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The rock-bottom price means you’ll only find the basics here. Find out what’s left behind in our Samsung Galaxy A02s review.
Samsung Galaxy A02s Review: Incredible Price, Limited Ambition
Every smartphone maker needs a starting point for their product range, and the Galaxy A02s holds that honour for Samsung. Money? Is the humble datasheet ready for daily chores? We are here to break it down and find the value in our Samsung Galaxy A02s review.
What you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy A02s
The Galaxy A02s started as an entry-level model in the Galaxy A series in early 2021. Samsung offers its affordable device in a whopping six configurations, starting with just 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. However, only two versions are available in the US (both listed above). No matter which version you choose, you can choose the Galaxy A02 in red, black, blue or white.
The Samsung Galaxy A02s comes with Android 10 and One UI 2.5 on board but has since received the Android 11 update, which brought One UI 3.1 and the security patch from August 1, 2021, into the picture during the duration of our tests. On most Samsung Galaxy A devices, we expect the phone to receive software version updates for two years and security patches for four years before being retired. That means you could get the One UI 4 before support ends, even though Samsung hasn’t specified exactly how long it will be supported. Qualcomm’s
Snapdragon 450 SoC keeps the lights on and serves as the centrepiece of Samsung’s economic operation. You can pair it with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, or add a microSD card for extra breathing space. Samsung brought the same 5,000 mAh battery and 6.5-inch HD + display from its Galaxy A12, so the Galaxy A02 should look good and last for hours. The infinity notch has also been retained, although the selfie lens only offers 5MP instead of 8MP.
There is not much to consider in the package: Samsung includes a charging pad and a USBC cable as well as a SIM ejector tool. Otherwise, you will only find documentation, although the Quick Start Guide contains information for both the Galaxy A02 and the Galaxy. A12.
The Samsung Galaxy A02s doesn’t have too much competition in the sub-$ 150 price range, but the market fills up the closer you get to $ 200. The Nokia G10 is one of the few real competitors at $ 149, with an equally massive battery and triple camera system. Considered the king of budget devices by many, Motorola brings a rear-mounted fingerprint reader to the mix for $ 169. If you want a more powerful yet affordable Samsung device, the Galaxy A12 has a long list of features. $ 179 Table Upgrades
What’s Good?
One of Samsung’s best design decisions for the Galaxy A02s was not to have a glossy surface. Gloss seems like a popular choice on budget devices, but I prefer the lightly textured matte that Samsung chose. It’s not completely immune to fingerprints or stains. but it doesn’t climb the wall to keep the phone clean. The patterned back wall gives the black basic finish an additional touch of style.
Samsung’s large 6.5-inch HD + display is solid, especially for the $ 129 price tag. It’s big enough to stream your favourite shows and you probably won’t notice the lower resolution. You can use the handy headphone jack at the bottom or increase the volume with a single downward-facing speaker. I notice a lot of distortion with the speaker which was a pleasant surprise.
The triple rear camera might not be Samsung’s best, but the 13 MP main shooter can provide good lighting. It also works in conjunction with the macro and depth sensors to provide wide / ultra-wide support without having to have a special lens. surprised by Samsung’s live focus mode given the limited hardware, especially the selfie camera. It picked up the hairlines right for the most part, although Live Focus was less successful on the cow shown below.
One UI 3.1 helps to keep the Galaxy A02 running smoothly and up-to-date despite hardware restrictions. It’s good to see an affordable phone actually getting the updates Samsung promised, and there are some features that I’ve come to appreciate. One of them is Samsung Free, which combines Samsung TV Plus, Samsung Podcasts, Taboola News and Instant Plays in a single app.
You also get great battery life with the Galaxy A02s – I was able to carry the 5,000 mAh cell through two days of moderate use. It may not hold up well for heavy games, but you can reply to emails and browse social media. for hours without problems.
