Apple iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy A16

Our Verdict: The upfront buying price favours Samsung Galaxy A16 over Apple iPhone 13. Its SIM-free price is £103.55 beside Apple iPhone 13's £199.95. Screen quality leans toward Apple iPhone 13 for sharpness, with 457 PPI compared with Samsung Galaxy A16's 385 PPI. Samsung Galaxy A16 has the higher-resolution rear camera figure at 50MP versus Apple iPhone 13's 12MP, Apple iPhone 13 offers more headroom at up to 512GB rather than Samsung Galaxy A16's 128GB. Samsung Galaxy A16 is the practical buy on price; Apple iPhone 13 is easier to justify when its stronger listed hardware matches your priorities.

Over a full contract, the A16 works out around £277 all-in, about £156 less than the iPhone 13.

Expert Rating
4.6
10 reviews
3.4
3 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.7"
Display
OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
2532 x 1170 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
457 385
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm)
Battery
3,227 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G N/A
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight
173 grams 200 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP54
Contracts
£12.99/mo (£99.00 upfront) £9.99/mo (£5.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£184.00 £137.00

Prices updated 17 July 2026

Apple iPhone 13 Apple iPhone 13 Samsung Galaxy A16 Samsung Galaxy A16
Expert Rating 4.6
10 reviews
3.4
3 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.7"
Display OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 2532 x 1170 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 457 385
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm)
Battery 3,227 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G N/A
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight 173 grams 200 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP54
Contracts £12.99/mo
£99.00 upfront
£9.99/mo
£5.00 upfront
SIM-free £184.00 £137.00
Prices updated 17 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13

24 Months

128GB

Green

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£12.99 per month, £99 upfront.

Use code: IDM10OFF (£10)

Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy A16

24 Months

128GB

Grey

25GB

Data

£9.99 per month, £5 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A16 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A16 is cheaper on contract at £277.16 over the life of the deal from £9.99 per month with £5.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A16?

The Samsung Galaxy A16 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 13's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 13 has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 13 uses a OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A16 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A16?

The Apple iPhone 13 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A16 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A16?

The Samsung Galaxy A16 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £137.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A16?

The Apple iPhone 13 is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy A16 comes in 128GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A16 use?

The Apple iPhone 13 is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, while the Samsung Galaxy A16 uses the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A16?

The Apple iPhone 13 is the more portable of the two: it's 27g lighter at 173 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A16?

The Apple iPhone 13 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A16 is rated IP54.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A16 run?

The Apple iPhone 13 runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A16 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.