xiaomi therefore, but this is less true when the light is missing. In this case, the Samsung solution is more limited than that of Xiaomi, which is also doing as it can still. Same observation for the ultra grand angle, at 8 Mpx in Xiaomi against 5 MP in Samsung, but also the selfie sensor, since Xiaomi climbs to 20 Mpx against 13 Mpx for Samsung.
Equality on the video, which is satisfied with a modest at 1080p at 30 fps on the two devices.
If the number of MPs is not everything, and the two solutions are generally satisfactory for entry -level, the fact remains that the Redmi Note 14 5G is a better photographer than the Galaxy A16 in all situations. Especially since the Xiaomi solution offers image stabilization (OIS), unlike his opponent.
Software: a question of taste, but one slightly in front
Let’s finish with the issue of the operating system. Both launched on Android 14, they have predominantly convincing overlay. Onei at Samsung is one of the most complete and appreciated on the market, while Hyperos at Xiaomi is not to be outdone despite a slightly disappointing version 2 on the performance, new, and the massive installation of Bloatware.
The presence of AI in the two solutions is very light and almost identical, and it will be noted that the Galaxy A16 is deprived of ALWAYS display on, unlike the Redmi Note 14. Too bad, but the rest of the Samsung OS compensates rather well by offering an experience close to Android Stock while adding practical features.
The latter is also much more generous than its competitor concerning future updates: 6 major android versions will arrive on the Galaxy A16, against only 2 on the Redmi Note 14. However, impossible that the Galaxy A16 is always very valiant level performance when Android 20 will land. The interest of such software longevity therefore raises questions.
Slight advantage to Samsung all the same, although Hyperos is a completely frequentable overlay.
Price: a slight price difference, but promotions can play
Let’s finish with the subject that is just secondary in the price. In one case as in the other, Samsung and Xiaomi are not stingy in promotions and it is rare to have to buy a smartphone at its full price. However, for comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A16 was launched at € 250, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 to 300 €. Today offered at lower prices, smartphones remain quite close in this area, with a slight advantage for Samsung, but which is paid too much elsewhere.
Verdict: a light winner
Despite its slightly lower price and its superior software monitoring, it is difficult to recommend the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G against the much more generous Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G. The latter, certainly more expensive of a few tens of euros, does almost everything better than its competitor for an always reasonable price. In many areas (screen, performance, IP certification, recharge, jack or photo), Chinese is much less cautious than the South Korean, which is clearly struggling to convince.
Apart from its convincing overlay (however devoid of Always on), the Galaxy A16 5G lacks arguments and Samsung will have to make an effort with the next version so as not to be definitively exceeded by its competitors.
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