Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy A16 5G in France, and it is the first Galaxy A-series smartphone to have support for up to six Android OS updates and six years of security patches. The Galaxy A16 5G also sports a Super AMOLED display, triple-camera sensor at the rear, and more.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: Price, Availability

Galaxy A16 5G is available in Midnight Blue, Turquoise, and Gray colours. The device is listed for €249 (approx Rs 23,000) for the 4GB + 128GB trim on Samsung France website. The device is also expected to step foot in India before the end of October.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: Specifications

The Galaxy A16 5G has a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (2,340 x 1,080 pixels) Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90Hz. An octa-core Exynos 1330 SoC powers the phone. However, the Indian model is expected to use the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip. It comes with a built-in storage of 128GB, which can be expanded to 1TB with a microSD card. There’s support for 4GB RAM.

The phone comes with One UI 6.1 pre-loaded, which is based on Android 14. The device is set to receive six years of Android OS updates along with security patches as well.

The triple camera setup on the back comprises of a 50-megapixel f/1.8 primary sensor with 10x magnification, a 5-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, and a 2-megapixel f/2.4 camera with a macro sensor. The front camera has a 13-megapixel sensor.

The A16 5G includes a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W wired fast charging. It further gets a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security. Connectivity options on the device includes Bluetooth v5.3, Wi-Fi 5, GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging. The handset is also IP54 rated as well.

Samsung’s Galaxy S-series is renowned worldwide, and names like S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra are instantly associated with the brand. However, it seems a Chinese company is looking to challenge that. Itel is rumored to soon launch its own S25 series, likely featuring two models: the S25 and the S25 Ultra.

Passionategeekz has leaked the upcoming Itel S25 series, consisting of the Itel S25 and the Itel S25 Ultra. The source from which it acquired the smartphone renders hasn’t specified whether they are for the vanilla model or the Ultra model. According to the renders shared, the Itel S25 (or the S25 Ultra) will have a dual-rear camera setup housed inside a pill-shaped module. The rear of the device seems to be made of plastic but will have a matte finish.

As for the specs of the Itel S25 series, the devices will feature a 6.6″ HD+ display that supports 90Hz refresh rate and 120Hz on the Ultra model. The Itel S25 will launch with new UNISOC T620 LTE Chip that is based on Arm Cortex-A75 cores running at 2.2GHz and six Arm Cortex-A55 cores running at 1.8GHz. The chip uses the Arm Mali-G57 850MHz GPU. The chip under the hood of the S25 Ultra remains undisclosed as of now. The devices may get up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

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The S25 will feature 50MP primary rear camera sensor while the Itel S25 Ultra will feature a 108MP AI rear camera setup. At the front there will be a 32MP selfie shooter on both the phones. The devices could be powered by a 5000 mAh battery and according to certifications it will carry 18W fast charge support on the base model. Charging speeds of S25 Ultra haven’t been revealed yet. The devices will ship with Android 14-based software out of the box.

Going by the specs, we can speculate that the devices will fall in the budget price category and if they launch in India, they could likely be priced below Rs 15,000. Launch timeline for the devices is yet to be specified by the brand.

Lava announced the launch of Agni 3 5G earlier last week at a price point matching that of the Realme P2 Pro 5G. Both the mid-rangers have a lot to offer but which one of them goes the extra mile to offer consumers something that’s more appealing and bang for the buck? Let’s find that out.

Price

Lava Agni 3 is available in India starting at Rs 20,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant without a charger. The same model with a charger is priced at Rs 22,999. An 8GB + 256GB storage option, which also includes a charger, retails for Rs 24,999.

The realme P2 Pro 5G comes in Parrot Green and Eagle Grey colours and is priced at Rs 21,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model, Rs 24,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model and Rs 27,999 for the 12GB + 512GB model.

Display

The Realme P2 Pro 5G gets a 6.7-inch curved OLED Display with an FHD+ Resolution and offers 10-bit colour depth, 2160Hz PWM dimming, 100% P3 colour gamut coverage, 120Hz refresh rate, 2000 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass 7i protection, and 240Hz touch sampling rate. It also has a 20000-level automatic brightness adjustment.

The Lava Agni 3 5G sports a 6.7-inch 1.5K resolution curved AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz Refresh Rate and 1200 nits of peak brightness. The display comes with 1.07 billion colour depth, Widevine L1, and supports HDR 10+. There’s also a secondary display on the back that offers additional features and a unique touch to the device.

Both handsets have a curved AMOLED panel, but Lava’s display is slightly sharper and has a higher resolution, and that secondary display on the back is a plus point. On the other hand, Realme’s display gets stronger protection and higher brightness. It’s up to you whether you want a brighter and stronger panel or one with a higher resolution. In the real world, both of these are capable screens and shouldn’t disappoint you by any means.

Processor

The Agni 3 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X SoC, coupled with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 onboard storage. On the other hand, Realme’s P2 Pro 5G packs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, up to 12GB LPDDR4x RAM, and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

The Agni 3 5G offers users a slightly better Chipset with faster RAM. On the other hand, Realme’s P2 Pro offers more RAM and storage options, which some users may prefer, but they are associated with higher costs as well. As for software, both of them run on Android 14, but we feel Realme UI is more polished than Lava’s Android skin, along with better and smoother animations across the user interface.

Battery and Cameras

For optics, the Lava Agni 3 5G packs a triple-rear camera unit, headlined by a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary lens with OIS, accompanied by an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle sensor and an 8MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. For selfies, it features a 16-megapixel sensor at the front. It includes an in-display optical fingerprint scanner for Biometrics and a USB Type-C port for connectivity. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 66W charging.

