Whereas Samsung’s higher-end flagship telephones often get a lot of the consideration, the corporate additionally makes some first rate budget-oriented units. These ultra-cheap telephones are a part of Samsung’s “A sequence,” and the most recent mannequin is the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G. I’ve spent about two weeks utilizing the Galaxy A15 5G, and also you get plenty of smartphone for $200 with this gadget. The show, digicam, battery life, and software program are all fairly good contemplating the worth level.
However it’s uncommon that any cellphone in 2024 struggles with fundamental day-to-day utilization, like multitasking and utilizing apps. And the Galaxy A15 5G, utilizing a mediocre MediaTek processor, is downright gradual. When you can spend $100 or $200 extra on a smartphone, your expertise shall be quite a bit higher. With that being stated, the Galaxy A15 5G is nearly one of the best you will discover within the $200 value vary.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: Worth & availability
Samsung launched the Galaxy A15 5G on the finish of 2023, and it retails for $200. You will get it at that value from Samsung and Greatest Purchase now. You may discover the Galaxy A15 5G at Amazon as effectively, however many product listings are at larger costs and embody a bundled microSD card. Patrons also can buy the Galaxy A15 5G from choose mobile carriers, comparable to T-Cellular, Verizon, and UScellular.
The Galaxy A15 5G has one configuration, and it options 128GB of storage and 4GB of reminiscence. Nonetheless, it has an included microSD card slot, so you may add as much as 1TB of extra storage. You will get it in two colours: Blue Black and Mild Blue. My Galaxy A15 5G loaner assessment unit, supplied by AT&T, got here in Blue Black.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: What I like
While you first decide up the Galaxy A15 5G, it will really feel like Samsung’s extra premium smartphones. Except for the Galaxy S24 Extremely, the remainder of the corporate’s telephones function a flat design with rounded corners. The Galaxy A15 5G additionally would not have a big digicam bump, however every rear digicam lens will barely protrude from the again casing.
One distinctive factor in regards to the Galaxy A15 5G is one thing referred to as the “Key Island.” The precise aspect of the smartphone is the place you will discover the amount rocker and energy button, however portion of the aluminum body that homes these buttons protrudes from the remaining. That makes it simpler to really feel round and discover the Key Island with out wanting. Nonetheless, it would not essentially make these buttons any simpler to press, particularly one-handed.
Midrange telephones have a historical past of all the time getting the ports proper, and that is true of the Galaxy A15 5G. It has a USB-C port for knowledge and charging, in addition to a 3.5mm headphone jack. Extra importantly, the SIM card tray additionally has a spot for a microSD card. You possibly can add as much as an additional 1TB card to the Galaxy A15 5G, utterly erasing any issues in regards to the 128GB inner storage.
There are many issues in regards to the Galaxy A15 5G that may make you extremely impressed that this cellphone solely prices $200. For me, nothing was extra paramount than the show. It is a 6.5-inch, AMOLED panel that helps 90Hz refresh charges and 800 nits of peak brightness.
Certain, there are issues in regards to the Galaxy A15 5G’s show that might be higher. The bezels are considerably giant, teardrop digicam cutouts went out of fashion some time in the past, and the glass is tremendous reflective. However total, I did not miss the show on my flagship telephones an excessive amount of whereas daily-driving the Galaxy A15 5G.
| Class | Samsung Galaxy A15 5G |
|---|---|
| OS | Android 14, 4 years of updates |
| Show | 6.5-inch AMOLED, 90Hz refresh fee |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Audio | Audio system, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
| Safety | Fingerprint sensor |
| Safety | No IP score |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 6.32 inches x 3.02 inches x 0.33 inches |
| Weight | 197 grams |
| Coloration | Blue Black, Mild Blue |
| Rear cameras | 50MP primary digicam, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro |
| Selfie digicam | 13MP broad digicam |
Smartphone cameras have come a good distance, and you’ll see latest developments in each the excessive and low ends of the market. There are completely telephones that may produce higher photographs than the Galaxy A15 5G, albeit at the next price. Nonetheless, the Galaxy A15 5G has cameras that provide gorgeous high quality for $200. I’ve examined a handful of telephones costlier than the Galaxy A15 5G with worse cameras.
You get a triple-camera system on the again of the Galaxy A15 5G, and the principle sensor is 50MP with an f/1.8 aperture and auto focus. Premiums like optical picture stabilization aren’t right here, and neither is optical zoom. The Galaxy A15 5G does provide as much as 10x digital zoom at “fantastic” high quality, however Samsung’s UI for altering zoom multipliers is clunky.
On funds telephones like this one, the secondary and tertiary digicam sensors are often extra about filling up a spec sheet than providing nice high quality. That is true of the 5MP ultrawide, which permits 0.5x zoom. Ultrawide pictures actually aren’t good on the Galaxy A15 5G for 2 causes. First, these older and cheaper digicam sensors cannot present plenty of picture element whereas zoomed out. Moreover, there is a noticeable fisheye impact that may distort the sides of ultrawide photos in some eventualities.
