Samsung Galaxy A15 (4G) review: Low Price, Decent Value

Worth When Reviewed

Unavailable within the US

Greatest Costs At this time: Samsung Galaxy A15 (4G)

$165.68

Samsung’s Galaxy A collection has been a bit hit or miss lately. For each discount belter you discover, there’s typically a much less spectacular sibling close by.

We just lately reviewed the bigger Samsung Galaxy A25 5G, which retails for £80/$80 greater than the A15 4G I’ve right here, and our Opinions Editor thinks it’s a stable system.

So, what does the lower cost tag of £169 price you by way of efficiency and options, and is it value saving the distinction?

Design & Construct

• Plastic & glass building
• No waterproof score
• An absolute mud magnet

Samsung has a really established design aesthetic at this level, with the brand new A15 virtually an identical to the A25 5G by way of materials and dimensions.

The cheaper mannequin is available in at 160.1 x 76.8 x 8.4mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33-inch) and weighs 200g/7.05oz, which is marginally smaller and heavier than its sibling. 

Development is a mix of a plastic chassis and again, with the entrance sporting a glass panel for the show. Samsung doesn’t point out Gorilla glass or something of that ilk within the technical specs, and that’s not shocking as you hardly ever get toughened supplies like that at this worth level. 

The proper flank has a raised space that’s dwelling to the facility and quantity controls, with the previous additionally housing a fingerprint sensor.

As with all side-placed reader, it’s really fairly useful as you have a tendency to carry a cellphone together with your thumb round that a part of the system, though should you’re a left-hander like myself, you may end up having to swap arms when you’ve taken the cellphone out of your pocket. 

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That’s not an issue distinctive to the Galaxy A15, as I’ve additionally encountered it in loads of higher-end ones too. Most popular dexterity apart, the fingerprint sensor is fast and proved dependable throughout my check interval with the system. It’s higher than a low-grade choice embedded within the display screen even when it’s not as fancy.

The rear panel is a reflective floor that appears to have some type of mud manufacturing manufacturing facility built-in.

Severely, I don’t suppose I’ve ever encountered a mud magnet like this. Wiping down the again to organize the A15 for a product photograph solely appeared to introduce extra mud, making it an absolute nightmare to {photograph}.

This could all be fastened by a case in fact, however Samsung doesn’t embrace one within the field, which is a disgrace as many funds Chinese language telephones I’ve reviewed all the time guarantee you’ll be able to shield their gadgets with no need to hunt out silicon sheaths on eBay.

As with most fashionable telephones, the Galaxy A15 is slippery within the hand, so I might undoubtedly advise shopping for a case right away, particularly with the plastic chassis which in all probability wouldn’t survive too many falls. 

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One other omission from the packaging, for higher or worse, is a charger, though there’s a USB-C cable included to match the port on the A15. Beside that could be a single speaker, accompanied by a 3.5mm headphone jack. 

You’ve three colors to decide on between. My evaluate pattern is Blue Black, which is fairly cool wanting when it isn’t coated in mud. There’s additionally Blue and Yellow should you want lighter hues and none have the devisive grid sample rear of the Galaxy A25.

As you may count on for a tool at this worth, Samsung doesn’t checklist any waterproof score for the A15, so don’t get it moist. 

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.5-inch AMOLED panel
• 90Hz refresh charge
• Single speaker & 3.5mm headphone jack

Samsung is understood for its shows, and the Galaxy A15 is a nice instance of what you may get for little or no cash as of late.

The 6.5-inch AMOLED panel is nice, with vivid colors and sufficient brightness to take care of a sunny day whereas nonetheless with the ability to learn what’s on the display screen. The corporate claims an 800 nits most brightness, aided by its Imaginative and prescient Booster characteristic, and in regular mode with autobrightness off I measured the panel at 570 nits.   

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The Full HD+ decision (2340 x 1080) retains issues crisp, with the 90Hz refresh charge aiming to make sure easy scrolling. This isn’t all the time the case although, because the processing energy of the A15 appears to wrestle with image-heavy pages, leading to some juddering when scrolling up and down. 

The panel itself has an 84.3% screen-to-body ratio, with a small chin on the underside edge and a teardrop notch on the high being the one interruptions. For a tool costing as little because the A15, this actually is a really good show and a spotlight of this handset.

