Apple iPhone 15vsSamsung Galaxy A16 5G
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Apple iPhone 15 wins
Verdict
Apple iPhone 15 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Apple iPhone 15 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 699 — USD 500 more than the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Apple iPhone 15 takes Performance — led by performance score (1,300,000 pts).
- Too close to call between Apple iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy A16 5G.
- Apple iPhone 15 takes Camera — led by camera score (141 pts).
- Apple iPhone 15 takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy A16 5G takes Price — led by price (199 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,300,000 pts vs 450,000 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want more apps open at once — 6 GB vs 4 GB.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a sharper screen — 460 ppi vs 385 ppi.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,000 nits vs 800 nits.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want better video quality — 93 pts vs 75 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a better camera — 141 pts vs 102 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want a bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want smoother scrolling — 90 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want sharper selfies — 13 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 3,349 mAh.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want faster charging — 25 W vs 20 W.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want a lower price — 199 USD vs 699 USD.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 15
- Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 15
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 699.
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if price matters most. It costs USD 199, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 15
- Cheapest modern iPhone
- Dynamic Island + USB-C
- Solid 48 MP camera
- 60 Hz display
- A16 chip is aging
- Slow 20 W charging
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
- Cheap 5G
- 5,000 mAh battery
- Long support
- Slow chipset
- HD+ screen
- Plastic build