Total, the digicam high quality was greater than adequate on the Galaxy A15 5G, as you may see within the above digicam samples. I used to be notably impressed by the 2MP macro sensor. The specs will not leap out at you, however macro pictures captured Galaxy A15 5G turned out very effectively.
The final good factor price mentioning in regards to the Galaxy A15 5G is that it ships with Android 14 and Samsung is promising 4 years of software program help. Nonetheless, due the cellphone’s efficiency points (which I am going to get to), I am undecided you will really need to use it for that lengthy.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: What I do not like
Samsung obtained two core parts of a very good smartphone proper on the Galaxy A15 5G: the show and digicam system. That leaves total efficiency as the very last thing the Galaxy A15 5G must be a terrific worth decide in 2024. Nonetheless, I am disenchanted to report that the MediaTek 6835 system-on-a-chip on this smartphone is just too gradual.
When you’re utilizing a single software, the Galaxy A15 5G runs completely fantastic after it has loaded. It is loading the applying, multitasking, and unlocking the cellphone that may trigger issues. In my testing, the Galaxy A15 5G is colossally gradual for the primary 5-10 seconds after you unlock it after lengthy intervals of inactivity. Multitasking causes issues too, and you may want to shut out apps often to attempt to give the Galaxy A15 5G a break.
Apps might want to reload from scratch usually because of the restricted quantity of system reminiscence, compounding the difficulty. For $200, you would possibly be capable to look previous these efficiency points, however the Galaxy A15 5G continues to be the slowest cellphone I’ve used shortly. Working Geekbench 6 benchmarks on the smartphone confirmed my anecdotal findings, and likewise present which you can get a a lot better expertise for simply $100 or $200 extra.
| Smartphone | Worth | Single-core | Multi-core |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy A15 5G | $199 | 689 | 1,781 |
| Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) | $399 | 910 | 2,692 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 | $799 | 2,224 | 6,868 |
The Galaxy A15 5G would possibly a very good performer for $200, however the hole between the efficiency of $200 and $400 telephones is fairly vital. The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) was almost a 3rd sooner than the Galaxy A15 5G, and in my testing, Motorola’s cellphone is significantly higher in day-to-day efficiency. The Galaxy A15 5G is not competing with the Galaxy S24, however for reference, the hole between Samsung’s funds and flagship choices is huge.
For what it is price, the Galaxy A15 5G’s 5,000mAh battery lasts a full day, so the cellphone does have battery life going for it.
This can be a way more minor difficulty, however the construct high quality of the Galaxy A15 5G is simply fantastic as effectively. I am not a fan of the Blue Black colorway; it is a particularly reflective plastic end that makes the cellphone feel and appear cheaper than it’s. The Galaxy A15 5G additionally would not have an IP score, so maintain it away from mud and water. These are cheap concessions to fulfill the cellphone’s ultra-low pricing, although.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: Competitors
When you’re firmly caught within the $200 value vary, the Galaxy A15 5G is one of the best there’s. The OnePlus Nord N30 is offered for a slightly-higher $250, however that cellphone has its personal set of points. In our assessment, we discovered that it has meager cameras, has poor gaming efficiency, and solely will get one OS replace. Nonetheless, it will most likely be higher in day-to-day efficiency than the Galaxy A15 5G.
The Google Pixel 6a can be nonetheless hanging round, and you’ll find it round $300 to $350 at this time. Although it is just a few years previous now, the Pixel 6a is an all-around higher cellphone than the Galaxy A15 5G. There are many telephones within the $300 to $400 value vary that may run laps across the Galaxy A15 5G, too.
All that is to say that the Galaxy A15 5G is one of the best on the $200 value level — however in the event you can spend an additional few hundred {dollars}, you completely ought to.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You need a funds Samsung cellphone with Android 14.
- You solely have round $200 to spend.
- You care extra about show and digicam high quality than efficiency.
You should not purchase this if…
- You possibly can spend just a few hundred {dollars} extra for a greater cellphone.
- You need a cellphone that may comfortably final just a few years.
- Day-to-day efficiency is most vital to you.
There are two methods to have a look at the Galaxy A15 5G. On one hand, Samsung has managed to cram a stable show and digicam system right into a 6.5-inch smartphone for simply $200. On the opposite, arguably an important a part of a smartphone — informal, day-to-day efficiency — is notably missing right here.
You need not spend flagship cash to get a terrific smartphone in 2024, however I believe that you simply do have to spend greater than $200. With that stated, in the event you solely have $200 to spend, you may get by with the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G.
Strong specs for a $200 smartphone
With the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, you will get an honest cellphone for only a few hundred {dollars}. It has a stable show, battery, and digicam system. You would possibly be capable to overlook its meager efficiency because of the low value.