Audio comes through a single speaker on the underside edge. This will throw out some fairly spectacular quantity ranges, with spoken content material retaining most of its constancy even on the most finish. Music suffers extra at these ranges, with distortion creeping into the peaks and total stability veering in the direction of the shrill finish of the spectrum.

Should you’re listening to podcasts or audiobooks, you then’ll be fairly proud of the output, however for tunes, you’d be higher off with the setting round midway or utilizing the three.5mm headphone jack to plug in a pair of respectable audio system or headpones. 

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Helio G99 processor
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB Storage (expandable through microSD)

You gained’t normally discover any Snapdragon silicon in a cellphone this low cost, however the MediaTek Helio G99 within the A15 remains to be a reliable processor that may deal with every day duties nicely.

As talked about above, you do get some stuttering within the efficiency when there are lots of graphical photographs on the display screen, resembling when scrolling via the Google Uncover feed you’ll be able to entry by swiping left when on the house display screen. 

Apps open fairly quick, with a couple of pauses right here and there, and so they stay reliably interactive throughout use.

Gaming is even an choice, with Asphalt 9 Legends taking part in easily on the A15, even when it did get somewhat heat after some time. I’d keep away from the heavier 3D video games like Genshin Affect, however for a every day cellphone that may deal with a bit of sunshine gaming the A15 is a wonderfully serviceable system. 

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The 4GB of RAM is a possible candidate for among the slow-downs, because it’s on the low aspect from reminiscence as of late. Not less than you get 128GB of primary storage, with an extra 1TB of expandable room out there should you provide the microSD card. 

Right here’s how the Galaxy A15 fared in our customary benchmark checks:

Samsung Galaxy A15 benchmark scores

When it comes to networks and connectivity, this mannequin is a 4G cellphone. Samsung does provide the Galaxy A15 5G should you want a sooner mobile connection, though most different parts of the cellphone are the identical so it won’t be value £30 further.

The Galaxy A15 affords help for Twin SIMs (Nano), Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS and NFC, so that you’ll have the ability to use it to make contactless funds, connect with Bluetooth headphones and discover your approach whenever you’re misplaced. All very useful.  

Cameras

• 50Mp f/1.8 predominant digicam
• 5Mp ultrawide
• 2Mp macro
• 13Mp selfie

You get a triple digicam array on the A15, comprising a 50Mp f/1.8 large predominant module, joined by a 5Mp ultrawide and a 2Mp macro.

For essentially the most half you’ll be utilizing the principle digicam, because the others aren’t actually as much as a lot. You possibly can actually get some respectable photographs out of the A15, primarily when there’s lots of mild out there.

I did discover some over-sharpening that means the software program is making an attempt to compensate for the softer photographs the lens is capturing. 

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This will result in robust distinction pictures having the highlights blow out, the place shiny white areas appear to confuse or overwhelm the sensor. That being mentioned, for an on a regular basis digicam it does an appropriate job for a cellphone this low cost as long as the topic is nicely lit and never shifting. 

There’s a slight shutter lag, which implies capturing pets or kids in movement could be irritating, because the digicam delays taking the image for half a second or so, which could be the distinction between getting the one you need and a blurry mess.  

Samsung has the standard vary of particular modes, Macro, Evening, Panorama and so forth., and they are often enjoyable to play with. The Evening mode introduces a little bit of noise and over-processing, whereas I discovered the Macro to be very ropey. You may have the ability to get some pictures out of them, however I’d keep on with the principle digicam for one of the best outcomes. 

Video tops out at 1080p and 30fps, with footage doing a good job of focussing and balancing mild contrasts. You get a couple of dropped frames right here and there, and low-light efficiency isn’t nice, so so long as you’re not planning on making a Movie Noir epic, it ought to serve its goal. 

The 13Mp entrance digicam is your customary selfie module, with sufficient high quality for social media posts and the occasional Instagram Story should you use the video (1080p/30fps). 

Listed here are some pattern photographs captured on the A15 cameras:

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 25W quick charging supported
• Lengthy battery life

Samsung equips the Galaxy A15 with a large 5000mAh battery which each cellphone popping out this 12 months appears to have.

This can be a good factor as a result of the cellphone delivers spectacular numbers with regards to staving off the necessity to discover a charger. Every day throughout my check interval, the system retained a wholesome quantity of cost by the point I retired for the evening. 

