Samsung Galaxy A16 vs. A05S: Comparison for Teledermatology
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the suitability of two Samsung smartphone models, A16 and A05S, for teledermatology applications, focusing on their ability to capture high-quality images of skin lesions with ease and reliability.
TL;DR
Both models meet the technical requirements for teledermatology, but the Galaxy A16 is better for dermatological lesion imaging.
The real-world test did not reveal significant differences, but according to the manufacturer, the A16 has a slightly better camera, more powerful processor, better display, and longer software support.
However, both are far behind the iPhone 16 Pro, which is approximately 8 times more expensive but offers superior camera quality and overall performance.
Introduction
Teledermatology involves the use of images to diagnose and monitor skin conditions remotely, making it essential for devices to perform well in specific scenarios such as:
- Capturing detailed images of non-localized and pigmented lesions under various lighting conditions.
- Ensuring consistent image quality for accurate diagnosis and severity measurement.
- Supporting healthcare workflows by integrating seamlessly with teledermatology technology, like Legit.Health.
- Providing reliable performance during extended usage in clinical or field settings.
These tasks are critical for dermatologists and healthcare providers aiming to deliver effective remote care and improve patient outcomes. For that reason, the choice of smartphone is crucial, as it directly impacts the quality of images captured for skin lesion analysis.
Technical Requirements
To analyze the technical requirements of smartphone cameras, we use the spec sheet of the Legit.Health medical device, which is a certified medical device for dermatological diagnosis and severity measurement.
The key features of Legit.Health include:
- Differential diagnosis for over 300 conditions, including malignant diseases, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, genodermatoses, vascular diseases, and other dermatological processes.
- Automatic severity measurement for chronic diseases, enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions based on objective data. Legit.Health calculates a wide range of internationally validated dermatological scoring systems, including: PASI, SCORAD, EASI, IHS4, GAGS, UAS7, SALT, LUDWIG Scale, GPPGA, or VASI, among others.
- Image quality assessment framework to ensure optimal diagnostic conditions. If the image quality is inadequate, the system immediately prompts the user to retake it, offering guidance on how to improve it.
In regard to the camera, technical requirements for the Legit.Health medical device are:
| Feature | Relevance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Image Dimensions | ≥ 10,000 px² (e.g., 4000×2500 px) | Ensures sufficient detail for lesion analysis. |
| Image Formats | .JPG, .PNG | Standard, lossy/lossless formats for compatibility. |
| Minimum Camera Resolution | ≥ 12 MP | Needed for capturing fine dermal features. |
| Lens Aperture (Main) | ≤ ƒ/2.4 (wider) | Wider apertures (e.g., ƒ/1.8 (wide)–ƒ/2.2 (ultra-wide)) improve low-light performance. |
| Built-in Flash | Required | Consistent lighting improves color calibration and sharpness. |
| Autofocus | Required | Ensures lesion remains sharply focused at varying distances. |
| Adjustable Focus | Required | Macro mode or tap-to-focus enhances image clarity. |
| Macro camera | Recommended | Needed for close-up skin imaging (~2–5 cm distance). |
| Zoom | Recommended | Not essential unless image framing is problematic. |
| Flash Modes | Recommended | Manual flash control helps standardize capture conditions. |
The following features are not required or can be detrimental:
| Feature | Relevance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front Camera | Irrelevant | Rear cameras are recommended due to higher quality and macro access. |
| Video Recording | Irrelevant | Irrelevant for still images. |
| Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) | Irrelevant | Helps reduce motion blur in handheld use. |
| HDR | Not recommended | It may distort the image. |
| Scene Optimizer or Enhancement Modes | Not recommended | It may distort the image. |
| Slow Motion | Irrelevant | Irrelevant for still images. |
Methodology
The comparison between the available models is based on a review of the technical specifications provided by the manufacturer, Samsung, and a real-world usage test. For the real-world test, photographs were taken with both smartphones under identical conditions.
Technical Features
The following table summarizes the technical specifications of the Samsung Galaxy A05S and A16.
