iQOO Z9svsSamsung Galaxy A16 4G
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
iQOO Z9s wins
Verdict
iQOO Z9s wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
iQOO Z9s is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. It costs USD 239 — USD 40 more than the Samsung Galaxy A16 4G. Pay the premium if price is your priority.
- Too close to call between iQOO Z9s and Samsung Galaxy A16 4G.
- iQOO Z9s takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- iQOO Z9s takes Camera — led by camera score (92 pts).
- iQOO Z9s takes Battery — led by battery (5,500 mAh).
- Too close to call between iQOO Z9s and Samsung Galaxy A16 4G.
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose iQOO Z9s if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 420,000 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a bigger screen — 6.77 in vs 6.7 in.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a sharper screen — 388 ppi vs 385 ppi.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 90 Hz.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,800 nits vs 800 nits.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 13 MP.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a better camera — 92 pts vs 82 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want longer battery life — 5,500 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want faster charging — 44 W vs 25 W.
Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 4G if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 4G if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
At a glance
- iQOO Z9s
- Samsung Galaxy A16 4G
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
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?
iQOO Z9s
Choose iQOO Z9s if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 239.
Samsung Galaxy A16 4G
Choose Samsung Galaxy A16 4G if price matters most. It costs USD 199, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
iQOO Z9s
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Dimensity 7300
- 5,500 mAh battery
- No ultrawide
- Plastic frame
- No telephoto
Samsung Galaxy A16 4G
- AMOLED 90 Hz
- 50 MP camera
- 6 years of updates
- Helio G99 is dated
- Slow 25 W charging
- No 5G