Samsung Galaxy A02 Review: Budget Smartphone Specs

The Samsung Galaxy A02 delivers essential smartphone features at an affordable price, featuring a large 6.5-inch display, long-lasting 5000mAh battery, and a practical dual-camera system.

Introduction

Released in early 2021, the Samsung Galaxy A02 is an entry-level Android smartphone designed for users seeking reliable performance without breaking the bank. It serves as a solid option for basic tasks like calling, messaging, social media, and media consumption.

Design & Display

The Galaxy A02 features a simple yet functional plastic build that keeps the device lightweight at 206g. It sports a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. The 20:9 aspect ratio provides an immersive viewing experience for videos and web browsing, though the 270 PPI pixel density is standard for this price range. The screen features a waterdrop notch for the front camera and minimal bezels, achieving an 81.9% screen-to-body ratio.

Performance & Hardware

Powering the Galaxy A02 is a MediaTek MT6739W chipset built on a 28nm process, paired with either 2GB, 3GB, or 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU clocks at 1.5GHz, providing adequate performance for everyday apps and light multitasking. Graphics are handled by the PowerVR GE8100 GPU. Storage options include 32GB or 64GB of eMMC 5.1 storage, expandable via microSDXC card for additional media and file space.

Camera

The dual-camera setup on the rear consists of a 13MP main sensor with an f/1.9 aperture for decent low-light performance, accompanied by a 2MP macro lens for close-up shots. Features include auto flash, HDR, face detection, and digital zoom. Video recording tops out at 1080p at 30fps. The front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor housed in the notch for selfies and video calls.

Battery & Charging

A major highlight is the substantial 5000mAh lithium-polymer battery, which provides excellent battery life that can easily last a full day or more on a single charge with moderate use. Charging is handled via the micro-USB 2.0 port, which is a bit dated compared to newer USB-C standards but functional.

Software & Features

The device launched with Android 10 and Samsung's One UI 3.1, which offers a clean and user-friendly interface. It is upgradable to Android 11. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, GLONASS, and FM radio. It retains the popular 3.5mm headphone jack but lacks NFC for contactless payments.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Excellent battery life, large display, expandable storage, headphone jack, affordable price point.
• Cons: micro-USB charging, no NFC, basic performance, HD-only resolution, plastic build.

Tags: Samsung Galaxy A02, budget smartphone, Android phone, smartphone review, specs, price, performance, camera, battery

Affordable Samsung Galaxy A02 with a 6.5-inch display, 5000mAh battery, and dual camera. Full review of specs, performance, and price.