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A05S | Samsung Galaxy A16 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 2024 | 2024 |
| Display | LCD 6.7”, Full HD+, 90Hz | Super AMOLED 6.7”, Full HD+, 90Hz |
| Dimensions & Weight | 168.0 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm, 194 g | 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm, 200 g |
| Processor | Snapdragon 680 (8 cores: 4x2.4 GHz & 4x1.9 GHz) | Exynos 1330 (8 cores: 2x2.4 GHz & 6x2.0 GHz) |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64 / 128 GB, MicroSD up to 1 TB | 128 GB, MicroSD up to 1.5 TB |
| Front Camera | 13 MP, f/2.0 | 13 MP, f/2.0 |
| Rear Camera | - Main: 50 MP, f/1.8 - Portrait: 2 MP, f/2.4 - Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4 | - Main: 50 MP, f/1.8 - Ultra-wide: 5 MP, f/2.2 - Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh, 25W Fast Charging | 5,000 mAh, 25W Fast Charging |
| Operating System | Android 13, One UI Core | Android 14 |
| Connectivity | Dual LTE, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, Headphone Jack, USB-C | LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C |
| Other | Side-mounted fingerprint reader | IP54 Certification, NFC, Side-mounted fingerprint reader, 6 years of updates |
Camera
The camera specifications are crucial for teledermatology, as they directly impact the quality of images captured for skin lesion analysis. The following table compares the camera features of both models.
Main Camera (rear)
The main camera, essential for this use case, has the same technical specifications in both models. The 50MP resolution allows for highly detailed photos, and its f/1.8 aperture improves low-light performance.
| Feature | Galaxy A16 | Galaxy A05s | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | - 50.0 MP - 5.0 MP - 2.0 MP | - 50.0 MP - 2.0 MP - 2.0 MP | Galaxy A16 |
| Aperture | - ƒ/1.8 (wide) - ƒ/2.2 (ultra-wide) - ƒ/2.4 (ultra-wide) | - ƒ/1.8 (wide) - ƒ/2.4 (ultra-wide) | Galaxy A16 |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| OIS | No | No | Tie |
| Zoom | Digital zoom up to 10x | Digital zoom up to 10x | Tie |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Tie |
Macro Camera
Unfortunately, both models feature a pretty bad macro camera (2 MP), which is not ideal for teledermatology. The macro camera is primarily designed for close-up shots, but its low resolution and basic features limit its effectiveness for detailed skin lesion imaging.
| Feature | Galaxy A05S | Galaxy A16 |
|---|---|---|
| Megapixels | 2 MP | 2 MP |
| Aperture | ƒ/2.4 (wide) | ƒ/2.4 (wide) |
| Outcome | Poor | Poor |
The 2 MP macro camera in these devices is very basic and only suitable for close-up shots with limited detail.
Front Camera
The front camera is not essential for teledermatology, but it can be useful for patient communication and documentation. Both models have a 13MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture, which is sufficient for video calls and selfies.
| Feature | Galaxy A16 | Galaxy A05s | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 13.0 MP | 13.0 MP | Tie |
| Aperture | F2.0 | F2.0 | Tie |
| Autofocus | No | No | Tie |
| OIS | No | No | Tie |
| Flash | No | No | Tie |
Battery
Both models feature a 5,000 mAh battery, ensuring 8 to 10 hours of typical usage.
Usage Test with Legit.Health
To evaluate the real-world performance of the Samsung Galaxy A16 and A05S for teledermatology, a practical test was conducted using the Legit.Health medical device. This involved capturing images of both non-localized and pigmented lesions. Images were processed through the Legit.Health algorithms, which output the visual quality, malignancy suspicion, and top 5 diagnoses for each lesion.
The test was conducted under identical lighting and distance conditions, with the same dermatological lesions of the same patients.
Results
In all cases, the results of the diagnostic tests were almost identical, with no significant differences in the output. The average accuracy across all patients was very similar, with both devices performing well in terms of image quality and diagnostic capabilities.
Non-localized Lesion Results
When uploading images of non-localized lesions, the Legit.Health medical device evaluated the quality, the malignancy suspicion and the possible conditions.