The P2 Pro from Realme features a 50MP Sony LYT-600 f/1.8 main camera with OIS and an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor. On the front, the smartphone has a 32MP f/2.45 Sony selfie sensor. It also has a 5200mAh battery with support for 80W fast wired charging.

In the camera department, we’ll give the win to Agni 3 5G even though we haven’t used the two devices. That’s because of its additional 8MP telephoto sensor, which helps in better portraits and zoomed shots. On the other hand, Realme P2 Pro wins in the battery segment due to its bigger battery and faster charging speed.

Conclusion

Starting at Rs 20,999 but without a charger, Lava Agni 3 5G looks like a better choice over Realme P2 Pro if you specifically care about that telephoto sensor, the better processor, a secondary display, and the cheaper price tag. However, if you prioritize software, RAM, and battery life, the Realme P2 Pro is a stronger choice. As both devices excel in different areas, we’ll consider this comparison a tie.

Samsung has introduced festive offers for its flagship foldable smartphones in India, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, aimed at providing customers with cost-saving benefits. The offers, announced on Friday, include upgrade discounts, cashback, and bank offers on select payment methods. Samsung is also offering lower EMI rates and discounts on its Galaxy Z Assurance program, making it more affordable for consumers to purchase these premium devices.

As part of the limited-time promotion, buyers of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 can avail of an upgrade bonus or bank cashback worth Rs 12,500, along with a 24-month no-cost EMI option. Similarly, customers purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 are eligible for an upgrade bonus or cashback of Rs 11,000, with the same no-cost EMI offer on select payment options, according to the company.

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In addition to the cashback and upgrade bonuses, Samsung is reducing regular EMI charges for both foldable smartphones. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 can now be purchased with EMIs starting at Rs 3,056, compared to the usual Rs 4,082 per month. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is available with EMIs starting at Rs 4,584, down from Rs 6,288.

Discounts on Accessories and Assurance Program:

Samsung also announced significant reductions in its Galaxy Z Assurance program, which covers accidental damage to foldable devices. Customers can now enrol in the program for Rs. 999, a sharp drop from the usual price of Rs 14,999. This offer applies to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 as part of the festive promotion.

The company has also slashed prices on its wearable and audio accessories. Buyers can receive up to Rs 18,000 off on the Galaxy Watch Ultra and up to Rs 5,000 off on the Galaxy Buds 3, making them more accessible during the festive period.

Pricing and Availability:

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 in India starts at Rs 1,09,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, with the 512GB option priced at Rs 1,21,999. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at Rs 1,64,999 for the base 12GB RAM + 256GB variant, while the 512GB and 1TB models are priced at Rs. 1,76,999 and Rs 2,00,999, respectively. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is listed at Rs 59,999, and the Galaxy Buds 3 are available for Rs 14,999.

All the offers are available for a limited time, although Samsung has not disclosed an official expiration date. Given that the offers are being marketed as part of the festive season, they are expected to remain valid until Diwali.

Lava has introduced the Agni 3 smartphone in India, marking its latest midrange offering. The handset features a 6.78-inch AMOLED Display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300X chipset and 8GB of RAM. Running on Android 14, the phone promises three OS updates and four years of security patches, according to the company.

The Lava Agni 3 also includes a secondary 1.74-inch AMOLED display on the rear, offering quick access to notifications, calls, and camera features. The device has a triple rear camera setup: a 50-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. For selfies, a 16-megapixel front camera with electronic image stabilization is present.

Pricing and Availability:

Lava Agni 3 will be available in India starting at Rs 20,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant without a charger. The same model with a charger is priced at Rs 22,999. A 256GB storage option, which includes a charger, will retail for Rs 24,999. The smartphone will go on sale via Amazon on October 9 at midnight and is offered in Heather Glass and Pristine Glass colour options.

Specifications and Features:

The Lava Agni 3 supports Dual-SIM (Nano) connectivity and boasts a 1.5K Resolution (1200×2652 pixels) display, which peaks at 1200 nits of brightness. The secondary display on the back enables users to take quick selfies, control music, and handle calls and messages. It also features an ‘Action’ button for quick toggling of the ringer, flashlight, use as a camera shutter button and a few more actions.

The device is powered by a 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset and offers 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Lava also provides the option to use 8GB of virtual RAM, leveraging unused storage space. The phone provides up to 256GB of internal UFS 3.1 storage, though there is no option for expandable storage.

Regarding connectivity, the Lava Agni 3 supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB Type-C. Other features include dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 66W fast charging, which claims to charge the phone to 50 percent in just 19 minutes. The handset measures 163.7×75.53×8.8mm and weighs 212 grams.

Samsung has confirmed that its Android 15 update, paired with the anticipated One UI 7, will not arrive until 2025. This announcement at the annual Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) marks a shift from the company’s usual track record of timely updates.

During the conference, Samsung revealed that the One UI 7 beta program, based on Android 15, is slated to roll out “before the end of this year.” However, a concrete release date has yet to be provided, leaving room for the beta to launch as late as December 2024. This would significantly push back the company’s regular update schedule, which in the past saw updates like One UI 6’s beta program announced in August.

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At SDC24, Samsung offered a sneak peek into One UI 7’s new design and functionality. The interface has been refined, focusing on simplicity and a more emotive user experience. Samsung has also emphasized a deeper integration of Galaxy AI features into everyday activities, enhancing the personalization and productivity that One UI aims to deliver.

The final version of One UI 7, which will officially bring Android 15 to Samsung devices, is expected to debut alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25 in early 2025. Samsung’s keynote hinted at this timeline, further solidifying that users will have to wait until next year for the complete rollout.

The delay in this update is a notable deviation from Samsung’s previous performance, especially as the company has been praised for its swift Android updates in recent years. While the delay is not entirely unexpected, it raises questions about the development timeline for future updates and the impact this may have on user experience.