Samsung, the tech giant that needs no introduction, has been
shaking up the smartphone market yet again with its latest addition to the
Galaxy A-series lineup. The Galaxy A05s, released in India on October 18, 2023,
has sent shockwaves through the budget smartphone segment. In a fiercely
competitive market that features notable rivals like the Redmi Note 10S, Realme
8, and Moto G60, Samsung's new entrant is making a name for itself. So, what's
all the buzz about, and is the Samsung Galaxy A05s worth your hard-earned money?
Let's dive into this comprehensive Samsung Galaxy A05s Review and find out.
Samsung Galaxy A05s Full Specification
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| CategoryDesign & Build | Specifications- Material: Plastic - Colors: Light Green, Light Violet, Black - Dimensions: 164.2 x 76.4 x 9.1 mm - Weight: 203 grams |
| CategoryDisplay | Specifications- Type: FHD+ LCD - Size: 6.7 inches - Resolution: 2400 x 1080 pixels - Pixel Density: 393 ppi - Screen-to-Body Ratio: 86% - Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| CategoryPerformance | Specifications- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 - CPU: Octa-core (4x 2 GHz Kryo 460 Gold, 4x 1.8 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) - GPU: Adreno 610 - RAM: 6GB LPDDR4X - Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2 (expandable up to 1TB with microSD card) |
| CategoryCamera | SpecificationsRear Cameras: - 50MP (f/1.8, primary camera) - 2MP (f/2.4, macro camera) - 2MP (f/2.4, depth camera) Front Camera: - 13MP (f/2.0) selfie camera |
| CategoryVideo Recording | Specifications- Rear Camera: 4K at 30 fps - Front Camera: 1080p at 30 fps |
| CategoryBattery | Specifications- Capacity: 5000mAh - Charging: 25W fast charging (15W charger included) |
| CategorySoftware | Specifications- Operating System: One UI 5.1 Core based on Android 13 - Notable Features: Edge panel, game launcher, secure folder, Samsung Pay Mini, Samsung Health, Samsung Knox - Pre-installed Apps: Samsung, Google, Netflix, Spotify, Facebook, etc. (some removable) |
| CategoryUpdates | Specifications- Promised Two Major Android Updates (Android 14, Android
15) - Four Years of Security Updates |
Unveiling the Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy A05s arrives with a plastic body boasting a glossy finish that, while visually appealing, tends to be a magnet for fingerprints and smudges. The phone is available in three stylish colors: Light Green, Light Violet, and Black. Flip it over, and you'll find a rectangular camera module housing three sensors and an LED flash, along with the iconic Samsung logo gracing the lower back panel.
As for the buttons and ports, the right side features a
side-mounted fingerprint scanner doubling as a power button, accompanied by the
volume rocker. On the left side, you'll find the SIM tray, keeping things neat
and tidy. The bottom edge offers a USB Type-C port, a speaker grille, and a
3.5mm headphone jack. And on the top edge, a secondary microphone rounds out
the package.
The Galaxy A05s doesn't shy away from its physical presence,
measuring 164.2 x 76.4 x 9.1 mm and weighing 203 grams. It might feel a tad hefty,
but it's precisely this weight that lends the phone a solid, reassuring grip.
On the front, there's a waterdrop notch, home to the selfie camera.
A Visual Feast: The Display
The Galaxy A05s features a 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD display with a
crisp resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a pixel density of 393 ppi. While
the display doesn't quite match the vibrancy of an AMOLED or the buttery
smoothness of a high refresh rate panel, it holds its own. It offers decent
brightness, contrast, and color reproduction, ensuring that your visuals are
delivered with clarity.
The adaptive brightness, dark mode, blue light filter, and
screen zoom options provide a tailored visual experience. Notably, there's an
always-on display feature that keeps you in the loop even when your screen is
off, though this feature does come at the cost of slightly increased battery
consumption.
Furthermore, the display is armored with Corning Gorilla
Glass 3 for added protection against minor scratches and cracks, though adding
a screen protector remains a prudent choice.
Power and Performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy A05s is fueled by the Qualcomm
Snapdragon 680 processor, an octa-core powerhouse. With four Kryo 460 Gold
cores running at 2 GHz and four Kryo 460 Silver cores ticking away at 1.8 GHz,
this phone is ready to tackle your daily tasks with ease. The Adreno 610 GPU
takes care of graphics, ensuring smooth visuals and snappy performance.
Packing 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, the Galaxy A05s isn't skimping
on memory. And if you need even more, it's got an additional 6GB of virtual RAM
that cleverly utilizes some of your internal storage for added memory. With
128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, there's plenty of space to store your apps, games,
and media. Plus, the microSD card slot can expand your storage up to a whopping
1TB.
What this translates to is a phone that seamlessly handles
multitasking, app switching, and even medium to high settings in gaming. While
most games run like a breeze, the occasional heavyweight game might show some
minor frame drops or heating issues. The phone performed admirably, scoring
2023 points in the Geekbench 5 single-core test, 6021 points in the multi-core
test, and 312 points in the AnTuTu v9 benchmark test.
Convenience-wise, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner
delivers quick and precise unlocking, while the face unlock feature, though
convenient, lags behind in terms of security when compared to the fingerprint
scanner. To top it off, the Dolby Atmos audio support elevates your sound
experience, though you might want to invest in headphones for the best audio
quality, as they aren't included in the box.
Capturing Moments: The Camera Setup
The Galaxy A05s features a triple camera setup on the back,
led by a 50MP primary camera sporting an f/1.8 aperture. In well-lit
conditions, the primary camera shines, capturing detailed, sharp photos with
accurate colors and dynamic range. Unfortunately, when the lights go down, the
camera grapples with producing clear, noise-free images, even with the night
mode activated.
