Samsung Galaxy A06 review
The Samsung Galaxy A06 is the most affordable device in the A series lineup, offering a basic but reliable smartphone experience. The phone's design is straightforward with rounded corners and a plastic back and frame. Despite being made from plastic, the device feels solid and not cheap or flimsy. The display is a 6.7-inch LCD with 720p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. While it gets bright enough for indoor use, it's not ideal for outdoor use on sunny days. The pixel density of 262 PPI is lower than more expensive phones, making it less sharp and less contrasty than OLED displays. The phone has a single bottom-firing speaker that performed well in loudness tests but lacked bass and had some distortion at higher volumes. There's also an 8MP front-facing camera for selfies, which are soft and have off-colors. Under the hood is the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which is not powerful and doesn't support 5G connectivity. The phone's performance was sluggish in benchmarks, and even routine tasks sometimes stuttered or lagged. However, the battery life was good with a 13 hour 50 minute active use score. The camera setup is basic with a single 12.5MP rear camera that struggles with contrast and dynamic range. Low-light photos are noisy, and there's no video stabilization. The interface is Samsung's One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14, which provides most features from more expensive Samsung devices but lacks fancy AI features. Overall, the Galaxy A06 is a budget phone that offers a basic smartphone experience at an affordable price. While it may not be ideal for gaming or demanding tasks, it could work as a backup phone or for those on a tight budget. However, there are better options available in the market.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy A06 is the entry-level offering in the company's A-series lineup, and while it may not be the most impressive device in terms of specs, it does have some redeeming qualities. The build quality and design of the phone are one such area where it shines. Upon first glance, the Galaxy A06 has a straightforward design with rounded corners and a plastic back and frame. However, what's notable is that despite being made of plastic, the phone doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. In fact, it feels quite solid in the hand, which is impressive given its budget-friendly price tag. One design element that stands out on the Galaxy A06 is the textured ribbing on the back. While some may not appreciate the aesthetic, I think it adds a bit of visual interest to an otherwise unassuming phone. The vertical stripes also create a subtle tactile sensation when held. The use of plastic as the primary material is also worth noting. It's easy to get caught up in the trend of using premium materials like glass and metal on smartphones, but Samsung has opted for a more practical approach with the A06. And while some may bemoan the lack of Ingress Protection (IP) rating, I think it's worth considering that this phone is designed as an affordable backup device or for those on a tight budget. Overall, the build quality and design of the Samsung Galaxy A06 are commendable. While not necessarily premium in nature, they do suggest a focus on functionality over form, which is certainly understandable given the phone's price point.
Battery Life
While the Samsung Galaxy A06 may be a budget phone with several compromises, its battery life is a redeeming quality. With a 5,000 mAh battery, it's one of the larger batteries in its class, and our tests showed that it delivers respectable results. In our active use test, where we streamed videos, browsed the web, and ran other demanding tasks, the Galaxy A06 lasted for an impressive 13 hours and 50 minutes. This is a good sign for users who want a phone that can keep up with their daily needs without needing to be charged frequently. Charging the battery is also relatively fast, thanks to support for 25 W charging. While we encountered issues with our review unit's charging speed, which maxed out at around 2 Watts, this should not be representative of the phone's overall charging performance. In comparison to other budget phones in its class, the Galaxy A06's battery life is on par or even better than some. This makes it a good choice for users who want a reliable and long-lasting battery without breaking the bank.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A06's display is a straightforward affair, with a 6.7-inch LCD panel that boasts just a 720p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. While this setup may seem basic by today's standards, it's not entirely surprising given the phone's entry-level price point. As expected, the 720p resolution results in a pixel density of 262 PPI, which is notably less sharp than what you'd find on more expensive phones. Furthermore, the LCD panel itself lacks the contrast and vibrancy of an OLED display. You won't find support for HDR video here either, which might be a disappointment for some users. When it comes to brightness, the Galaxy A06's display manages around 560 nits maximum, which is decent but not exceptional. While there is an auto-brightness mode available, it doesn't come with any additional features like a brightness boost. One notable aspect of the display is its sluggish pixel response time, which can make swiping and scrolling feel less than smooth. This is compounded by the lack of any significant contrast or color accuracy. In terms of practicality, the Galaxy A06's display should still be usable in most everyday situations. However, if you plan on using your phone extensively outdoors or in bright lighting conditions, you might find it struggles to keep up. The interface and overall design of the display are straightforward, with minimal distractions or frills. While some users might appreciate the simplicity of this approach, others may find themselves longing for more advanced features and capabilities. In conclusion, while the Samsung Galaxy A06's display is adequate for its price point, it doesn't exactly set the bar high in terms of visual fidelity and performance. If you're considering purchasing this phone as a secondary device or on a tight budget, the display might be sufficient for your needs. However, if you're looking for a more premium experience, you may want to explore other options.