The following table shows the results for a particular patient:
| Metric | Galaxy A16 | Galaxy A05S | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Quality | 77% | 82% | Galaxy A05S |
| Malignancy Suspicion | 1.70 | 1.92 | Galaxy A05S |
| Top-1 Diagnoses | Psoriasis | Psoriasis | Tie |
| Top-5 Diagnoses | - Psoriasis - Eczematous Dermatitis - Fox-Fordyce Disease - Lichenified Dermatitis - Acanthosis Nigricans | - Psoriasis - Eczematous Dermatitis - Fox-Fordyce Disease - Lichenified Dermatitis - Acanthosis Nigricans | Tie |
In this particular example, the Galaxy A05S had a slightly better visual quality, but the difference is not significant enough to be considered a decisive factor. Furthermore, the average accuracy across all patients was very similar.
Pigmented Lesion Results
For pigmented lesions, the Legit.Health medical device also evaluated the quality, malignancy suspicion, and possible conditions.
The following table shows the results for a particular patient:
| Metric | Galaxy A16 | Galaxy A05S | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Quality | 80% | 80% | Tie |
| Malignancy Suspicion | 2.01 | 1.41 | Galaxy A16 |
| Top-1 Diagnoses | Melanocytic Nevus (80.01%) | Melanocytic Nevus (77.77%) | Galaxy A16 |
| Top-5 Diagnoses | - Melanocytic Nevus (80.01%) - Cutaneous Melanoma (1.2%) - Atypical Melanocytic Nevus (1.15%) - Seborrheic Keratosis (0.54%) - Atypical Intraepidermal Melanocytic Proliferation | - Melanocytic Nevus (77.77%) - Atypical Melanocytic Nevus (2.97%) - Cutaneous Melanoma (0.58%) - Atypical Intraepidermal Melanocytic Proliferation (0.23%) - Seborrheic Keratosis (0.19%) | Similar |
In this particular example, the results were very similar, with the Galaxy A16 showing a slightly higher malignancy suspicion. However, the difference is not significant enough to be considered a decisive factor. This is also the case for the average accuracy across all patients.
Final Recommendation
For this project, the Samsung Galaxy A16 stands out over the Galaxy A05S, although the superiority may not be decisive. The aspects where the A16 excels are:
- Processor: Exynos 1330, particularly useful for multitasking.
- Display: Super AMOLED with better color reproduction.
- Operating System: Android 14 with a promise of 6 years of updates.
- IP54 Certification: Water and dust resistance.
However, the observed differences do not appear to be critical. Both devices could be suitable for use in a teledermatology setting.
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Against the Best
As of the date of this report, the best phone for teledermatology is the iPhone 16 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro is approximately 8 times more expensive. However, it is significantly better in terms of camera quality, as well as overall performance.
The main camera is crucial for teledermatology, and the iPhone 16 Pro offers superior specifications compared to the Samsung Galaxy A16 and A05S. The following table compares the main camera features of all three devices.
| Feature | Galaxy A16 | Galaxy A05s | iPhone 16 Pro | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | - 50.0 MP - 5.0 MP - 2.0 MP | - 50.0 MP - 2.0 MP - 2.0 MP | - 48 MP - 48 MP - 12 MP | iPhone 16 Pro |
| Aperture | - ƒ/1.8 (wide) - ƒ/2.2 (ultra-wide) - ƒ/2.4 (ultra-wide) | - ƒ/1.8 (wide) - ƒ/2.2 (ultra-wide) | - ƒ/1.78 (wide) - ƒ/2.2 (ultra-wide) - ƒ/2.8 (telephoto) | iPhone 16 Pro |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Yes | iPhone 16 Pro |
| OIS | No | No | Yes | iPhone 16 Pro |
| Zoom | Digital: up to 10x | Digital: up to 10x | - Optical: 0.5x-5x - Digital: up to 25x | iPhone 16 Pro |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Tie |
Especially noteworthy are the macro capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro, which allows for close-up shots with a minimum distance of 2 cm, making it ideal for detailed skin lesion imaging.