The 2MP macro camera, while handy for close-up shots of
small objects, doesn't quite deliver the wow factor. Meanwhile, the 2MP depth
camera can work its magic for portrait shots, but expect some hit-or-miss
results with edge detection and background blurring.
The camera app boasts various modes and features, including
panorama, pro mode, live focus, food mode, slow motion, hyperlapse, and more.
Additionally, the scene optimizer automatically fine-tunes settings according
to your surroundings.
For videography enthusiasts, the phone supports video
recording up to 4K resolution at 30 fps with the rear camera and up to 1080p
resolution at 30 fps with the front camera. The quality is commendable, though
it may lack some stability and smoothness.
On the front, you'll find a 13MP selfie camera with an f/2.0
aperture that excels in daylight conditions, delivering natural skin tones and
detailed selfies. However, in low-light or artificial lighting, the selfie
quality may dip in sharpness and clarity.
Keeping the Juices Flowing: Battery and Charging
The Galaxy A05s houses a generous 5000mAh battery, ensuring
it can go the distance with a full day of moderate usage. Browsing, messaging,
social media, streaming, gaming – you name it, and the battery is up to the
task. Plus, features like adaptive battery, adaptive power saving, and app
power management can extend the battery life even further.
With 25W fast charging support, you can juice up your device
from 0% to 50% in approximately 30 minutes and from 0% to 100% in about 90
minutes. However, it's worth noting that the phone comes with a 15W charger in
the box, which prolongs the charging process. For the full fast charging
experience, you'll need to purchase a separate 25W charger.
A Taste of One UI: Software
The Galaxy A05s runs on One UI 5.1 Core, based on Android
13, right out of the box. Samsung's custom skin, One UI, is all about delivering
a user-friendly, intuitive interface with a host of customization options and
features. With handy extras like the edge panel, game launcher, secure folder,
Samsung Pay Mini, Samsung Health, and Samsung Knox, this phone makes your life
easier and more enjoyable.
Expect some pre-installed apps from Samsung and Google, as
well as a smattering of third-party apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Facebook.
Fortunately, most of these apps can be uninstalled or disabled if they're not
to your liking.
When it comes to updates, the Galaxy A05s promises two major
Android updates (Android 14 and Android 15) and four years of security updates
from Samsung, ensuring your device stays secure and up-to-date.
The Final Verdict
In the realm of budget smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A05s
is a worthy contender. With a spacious display, a robust processor, ample RAM
and storage, a sizable battery, and fast charging support, it ticks many boxes.
The camera performance and software experience are commendable, making it a
reliable choice for everyday use.
Nonetheless, it does have its quirks, including a plastic
body, a display without the bells and whistles of a high refresh rate, an
average speaker quality, and a slower charger in the box. So, here's the bottom
line: if you're on the hunt for a Samsung phone under Rs 15,000 that can handle
your daily needs and casual gaming without breaking a sweat, the Galaxy A05s is
a strong contender. However, if you're yearning for a display that truly wows,
a higher refresh rate, or superior camera performance, you might want to
explore other options in this price segment.
For the
latest updates, reviews, and tech insights, stay tuned with us. We're your
trusted source for all things tech!
FAQs:
Q1:
What are the key features of the Samsung Galaxy A05s?
- 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor
- 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (expandable up to 1TB)
- 50MP primary rear camera
- 13MP front-facing camera
- 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging support
- One UI 5.1 Core based on Android 13
Q2: How
does the Samsung Galaxy A05s perform?
The Samsung Galaxy A05s delivers good performance for its
price point. The Snapdragon 680 processor is capable of handling most daily
tasks and casual gaming with ease. The 6GB of RAM provides ample multitasking
headroom, and the 128GB of storage should be enough for most users.
Q3: How
is the display on the Samsung Galaxy A05s?
The 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD display on the Samsung Galaxy A05s is
decent for a budget phone. It offers good brightness, contrast, and color
reproduction. However, it doesn't quite match the vibrancy of an AMOLED display
or the buttery smoothness of a high refresh rate panel.
Q4: How
good is the camera on the Samsung Galaxy A05s?
The Samsung Galaxy A05s features a triple camera setup on
the back, led by a 50MP primary camera. In well-lit conditions, the primary
camera captures detailed, sharp photos with accurate colors and dynamic range.
However, when the lights go down, the camera struggles to produce clear,
noise-free images. The 2MP macro camera and 2MP depth camera are useful for
niche scenarios, but they don't deliver the same level of quality as the primary
camera.
Q5: How
long does the battery on the Samsung Galaxy A05s last?
The 5000mAh battery on the Samsung Galaxy A05s can easily
last a full day of moderate usage. With features like adaptive battery,
adaptive power saving, and app power management enabled, you can squeeze even
more battery life out of this phone.
Q6:
Does the Samsung Galaxy A05s support fast charging?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A05s supports 25W fast charging.
However, it comes with a 15W charger in the box. For the full fast charging experience,
you'll need to purchase a separate 25W charger.
Q7:
What operating system does the Samsung Galaxy A05s run?
The Samsung Galaxy A05s runs on One UI 5.1 Core, based on
Android 13, right out of the box. One UI is Samsung's custom skin for Android,
and it offers a wide range of customization options and features.
Q8: How
many years of software updates will the Samsung Galaxy A05s receive?
The Samsung Galaxy A05s will receive two major Android
updates (Android 14 and Android 15) and four years of security updates from
Samsung.
Q9:
What are the pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy A05s?
Pros:
- Large display
- Powerful processor
- Ample RAM and storage
- Long battery life
- Fast charging support
- Software updates for two years
Cons:
- Plastic body
- Average display
- Average speaker quality
- Slower charger in the box
Q10: Is
the Samsung Galaxy A05s worth buying?