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A06 is a budget-friendly smartphone that comes with a modest camera setup, which is quite disappointing considering the current market standards. The phone features a single 50-megapixel primary camera on the back, paired with a depth sensor. In good lighting conditions, the camera produces average photos with decent contrast and dynamic range. However, the images lack detail and exhibit color inaccuracies, especially in indoor shots. The issue with colors is more pronounced when taking close-up shots or portraits, where the subjects appear washed out and lacking in vibrancy. The camera's performance takes a hit in low-light conditions, where photos become noisy and suffer from poor dynamic range. This makes it difficult to capture clear images of moving objects or scenes with varying lighting conditions. Enabling the dedicated night mode does improve the image quality, but at the cost of losing detail and introducing noise. Video recording on the Galaxy A06 is equally unimpressive, with subpar color rendition and heavy oversharpening. The lack of video stabilization means that footage can become shaky and unstable, especially when capturing handheld videos. The 8-megapixel front-facing camera fares no better, producing soft and poorly lit selfies with inaccurate color representation. This makes it difficult to capture clear and crisp self-portraits, which is essential for many users. Overall, the camera on the Samsung Galaxy A06 is a major letdown, especially considering the price point of this device. While it may be sufficient for basic social media posts or casual photography, it falls short of expectations when trying to capture more complex scenes or moments that require higher image quality. In summary, if you're looking for a smartphone with a capable camera, the Galaxy A06 is not the best choice. However, if budget is a concern and you're willing to compromise on camera performance, this device may still be worth considering.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy A06 is one of the company's least expensive phones, priced at an affordable level. While it may seem like a great option for those on a tight budget, the device's performance and features are somewhat limited. At this price point, you get a 6.7-inch LCD display with just a 720p resolution, which is less sharp than more expensive phones. The pixel density works out to 262 PPI, making it difficult to read text or enjoy detailed images. Additionally, the display's lack of HDR support and poor contrast ratio may be noticeable for some users. The phone's performance is also somewhat sluggish, thanks to its modest Mediatek Helio G85 chipset. This can lead to stutters and lag when performing routine tasks, making it less than ideal for gaming or demanding use cases. However, the Galaxy A06 does have some redeeming qualities. The battery life is respectable, lasting 13 hours and 50 minutes in our tests. The phone also supports 25W charging, although we encountered issues with our review unit that may be specific to our testing setup. The camera setup on this device is quite simple, featuring a single 12.5-megapixel main camera and a depth sensor. While it's not the worst camera we've seen, it's certainly not impressive either. The dynamic range is limited, and low-light performance suffers from excessive noise. Considering its price, the Galaxy A06 offers some value for those who need an entry-level phone with basic features. However, for users looking for a more premium experience or more robust performance, there are better options available on the market.
Performance
The performance of the Samsung Galaxy A06 is its most notable weakness. The phone's mediatech Helio G85 chipset, while commonly found in budget devices, proves to be far from a powerhouse in this device. In benchmarks, the A06 consistently ranks at the bottom, and when performing routine tasks, stutters and lag become apparent. Animations and transitions feel sluggish, making everyday interactions with the phone a less-than-smooth experience. Gaming is also not an option on this device, as the modest chipset struggles to keep up even with lighter titles. The phone's storage, while expandable through microSD card, is slowed by its eMMC 5.1 variety, rather than the faster UFS type. This underpowered performance results in a less-than-fluid user experience, making it difficult to enjoy features like streaming video or using demanding apps. However, the battery life is one redeeming quality of the A06, lasting around 13 hours and 50 minutes with active use. Additionally, the phone supports 25W charging, although this feature was not consistently tested due to some issues with our review unit. Unfortunately, these limitations make it difficult for the Galaxy A06 to shine as a viable option for those seeking a high-performance budget device. While it may be sufficient for basic tasks and casual use, its performance is not up to par with more premium devices in Samsung's lineup.