Samsung Galaxy A03s review
The Samsung Galaxy A03s is an entry-level smartphone that offers decent features at an affordable price. The phone's design is straightforward with a matte plastic unibody and a grippy texture on the back. However, it lacks ingress protection and has a mediocre 6.5-inch LCD display with a 720p resolution. The battery life is one of the strengths of the A03s, boasting a massive 5000mAh power pack that scored an impressive 122-hour endurance rating in our tests. The phone also features a traditional headphone jack and a single bottom-firing speaker, although audio quality is lacking in terms of bass and mid-tones. Camera performance is another aspect where the A03s fares reasonably well. The main camera takes good photos in good lighting conditions with accurate colors and contrast, while close-up shots from the macro camera are also commendable. However, low-light photos suffer from dark images with blown highlights. The phone runs on Android 11 with Samsung's One UI 3.1 core, which provides essential features but lacks some of the bells and whistles found in more expensive Samsung phones. The MediaTek Helio P35 chipset is sluggish and hampers performance, making it difficult to play games or perform daily tasks smoothly. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A03s offers a decent smartphone experience at an affordable price, with good battery life and an okay camera experience. However, its sluggish chipset makes it less desirable compared to other entry-level smartphones that offer better performance for similar prices.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy A03s boasts a sturdy build quality that feels solid in the hand. The matte plastic unibody exudes a sense of durability, while the grippy texture on the back adds a tactile experience to the phone's overall design. Although it isn't particularly light due to the large 5,000mAh battery pack, the weight is evenly distributed, making it comfortable to hold. One of the standout features of the A03s' design is its use of materials. The matte finish on the back is a welcome change from the glossy finishes found on many other budget phones. It's a subtle touch that adds to the phone's overall aesthetic, making it feel more premium than its price would suggest. The phone's dimensions are also worth mentioning. Measuring 6.5 inches in height and 7mm in thickness, the A03s is a fairly compact device that fits easily into most pockets or bags. The large screen does protrude slightly from the body of the phone, but this is a minor quibble. In terms of design, the A03s takes a traditional approach with its use of physical buttons and ports. The volume rocker and power button are placed on the right-hand side, while the SIM card tray and USB-C port can be found on the top edge. It's a simple yet effective layout that should appeal to those who prefer a more straightforward phone experience. While the A03s may not win any awards for its design, it's clear that Samsung has focused on delivering a solid, no-frills device that will last the user well. With its sturdy build quality and grippy texture, this phone is certainly worth considering if you're in the market for a reliable budget smartphone.
Battery Life
In today's fast-paced world, having a phone with impressive battery life is essential. The Samsung Galaxy A03s certainly delivers in this department, boasting a massive 5,000mAh power pack. Our tests revealed that the Galaxy A03s can last an astonishing 122 hours on a single charge, making it one of the longest-lasting phones in its class. This is a testament to Samsung's focus on providing devices with excellent battery life, even at the entry-level end of their spectrum. The phone's large power pack and efficient hardware work together seamlessly to provide extended usage times. Whether you're browsing the web, watching videos, or gaming, the Galaxy A03s will keep going for hours on end without needing a recharge. Charging speeds are another story, however. With the bundled 7.5W charger, it takes an eternity to get from 0-15% - a mere half hour. Unfortunately, even with faster chargers, you won't see any significant improvements in charging times. While this may be a drawback for some users, the Galaxy A03s's exceptional battery life more than makes up for it. Overall, if you're looking for an entry-level phone with impressive endurance, the Samsung Galaxy A03s is definitely worth considering.
