Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Review: Budget 5G Smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G delivers exceptional value for budget-conscious users, offering 5G connectivity, a vibrant 90Hz AMOLED display, and impressive battery life at an affordable price point under $200.

Design & Display

The Galaxy A15 5G features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (2340 × 1080 pixels) and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, which is uncommon in this price segment. The device has a plastic back and frame with a glass front, measuring approximately 160.1 × 76.8 × 8.4 mm and weighing around 200g. A distinctive design element is Samsung's "Key Island"—a raised platform around the side buttons that makes them easier to locate by touch.

Performance & Hardware

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset built on a 6nm process, the phone offers octa-core processing power capable of handling everyday tasks. The device comes in multiple configurations: 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB of RAM paired with 128GB or 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD card. While sufficient for basic usage, the processor can struggle with heavy multitasking or demanding applications, particularly on the base 4GB RAM variant.

Software Support

The Galaxy A15 5G ships with Android 14 and Samsung's One UI 6.0. Samsung promises an impressive 4 major Android OS updates and 5 years of security patches, providing exceptional long-term software support rarely seen in budget smartphones.

Camera

The triple camera system includes a 50MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture, a 5MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro sensor. The front-facing camera is a 13MP shooter. In daylight conditions, the main camera captures decent photos with good color reproduction, but performance drops significantly in low light. Video recording quality is subpar even for this price segment, with noticeable noise and stabilization issues. The macro and ultrawide cameras are functional but produce results typical of budget sensors.

Battery & Charging

The device is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that provides excellent endurance, lasting up to 52 hours on a single charge with moderate use. Specific usage tests show approximately 10 hours 41 minutes of web browsing, 12 hours 15 minutes of video streaming, and 10 hours 19 minutes of 3D gaming. The phone supports 25W wired charging, reaching about 46% in 30 minutes and a full charge in approximately 1 hour 31 minutes. Wireless charging is not available.

Software & Features

Beyond the impressive update promise, the Galaxy A15 5G runs Samsung's One UI 6.0, which offers a clean interface with useful features like Samsung Knox security, customizable always-on display, and various productivity enhancements. The software experience is generally smooth for basic tasks but can feel laggy when multitasking or using more demanding applications.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Affordable 5G connectivity at under $200
• Vibrant 6.5" Super AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
• Excellent battery life with 5000mAh capacity
• Exceptional software support (4 OS updates, 5 years security)
• Includes microSD expansion and 3.5mm headphone jack

Cons

• Performance can be sluggish, especially on 4GB RAM variant
• Camera performance is inconsistent, particularly in low light
• Plastic construction feels less premium
• No IP rating for water or dust resistance
• Video recording quality is below average

Tags: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, budget smartphone, 5G phone, Android phone, affordable smartphone, smartphone review

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G offers impressive value with 90Hz AMOLED display, long battery life, and 4 years of OS updates at under $200.