You can get Samsung's new budget phone for just $1 per month

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 25 November 2024

Samsung today announced local pricing and availability for the Galaxy A16 5G, its new entry-tier device. The phone is available now and priced at $349 outright, but Optus is already discounting it.

Customers who take up the Galaxy A16 with an Optus postpaid mobile plan can get it for $1 per month on a 36-month plan or $1.50 per month on a 24-month plan. Either way, that effectively means paying just $36 for the phone.

Of course, the $1 or $1.50 per month is added to your plan fee. Optus' cheapest postpaid plan is $52 per month so you're looking at either $53 or $53.50 per month.

Here are Optus' 36-month Galaxy A16 5G plans:

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $48.68/mth Min. cost $387.48 Go to Site	$48.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $387.48	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: Upgrade & Protect included when you add a phone on a payment plan. Plus, get up to $10/mth SubHub credit for 12 mths. T&Cs apply. $78.68/mth Min. cost $417.48 Go to Site	$78.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $417.48	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments $79.68/mth Min. cost $418.48 Go to Site	$79.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $418.48	Go to Site
#4	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $99.68/mth Min. cost $438.48 Go to Site	$99.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $438.48	Go to Site

And here are Optus' 24-month Galaxy A16 5G plans:

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 24 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $53.52/mth Min. cost $387.48 Go to Site	$53.52/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $387.48	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 24 mths device payments Deal: Upgrade & Protect included when you add a phone on a payment plan. Plus, get up to $10/mth SubHub credit for 12 mths. T&Cs apply. $83.52/mth Min. cost $417.48 Go to Site	$83.52/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $417.48	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 24 mths device payments $84.52/mth Min. cost $418.48 Go to Site	$84.52/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $418.48	Go to Site
#4	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 24 mths device payments SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $104.52/mth Min. cost $438.48 Go to Site	$104.52/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $438.48	Go to Site

While buying the Galaxy A16 5G on a plan does negate the cost of the phone, buying it outright and pairing it with a cheaper SIM-only plan can represent a saving in the long run.

For example, you'd be spending $1284 over a 24-month period on Optus' cheapest SIM-only plan. If you wanted to stick with a 50GB allowance, you could get a 50GB plan from TPG or iiNet for $17.50 for the first month and $35 per month thereafter. Over 24 months, you'd have spent $735 and $349 for the Galaxy A16 5G outright, for a total of $1,084.

Here's a look at the cheapest SIM-only plans with at least 50GB in our database:

#1	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick Unlimited Plan S 50GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: $15 for first 6 renewals when you activate this plan. Offer ends 31.12.26. T&Cs apply $15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#2	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 30 SIM Only 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 50GB for $17– Includes $13 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $30. Offer ends 30.06.27 $17.00/mth Min. cost $17 Link not supplied	$17.00/mth Min. cost $17	Link not supplied
#3	iiNet	iiNet 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	Pivotel	Pivotel 50GB Mobile Swift Plan 50GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $17.50/mth Min. cost $17.50 Go to Site	$17.50/mth Min. cost $17.50	Go to Site
#5	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#6	OnePass mobile	OnePass mobile 28 Day Plan - 65GB 65GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT Deal: Save $20 - Get 65GB for only $20 for the first 6 recharges! Recharges $40/65GB. New customers only. T&Cs apply $20.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$20.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

If you don't need a 50GB plan, you could reduce your spend even further.

In terms of the phone itself, the Galaxy A16 5G is fairly conventional but has a few standout features. It has IP54 splash-resistance which isn't common at the price point, and Samsung is promising six years of operating system and security updates. Most phones in this price bracket only get two years of operating system upgrades and three years of security.

Other key specifications include a 6.7-inch 1080p+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. There's a 50MP primary camera, 5MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP depth camera on the back, and a 13MP selfie camera on the front.

Looking for a new NBN plan?

These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo All Fixed Line nbn® Editor's Pick nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site*	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#2	amaysim	amaysim All Fixed Line nbn® NBN50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Sale + $10 Standard Intro offer), then $85/mth. Ends 04.10.26 $45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom All Fixed Line nbn® Value Plus NBN 50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $64.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month. $64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90 Go to Site	$64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90	Go to Site
#4	TPG	TPG All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Link not supplied
#5	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband All Fixed Line nbn® Value nbn - Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 47/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SPRING25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26 $70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#6	Superloop	Superloop All Fixed Line nbn® Extra-value nbn50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 months! $69/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Bundle & Save $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#7	iiNet	iiNet All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Liimitless All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied
#8	Belong	Belong All Fixed Line nbn® NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55 Go to Site	$55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55	Go to Site
#9	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet All Fixed Line nbn® Silver Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $11/mth off for 12mths. $69.90/mth for first 12 months then revert back to $80.90/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth Min. cost $69.90 Go to Site	$69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth Min. cost $69.90	Go to Site
#10	Flip	Flip All Fixed Line nbn® Unlimited Family nbn50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $16.90/mth off for 6 months - $68/mth for first 6mths then $84.90/mth. New customers only. Ends 31.10.26. T&Cs apply. $68/mth for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth Min. cost $68 Go to Site	$68/mth for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth Min. cost $68	Go to Site

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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