The period of getting a brand new cellphone yearly is over – even the 2-year improve cycle is changing into much less frequent. Lately even entry-level telephones can final a number of years. And a few like the brand new Samsung Galaxy A16 5G can final a extremely very long time.
The cellphone boasts a wild 6 years of help, that means it will likely be receiving OS updates and safety patches till October 2030. Let that sink in – a €250 cellphone will get longer help than most flagships. This contains latest Samsung telephones (e.g. the S23 collection is barely getting 5 years of help) and up to date Pixels (Pixel 7 collection can be getting 5 years). Even Apple, the as soon as undisputed champ in cellphone longevity, isn’t on the forefront – iOS 17 ended help for the 6-year-old (on the time) iPhone X and eight.
Some makers, like Samsung and Google, have prolonged help for his or her flagship collection to 7 years. However we didn’t anticipate to see entry-level fashions get longer than 5 years anytime quickly. For instance, the earlier mannequin, the Galaxy A15 5G, is slated for five years of help. And that solely included 4 OS updates, 5 years is for the safety patches. With the A16, it’s 6 years for each OS updates and safety patches.
Samsung equips the Galaxy A16 5G with both a Dimensity 6300 or an Exynos 1330. The 1330 we’ve seen earlier than within the Galaxy A14 5G, for instance. It’s not a stellar chip, however an comprehensible choose given the worth.
The cellphone additionally gained mud and water resistance, simply an IP54 score, however that’s nonetheless significantly better than the nothing that the A15 had. Additionally, it retains the microSD slot for expandable storage. Nevertheless, the three.5mm headphone jack is gone – occasions, they’re a-changin’.
One other change this 12 months – no 4G mannequin. At the least not but, however the A15 and A15 5G launched on the identical time, so there’s no cause for the delay. After all, 4G-only telephones will go away in some unspecified time in the future, identical to 3G-only telephones did. However is that second now or would you could have most popular a less expensive 4G cellphone (additionally with 6 years of help)?
Effectively, the 6 years of help is actually a good way to scale back e-waste. However do you suppose {that a} low-level cellphone just like the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G will final till 2030 and never really feel painfully gradual to make use of?