It’s truthful to say then that this might simply be a two-day cellphone for most individuals, as long as you’re not spending all day utilizing it in shiny daylight or taking part in a lot of graphically demanding video games. Within the PCMark for Android battery check, the A15 totted up a really spectacular 15 hours and quarter-hour, which makes it an actual workhorse system. 

That’s a aid, as charging occasions are on the sluggish aspect. As I discussed, you don’t get a charger with the A15, so although it helps 25W quick charging (not likely quick by 2024 requirements), you might not have the means to do this. It additionally doesn’t help wi-fi charging, however that’s nice for this worth bracket.

From a flat battery, the A15 recovered to 22% in quarter-hour, 44% after half an hour, however it was over 1 hour and half-hour earlier than it bought again to 100%. 

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Clearly, this may be slower should you didn’t have a charger that delivers 25W. Out of curiosity, I attempted the check once more with a normal 18W charger that most individuals would have at dwelling. The outcomes have been very totally different, with quarter-hour garnering 11% of cost, 19% after half an hour, and a whopping 2 hours and 40 minutes for a full recharge. 

Software program & Apps

• Android 14
• One UI 
• As much as 5yrs safety updates

Android 14 is the OS that underpins the Galaxy A15, with the Samsung One UI operating on high.

It needs to be acquainted to any Samsung customers, and it’s actually been cleaned up through the years to supply a sensible and streamlined interface. There are a good quantity of duplications by way of apps, with Samsung’s suite of instruments, however nothing egregious.

There are solely a handful of preinstalled third-party apps, and these can all be simply deleted. 

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Surprisingly for an inexpensive cellphone, Samsung guarantees as much as 4 OS updates, which might take you to Android 18, with as much as 5 years of safety updates.

Which means the lifespan of the system needs to be round six years, which may be very beneficiant on this sector of the market. Good one, Samsung. 

Worth & Availability

The Galaxy A collection has all the time been a cheap technique to decide up a brand new smartphone and that doesn’t change with the A15. You should buy the system from Samsung for £169, though you’ll need to think about somewhat extra for a case and charger (should you don’t have already got one).

You can too purchase it from Amazon, Currys and Very.

Should you dwell within the US, then the A15 isn’t out there within the 4G model I’ve right here, however you’ll be able to decide up the same Galaxy A15 5G which is able to set you again £199/$199. This additionally applies to European clients should you simply desire a 5G model as an alternative. 

This places it in the identical ballpark because the Moto G34 5G that prices £149.99 (not out there within the US) which clearly provides 5G connectivity, however with a 720p show reasonably than the Full HD+ of the A15. 

Alternatively, there’s the Nokia G60 5G that retails for round £250, however could be discovered out there for round £155 on Amazon UK. Once more, no US distribution, though it does seem on Amazon US too for varied quantities relying on the provider.

Try our chart of one of the best funds telephones to see extra rivals. 

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Do you have to purchase the Samsung Galaxy A15 (4G)?

You possibly can actually get lots on your cash as of late, and the Samsung A15 is additional proof of this. It has a terrific show, good quantity of storage (which may additional be expanded through microSD), to not point out glorious battery life. 

Efficiency is okay, however there are some stutters right here and there, plus digicam shutter lag which could be annoying. The cameras themselves are OK, albeit the one of many weaker areas of the cellphone. 

If you’d like an inexpensive smartphone for work, as a backup on your predominant one, or simply don’t need to spend masses for a tool should you solely need to take calls, surf the net and pay for issues on the checkout, then the Galaxy A15 is a stable choice. 

Specs

• Android 14 / Samsung UI One 
• 6.5-inch Full HD+ AMOLED show
• 90Hz refresh charge
• 2.2Ghz MediaTek Helio G99 processor
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB Storage (expandable as much as 1TB through microSD)
• 50Mp f/1.8 predominant digicam
• 5Mp f/2.2 Extremely-wide 
• 2Mp f/2.4 Macro
• 13Mp f/2.0 selfie digicam
• Single speaker
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensor embedded in Energy button
• USB-C charging port
• 5000mAh battery
• 25W quick charging supported
• 160.1 x 76.8 x 8.4mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33-inch)
• 200g/7.05oz