Samsung's 2019 Mid-Range Marvel Revisited

The Samsung Galaxy A50s was a standout mid-range contender in 2019, offering a premium Super AMOLED display, a versatile triple-camera system, and reliable performance that still impresses today.

Introduction: The Refined Performer

Launched in late 2019, the Samsung Galaxy A50s was an iterative but meaningful upgrade to the popular Galaxy A50. Positioned in the competitive mid-range segment, it aimed to deliver a premium Samsung experience with its stunning design, vibrant display, and capable cameras without the flagship price tag, making it a compelling option for users seeking great value.

Design & Display

The A50s features a sleek and modern design with a plastic frame and back, though it maintains a premium feel thanks to its glossy "Prism Crush" finish. The front is dominated by a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, a standout feature at this price point even by today's standards. With a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, it offers crisp, vibrant visuals with deep blacks and excellent contrast. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and features a small waterdrop notch for the selfie camera, resulting in an impressive 85.1% screen-to-body ratio.

Performance & Hardware

At its core, the Galaxy A50s is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 9611 chipset, built on a 10nm process. This octa-core processor (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) is paired with an ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. It was offered in multiple configurations: 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, 4GB RAM with 128GB storage, or 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. Performance is adequate for everyday tasks, social media, and moderate gaming. The inclusion of UFS 2.1 storage technology was a welcome addition for faster app loading and file transfers compared to eMMC storage commonly found in its peers. Storage is also expandable via a microSDXC card slot.

Camera

The camera system is a major highlight. On the rear, a triple-camera array is led by a upgraded 48MP primary sensor (ƒ/2.0), which uses pixel-binning to capture detailed 12MP photos in most lighting conditions. It's joined by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens (ƒ/2.2) for capturing more of the scene and a 5MP depth sensor (ƒ/2.2) for portrait shots with bokeh effects. The camera supports 4K video recording at 30fps. For selfies, a high-resolution 32MP front-facing camera (ƒ/2.0) captures detailed images and also supports 4K video.

Battery & Charging

The device is equipped with a sizable 4000mAh battery, which provided excellent battery life upon release and can still easily power through a full day of moderate use. It supports 15W fast charging, allowing for relatively quick top-ups, though it lacks wireless charging capabilities.

Software & Features

The Galaxy A50s launched with Android 9 Pie skinned with Samsung's One UI. It has received updates, including an upgrade to Android 11 with One UI 3.1, which brought a more modern interface, digital wellbeing features, and improved privacy controls. It features an under-display optical fingerprint scanner, NFC for contactless payments, a USB Type-C port, and thankfully, a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Pros & Cons

• Pros:
  • Gorgeous Super AMOLED display
  • Versatile triple-camera system
  • Strong all-day battery life
  • Modern design and build
  • Includes a headphone jack
• Cons:
  • Plastic build may feel less premium
  • Performance can lag in intensive tasks
  • No ultra-wide video recording
  • Software updates have likely concluded

Tags: Samsung, Galaxy A50s, Android, smartphone, review, specs, camera, battery

A deep dive into the Samsung Galaxy A50s, featuring a vibrant Super AMOLED display, capable triple camera, and enduring battery life.