Samsung Galaxy A15 4G review
The Samsung Galaxy A15 4G is a budget phone that brings significant upgrades to the A10 series. The device boasts an AMOLED screen with a 6.5-inch display and a fast 90Hz refresh rate, making it sharper and contrasty than its predecessor. However, the presence of thick bezels and lack of HDR video support reminds you that this is a budget device. The phone's design is standard for Samsung budget phones, with separate camera rings and a flat plastic back. The fingerprint reader is built into the power key, and the interface runs on Android 14 with Samsung's One UI 6. Despite its budget nature, the phone gets three major Android updates and four years of security patches. Under the hood, the Galaxy A15 4G uses the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, which provides solid enough performance for everyday tasks. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery with excellent battery life, earning an active use score of 15 hours and 28 minutes. However, the camera setup is familiar, with a 50-megapixel main camera that produces average photos in detail but excels in color rendition. The Galaxy A15 4G also has a single bottom-firing speaker and lacks IP-rated ingress protection. While it's not perfect, this phone is still a solid package for its price, making it easy to recommend if you're looking for something within your budget.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy A15 4G boasts a design that is quintessentially budget-friendly, yet serviceable. The device features a glossy plastic back, which attracts smudges with ease. In contrast, the plastic frame has a matte finish and subtly juts out around the power button and volume key, creating a comfortable grip in the hand. One notable omission from this budget offering is IP-rated ingress protection, a feature that is reserved for more premium A-series phones. While this may not be a major concern for some users, it's worth considering if you're prone to dropping your phone in water or other liquids. The build quality itself is adequate, with no significant creaks or flexing detected during handling. However, the overall aesthetic does feel somewhat utilitarian and uninspired, especially when compared to more premium Samsung devices. The Galaxy A15 4G's display bezels are thick, and it lacks support for HDR video playback – both of which serve as reminders that this is indeed a budget phone. The screen itself is a respectable 6.5 inches in size, with a 1080p resolution and fast 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of durability, the plastic back on our review unit showed no signs of cracking or stress marks after repeated use. However, it's essential to note that this may vary depending on individual circumstances. Overall, while the Galaxy A15 4G's build quality and design are adequate for a budget phone, they don't exactly set the bar high in terms of premium feel or aesthetics. For those seeking an entry-level Samsung experience without breaking the bank, the Galaxy A15 4G is still worth considering – albeit with realistic expectations regarding its build quality.
Battery Life
In my experience with the Samsung Galaxy A15 4G, one aspect that truly stands out is its exceptional battery life. The phone's 5,000mAh battery has proven to be a game-changer in terms of longevity. I've been able to go about my daily activities without needing to recharge, and even with heavy use, the battery life remains impressive. During my testing, the Galaxy A15 4G earned an active use score of 15 hours and 28 minutes, which is remarkable considering its price point. Web browsing and gaming were particularly demanding tasks that would normally drain a phone's battery quickly, but not this one. The phone handled them with ease, showcasing its ability to sustain power consumption. The 25W fast charging also deserves mention, as it made quick work of topping up the battery. From 0 to 47% in just half an hour is impressive, and a full charge took only 81 minutes. This level of performance means that you can use your phone throughout the day without worrying about running out of juice. The Galaxy A15 4G's battery life is undoubtedly a highlight of this device, making it an excellent choice for those who need a reliable and long-lasting smartphone experience.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A15 4G boasts a significant upgrade in its display department with the introduction of an AMOLED screen, a notable change from the LCD displays seen in previous models. The new 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and fast 90Hz refresh rate is sharp and contrasty, offering a natural presentation despite the lack of color options. One of the standout features of this display is its ability to smooth out motions like swiping on the screen, thanks to the high refresh rate. However, it's worth noting that the screen refresh rate doesn't adapt to save energy when idling. The AMOLED technology also contributes to better brightness, with a maximum of 370 nits in manual mode and over 800 nits in auto mode when exposed to bright light. The display is not without its limitations, though. It features thick bezels and lacks HDR video support, which serves as a reminder that this is indeed a budget device. Additionally, the screen doesn't quite live up to expectations in terms of brightness, with some areas appearing slightly dimmer than others. In terms of performance, the AMOLED display delivers a solid experience for everyday use. However, it's worth noting that the phone's chipset and overall build quality might be its weakest links. Overall, the display is a highlight of this budget offering from Samsung, but it does have some limitations that prevent it from being truly exceptional. 7/10 While the Galaxy A15 4G's display may not revolutionize the smartphone world, it's certainly an improvement over previous models and offers a smooth experience for everyday use. However, it falls short of perfection due to its limitations in brightness and lack of HDR video support.
