Samsung Galaxy A02s assessment: Rock-bottom value, restricted ambitions

Each smartphone maker wants a place to begin for his or her lineup, and the Galaxy A02s has that honor for Samsung. It’s a real budget smartphone at simply $129, however how a lot do you get on your cash? Is the modest spec sheet up for on a regular basis duties? We’re right here to interrupt it down and discover the worth in our Samsung Galaxy A02s assessment.

• Samsung Galaxy A02s (3GB / 32GB): $129.99 / £139.99 / €149.99
• Samsung Galaxy A02s (4GB / 64GB): $159.99

The Galaxy A02s launched in early 2021 because the entry-level mannequin of the Galaxy A sequence. Samsung gives its reasonably priced machine in a whopping six configurations, beginning with as little as 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Nonetheless, solely two variations are available in the USA (each listed above). No matter which model you select, you possibly can choose up the Galaxy A02s in crimson, black, blue, or white.

The Samsung Galaxy A02s ships with Android 10 and One UI 2.5 onboard, but it surely has since acquired the Android 11 replace. This introduced One UI 3.1 and the August 1, 2021 safety patch into the image all through our testing. Like most of Samsung’s Galaxy A units, we count on the telephone to select up two years of software program model updates and 4 years of safety patches earlier than it’s retired. Which means it’d get One UI 4 earlier than help ends, although Samsung hasn’t specified precisely how lengthy it will likely be supported for.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 SoC retains the lights on, and it serves as the center of Samsung’s budget-friendly operation. You’ll be able to pair it with as much as 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, or add a microSD card for some further respiratory room. Samsung introduced over the identical 5,000mAh battery and 6.5-inch HD+ show from its Galaxy A12, so the Galaxy A02s ought to look good and final for hours on finish. It stored the Infinity-V notch, too, although the selfie lens solely gives 5MP moderately than 8MP.

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There’s not a lot to put in writing residence about within the packaging — Samsung features a charging block and USB-C cable in addition to a SIM ejector software. You’ll solely discover paperwork in any other case, although the startup information contains info for each the Galaxy A02s and Galaxy A12.

The Samsung Galaxy A02s doesn’t face an excessive amount of competitors within the sub-$150 value vary, however the market will get extra crowded as you method $200. Nokia’s G10 is likely one of the few true rivals at $149, with a equally huge battery and a triple digicam system. Many would take into account Motorola to be the king of funds units, and it brings a rear-mounted fingerprint reader into the combo at $169. If you would like a extra succesful but nonetheless reasonably priced Samsung machine, the Galaxy A12 brings a laundry listing of enhancements to the desk at $179.

One in every of Samsung’s greatest design selections for the Galaxy A02s was to skip a shiny end. Shine appears to be a well-liked choose amongst budget-friendly units, however I a lot favor the evenly textured matte that Samsung selected. It’s not fully proof against fingerprints or smudges, however you gained’t drive your self up the wall attempting to maintain the telephone clear. The patterned again panel provides an additional contact of favor to the essential black end, too.

Samsung’s giant, 6.5-inch HD+ show is stable, particularly for the $129 value. It’s a lot giant sufficient to stream your favourite exhibits and also you in all probability gained’t actually discover the decrease decision. You’ll be able to reap the benefits of the useful headphone jack mounted alongside the underside edge or crank up the amount with the only down-firing speaker. I didn’t discover a lot distortion in any respect with the speaker, which was a welcome shock.

The rear triple digicam is probably not considered one of Samsung’s greatest, however the main 13MP shooter can ship in good lighting. It additionally works alongside the macro and depth sensors to supply some huge/ultra-wide help with out having a devoted lens. I used to be pleasantly stunned by Samsung’s Stay Focus mode given the restricted {hardware}, particularly on the selfie digicam. It picked up the sides of my hair appropriately for essentially the most half, although Stay Focus had much less success with the cow seen beneath.

See additionally: The best budget camera phones you can buy

One UI 3.1 helps to maintain the Galaxy A02s feeling easy and updated, regardless of the {hardware} limitations. It’s good to see an reasonably priced telephone really obtain Samsung’s promised updates, and there are a couple of options that I’ve come to understand. One is Samsung Free, which hyperlinks Samsung TV Plus, Samsung Podcasts, Taboola Information, and On the spot Performs right into a single app.

You’ll additionally get wonderful battery life with the Galaxy A02s — I used to be in a position to push the 5,000mAh cell by way of two days of reasonable use. It might not maintain up effectively for heavy gaming, however you possibly can reply emails and peruse social media for hours on finish with out problem.

What’s not so good?

Samsung didn’t go away itself a lot wiggle room for a stable processor within the Galaxy A02s, and it exhibits. The Snapdragon 450 lagged continuously, even on duties so simple as navigating the Settings. It bought worse as I bounced between apps, particularly if I used to be attempting to stream from Spotify on the similar time. The restricted 3GB of RAM within the model I examined in all probability didn’t assist issues alongside very a lot, and it’s sufficient that it is best to take into account the model with 4GB of RAM as an alternative. Nonetheless, at that time, you’re within the territory of the Galaxy A12, which is a significantly better telephone general.

Regardless of respectable efficiency from the principle lens in good lighting, the remainder of Samsung’s cameras go away one thing to be desired. The macro digicam wants an unimaginable quantity of sunshine to have any probability in any respect, and even then the 2MP decision means you possibly can’t blow the photographs up. You don’t get entry to a real night time mode on the Galaxy A02s, which vastly limits what you are able to do to brighten up photographs.

I can’t take away from Samsung’s hefty 5,000mAh battery, however I can say that the 15W charger doesn’t pack sufficient punch. Whenever you do run the telephone right down to 0%, it’s a must to be able to get cozy by an outlet. It took me half-hour to go from a lifeless battery to twenty%, and greater than two hours for a full cost.

We’re additionally in an age the place biometrics are a normal function on most smartphones. Whether or not it’s a sub-$100 machine just like the LG Premier Professional Plus or a $1,000 beast just like the OnePlus 9 Professional, you’ll in all probability discover some kind of fingerprint reader on board. Not on the Galaxy A02s. There’s no fingerprint reader of any form, solely a software-based facial recognition function that’s not essentially the most safe, to not point out gradual.

Samsung Galaxy A02s digicam samples

The Galaxy A02s is an effective smartphone if you happen to solely want the fundamentals and also you’re working with a good funds. It’s hands-down essentially the most reasonably priced approach to get your fingers on Samsung’s One UI 3.1, however the processor can’t at all times sustain and the cameras gained’t be your go-to for a lot of household pictures. That stated, if you would like an affordable approach to watch your favourite exhibits and use your wired headphones, the Galaxy A02s is glad to oblige.

Should you’re keen to increase your funds a bit, there are many Galaxy A02s rivals to contemplate for underneath $200. Samsung’s personal Galaxy A12 ($179) may be probably the greatest, with a considerably higher digicam and a side-mounted fingerprint reader for not rather more cash. There’s additionally the Motorola Moto G Play ($169) that ditches the third digicam however gives near-stock Android and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Lastly, the Nokia G10 ($149) gives splash safety, a barely greater battery, and a greater base configuration.