Display
The display on the Samsung Galaxy A03s is a 6.5-inch LCD with a 720p resolution. While it's not the most impressive screen in its class, it gets the job done for an entry-level smartphone. The pixel density comes in at 270 PPI, which is relatively low compared to other smartphones. One of the first things you'll notice about the display is the lack of vibrancy and accuracy in colors. They're somewhat dull and don't quite pop as they should. Additionally, there's no option to tweak the color settings or adjust the brightness levels beyond the standard max output of around 490 nits. The screen does have good contrast, especially for an LCD, which is a plus. However, it's not something that will blow you away in terms of overall display quality. The resolution is passable, but not particularly sharp. The aspect ratio is typical, with a droplet-shaped notch at the top to accommodate the selfie camera. While the display is decent enough for an entry-level smartphone like the A03s, it's hardly something to write home about. It gets the job done, but if you're looking for a more premium viewing experience, this might not be the phone for you. 6/10 Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A03s display is adequate for an entry-level smartphone, but not particularly impressive in its class. If you can look past some minor flaws, it should suffice for general use.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A03s is an entry-level smartphone that offers a decent camera experience, considering its price point. The device features a 13-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a depth sensor on the back. In good lighting conditions, photos from the main camera are likable, with accurate colors, good contrast, and wide dynamic range. However, the level of detail is not impressive, even considering the price point. Fine details tend to get smeared, which can be frustrating for those who want more detail in their photographs. The depth sensor is designed to help with portrait shots, and these come out decent, with good subject separation and nice colors and contrast. Close-up shots from the macro camera are also pretty good, considering its 2-megapixel resolution. Noise levels are tolerable, but not entirely absent. Low light photos from the main camera are disappointing, with blown highlights and a lack of detail. There is no night mode available, which can make it difficult to capture well-lit images in dimly lit environments. However, turning on auto HDR does help improve the dynamic range, even if it introduces more noise into the image. Selfies taken with the 5-megapixel front-facing camera are decent, with good colors and contrast, but a very poor level of detail. Videos can be recorded with the main camera up to 1080p resolution at 30fps, but these clips have washed out colors and a mediocre amount of detail. Unfortunately, there is no stabilization available for videos. Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy A03s' camera experience is not bad, it's not exceptional either. The device's sluggish performance only exacerbates the issue, making it feel like you're struggling to get the shots you want. For the same money, other phones may offer better camera experiences, so it's worth shopping around if camera quality is a priority for you.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy A03s is an entry-level smartphone that offers decent features at an affordable price point. Priced in the lower end of the spectrum, this phone still manages to provide a satisfactory smartphone experience. At around $200-$250, the A03s is an excellent value for its price. It comes with a big battery, three cameras on the back, and a traditional headphone jack. The camera setup may not be spectacular, but it's enough at this budget. Photos from the main camera are likable in good lighting conditions, while close-up shots from the macro cam are pretty good. The phone also features a modern UI with Android 11 and Samsung software. While the performance is sluggish due to the Mediatek Helio P35 chipset, it still manages to handle basic tasks and social media usage. One area where the A03s shines is battery life. The large 5,000mAh power pack delivers up to 122 hours of endurance rating in our tests. However, charging speed is slow with the bundled charger. Considering its price point, the Galaxy A03s offers a great balance of features and value. While it may not be the most powerful or feature-rich smartphone out there, it's an excellent choice for those on a tight budget who still want a decent smartphone experience.
Performance
While the Samsung Galaxy A03s is an entry-level smartphone, one aspect that's particularly disappointing is its performance. The phone is equipped with a Mediatek Helio P35 chipset built on a 12 nanometer process. In benchmarks, the A03s sits at the bottom of both CPU and GPU charts, even in the budget category. This sluggish performance translates to a less-than-ideal user experience. Scrolling around or performing daily tasks can be a chore, and playing games is particularly challenging. The phone's inability to deliver smooth performance makes it feel outdated, even considering its entry-level status. In terms of real-world usage, the A03s struggles with multitasking, loading apps, and even simple tasks like switching between open apps. This is disappointing, given that the phone's hardware should be capable of handling basic tasks. One major letdown is the phone's inability to take full advantage of its features, such as its modern UI and decent camera capabilities. The UI experience itself isn't fluid or fast, making it difficult to navigate the phone's interface. The only saving grace in terms of performance is the phone's battery life. With a 5,000mAh power pack, the A03s managed a respectable 122-hour endurance rating in our tests. However, this alone cannot make up for the phone's underwhelming performance. Ultimately, if you're considering purchasing the Samsung Galaxy A03s, be aware that its performance may not meet your expectations. While it's an entry-level smartphone, there are other options available in the same price range that offer better performance and overall user experience.