Camera
The camera on the Samsung Galaxy A15 4G is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the main camera produces decent 12.5MP photos with lively color rendition, low noise, and wide dynamic range. The images are sharp and well-detailed, with a good balance of contrast. There's also a two-time digital zoom toggle, although the resulting photos are soft and lack detail. In low light conditions, the main camera takes okay photos for its price segment, but they're objectively soft and blotchy. Despite heavy noise suppression, you can still see noise in these images. The night mode feature does help to clean up the photos somewhat, but they're not significantly better. The A15 4G's Ultra-wide camera takes 5MP photos that are okay at first glance. They have lively colors and a wide dynamic range, but zooming in reveals a lack of detail. These images are further compromised when taken at night, becoming soft and overrun with noise. Desaturated colors and smudged detail make them barely usable. The Ultra-wide camera also struggles to take videos, producing surveillance-quality footage that's only redeemed by its extra wide field of view. Unfortunately, there's no night mode available for this camera, making it even more challenging to use in low light conditions. Close-ups taken with the Macro camera are poor quality, with low detail and a narrow dynamic range. Overall, while the A15 4G's cameras aren't terrible, they don't impress either. The main camera is decent but not outstanding, and the Ultra-wide camera struggles to deliver usable photos, especially in low light. Given the phone's budget nature, we wouldn't expect much more from the cameras, but it's worth noting that there are better options available in this price range if camera performance is a priority. Despite its shortcomings, the A15 4G still offers some redeeming qualities, such as its smooth AMOLED display and excellent battery life. In conclusion, while the Galaxy A15 4G's cameras may not be its strongest feature, they're not a deal-breaker either. If you're looking for an affordable phone with a good camera, there are other options available that might better suit your needs.
Price and Value
In the ever-growing budget smartphone market, Samsung's latest offering, the Galaxy A15 4G, is a compelling package that brings significant upgrades to the A10 series. Priced affordably, this phone aims to deliver a solid performance without breaking the bank. At its core, the Galaxy A15 4G offers an impressive array of features, including a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and a fast 90Hz refresh rate, excellent battery life (up to 15 hours and 28 minutes in active use), and decent cameras for its price point. The phone also runs on Samsung's One UI 6 interface, which provides a seamless user experience. The Galaxy A15 4G is available with 128 or 256GB of storage, making it an excellent choice for those who want a reliable device without the hefty price tag of more premium offerings. Considering its price point, the Galaxy A15 4G represents great value. The phone's performance is smooth and efficient, and while it may not be the most powerful smartphone on the market, it certainly punches above its weight in terms of features and functionality. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone with a high-quality display, long battery life, and decent cameras, the Galaxy A15 4G is an excellent choice. It's a solid package that offers great value for money, making it a top contender in this price segment.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A15 4G is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, which is essentially the same processor found in last year's Galaxy A24. This means that you won't be blown away by any impressive benchmark scores, but rather, it'll provide a solid enough performance for everyday tasks. In our tests, the A15 4G didn't impress in terms of raw performance. It scored at the bottom of the ladder when compared to other chipsets available today. However, despite its underwhelming numbers, the phone still managed to run the interface and perform everyday tasks smoothly enough. One notable upgrade is the battery life, which has improved significantly over its predecessor. The A15 4G's 5,000mAh battery delivered an active use score of 15 hours and 28 minutes in our tests, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can last all day. Charging speed has also seen an improvement, with the phone capable of reaching 47% charge in just half an hour. However, this is only possible using a proper adapter, which isn't included in the box. In terms of performance, the A15 4G's camera app feels snappy and responsive, but beyond that, there's nothing particularly impressive about its performance capabilities. It'll get the job done for basic tasks like browsing and gaming, but if you're looking for a phone that can handle more demanding activities, this might not be the best option. Overall, while the Galaxy A15 4G's performance is not exactly thrilling, it gets by on the assumption that most users won't need top-of-the-line specs.
Pros
1. The phone has a smooth AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for everyday tasks and gaming.
2. The battery life is excellent, lasting up to 15 hours and 28 minutes in active use, with good performance in web browsing and gaming.
3. The camera produces decent photos with lively color rendition, low noise, and wide dynamic range.
4. The phone has a headphone jack and supports expandable storage via microSD.
5. The interface is Samsung's One UI 6 running on Android 14, which provides a seamless user experience.
6. The battery supports 25W fast charging, making it quick to top up the battery.
Cons
1. The phone lacks IP-rated ingress protection, which is reserved for more expensive A-series phones.
2. The speaker sounds subpar with average vocals and hardly any bass.
3. The camera struggles in low-light conditions, producing soft and blotchy photos despite noise suppression.
4. There's no electronic stabilization or HDR video support, and the ultra-wide camera has limited detail.