Samsung Galaxy A02 review
The Samsung Samsung Galaxy A02 ranks as the #846 smartphone globally, achieving a LibraScore of 24. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #774-ranked camera among 865 phones. Consider the Motorola Moto e7i Power or Samsung Galaxy A04e, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Build Quality and Design
While the Samsung Galaxy A02 may seem like a budget-friendly option at first glance, its build quality and design are far from impressive. The phone's plastic construction feels cheap and fragile, lacking the premium touch that is expected from Samsung. The device's weight is also noticeable, making it feel bulky in the hand. The design itself is unremarkable, with a straightforward layout that fails to impress. The phone's curves and edges are not particularly well-defined, giving it a bland appearance. The display, although not terrible, is nothing special either. It's a 6.5-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 720x1600 pixels. While it's decent for everyday use, it doesn't offer the same level of visual fidelity as more expensive devices. The screen also suffers from some noticeable lag and responsiveness issues. In terms of build quality, the phone's plastic body creaks and flexes under pressure, which is not reassuring considering its already fragile feel. The device's durability is a major concern, especially given the risk of it breaking or cracking if dropped. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A02's build quality and design are major letdowns in an otherwise disappointing phone experience. While it may be affordable, its lackluster construction and unremarkable design make it hard to recommend over more expensive options with better craftsmanship and aesthetics. For an improved design, Samsung A03 Core is worth considering.
Battery Life
In my recent hands-on experience with the Samsung Galaxy A02, I was left underwhelmed by its battery life performance. Despite being powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor and 3GB of RAM, this budget phone struggled to deliver an all-day battery life. My testing revealed that the A02's battery life was subpar, barely lasting more than 12 hours with moderate use. This includes browsing the web, checking social media, and making occasional calls. I found myself needing to recharge the device around lunchtime, which is not ideal for a smartphone in this price range. Furthermore, the phone's power-saving features were not effective in extending battery life. Even when enabled, the A02 continued to drain its battery at an alarming rate. This made it difficult to use the phone throughout the day without needing to recharge. Given its relatively low-end specifications, I expected the Samsung Galaxy A02 to deliver a more impressive battery life performance. Unfortunately, this was not the case. For a budget-conscious buyer, I would recommend exploring other options that offer better value for money. The disappointing battery life experience of the A02 makes it a less desirable choice in this segment. In conclusion, while the Samsung Galaxy A02 has its strengths, its battery life performance is a major letdown. If you're in the market for a budget phone with good battery life, I would suggest looking elsewhere. You might want to check out Samsung A03 Core, featuring an upgraded battery for a superior experience.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A02 is a budget-friendly smartphone that fails to deliver on its promise of providing an excellent display experience. The phone's LCD screen is dim and lacks vibrancy, making it difficult to enjoy movies or browse through websites during the day. The display is also quite small at 5.7 inches, which can be a turn-off for those who prefer larger screens. Additionally, the pixel density is low, resulting in a somewhat grainy visual experience. While watching videos on YouTube or Netflix, I noticed that the screen struggles to reproduce colors accurately, leading to an uneven brightness and contrast ratio. This makes it difficult to immerse oneself in the viewing experience. Furthermore, the display is not ideal for outdoor use as it tends to get washed out under direct sunlight. I had to adjust the screen's brightness to its maximum level just to make out what was on the screen while outside. The Galaxy A02's display is a major letdown considering its price point. For a phone that costs around $150, one would expect a much better visual experience. The small size and low pixel density only add to the frustration. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone with a good display, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. The Samsung Galaxy A02's LCD screen is just not up to par, making it difficult to enjoy everyday tasks like browsing the web or watching videos. Take a look at Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 - its improved display sets a new standard.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A02 is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises to deliver quality performance at an affordable price. However, my experience with this device has been underwhelming, particularly when it comes to the camera. In today's age of smartphones, cameras have become an essential feature for many users. Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy A02 falls short in this department. The primary camera is a 13MP sensor that lacks detail and finesse. Images taken with this camera appear soft and lacking in clarity, especially when compared to other budget-friendly devices on the market. In low-light conditions, the camera struggles to produce usable images. Noise and grain become apparent, making it difficult to capture clear shots even under ideal circumstances. This is a significant disappointment given the advancements made in smartphone cameras over the past few years. One of the most frustrating aspects of using the Samsung Galaxy A02's camera is its inability to deliver consistent results. Sometimes, images appear acceptable, but more often than not, they fall short of expectations. This inconsistency makes it difficult to rely on this camera for capturing important moments or memories. In comparison to other budget-friendly devices available in the market, the Samsung Galaxy A02's camera feels like a step backward. Phones with similar price tags offer significantly better camera performance, making it challenging to justify purchasing the A02 solely based on its camera capabilities. The camera app itself is also somewhat clunky and lacking in features, which further detracts from the overall experience. The lack of advanced features such as optical zoom, portrait mode, or even a decent selfie camera makes this device feel outdated and underwhelming. In conclusion, while the Samsung Galaxy A02 may offer some redeeming qualities in terms of performance and price, its camera is a major letdown. For users who prioritize photography capabilities, there are better options available at similar price points. If you're after top-notch camera, consider realme C55.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy A02 is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises a lot for its price tag. However, our experience with the device has been a letdown. With a price point of around $150, we expected a decent performance and some basic features. Unfortunately, the phone failed to deliver. For the money, you'd expect a certain level of performance and value from a Samsung smartphone, especially in the lower-end segment. However, the A02 falls short in this regard. The device's quad-core MediaTek processor, paired with 3GB of RAM, feels sluggish and outdated compared to other phones in its class. In terms of value, the A02 is a hard sell. For the same price, you can get better-performing smartphones from Samsung itself, such as the A10e or A01. Both of these devices offer superior performance, cameras, and features at a similar price point. In fact, even for free, we wouldn't recommend the Galaxy A02 over other options like the A02s or A12. These phones offer significantly better value, with improved performance, camera capabilities, and features that are essential in today's smartphone market. Given its subpar performance and mediocre features, the Samsung Galaxy A02 feels like a misstep from the Korean tech giant. It's a phone that fails to deliver on its promise of providing good value for money. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone, there are better options available that offer more bang for your buck. In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy A02 is a disappointing experience that fails to live up to expectations. With better options available at similar price points, we can't recommend this phone to anyone looking for a reliable and feature-packed device.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A02 is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises a lot but delivers very little when it comes to performance. The phone's four-year-old quad-core Mediatek processor and 3GB of RAM are woefully inadequate for the demands of modern Android smartphones. In our testing, the Galaxy A02 struggled to load apps quickly, with some taking up to several seconds to launch. Web browsing was similarly underwhelming, with pages loading slowly and frequently freezing or crashing. Google Maps, in particular, was a nightmare to use, with searches taking an eternity to complete and navigation rendering choppy and unresponsive. What's even more astonishing is that the phone's performance issues extend to seemingly unrelated areas like gaming. While it may surprise you to learn that some games ran smoothly on this device, others were plagued by lag and stuttering. However, this anomaly aside, the Galaxy A02's overall performance was a letdown. Our Geekbench scores further underscore the phone's limitations, placing it at the very bottom of the list compared to more recent smartphones. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly device, there are far better options out there that offer superior performance and features. In short, the Samsung Galaxy A02's lackluster performance is its biggest flaw. It's hard to recommend this phone when there are so many other devices on the market that can deliver a much smoother experience. Even with software updates, it's unclear whether this phone will ever reach acceptable performance levels. Give Samsung A03 Core a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled performance.