Samsung Galaxy A05 review

Last month, Samsung Kenya refreshed its A series lineup with the launch of three new phones: the Samsung Galaxy A05, A15, and A25. As expected, the company held off on announcing the Galaxy A55 and A35, which typically follow a separate reveal schedule in March.

I was fortunate enough to receive the new Galaxy A05 for review. I have been using it extensively and will share my thoughts on this budget-friendly phone.

For background, Samsung’s A series comprises its lineup of affordable and mid-range devices. The A05 sits at the lowest end of the spectrum as the cheapest and least specced model this year.

In the past, I have been critical of Samsung’s A0 phones, justifiably so. The A03 had a micro USB port for charging and a Unisoc SoC, while last year’s A04 ran OneUI Core and struggled with basic tasks like loading YouTube or taking photos.

This time, the specs across the board seem improved over previous base models, which will hopefully make the A05 a decent, super affordable option rather than an underpowered phone.

With a budget of around Ksh 20,000, I am hoping the A05 finally represents an accessible smartphone I can recommend. My testing will reveal if Samsung has succeeded in creating an A0 phone worth buying.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Pricing & Availabilty

As mentioned, the A05 officially launched across Kenya last month. You can purchase it now at Samsung retail stores nationwide. Pricing ranges from KSH 17,000 to KSH 20,000, depending on the storage configuration:

• 4GB/64GB model: KSH 17,000
• 4GB/128GB model: KSH 19,000

Unfortunately, Samsung only offers the A05 with 4GB of RAM. This puts it at a disadvantage versus competitors like the Redmi 13C and Tecno Spark 20, which provide higher RAM and storage configuration options in a similar price range.

Limiting the A05 to one memory/storage variant seems like a questionable decision given the target budget-conscious consumer. Most buyers want flexibility to balance performance against price when selecting a low-cost phone.

Not offering 6GB RAM or 256GB storage SKUs could make the A05 less appealing compared to rival brands catering storage and memory to individual needs. We’ll have to see if its real-world performance compensates for the lack of choice.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Unboxing

My review unit arrived without retail packaging, but the consumer version will come boxed with the usual Samsung packet of documentation and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging.

Under the paperwork, you’ll find the phone itself and a SIM ejector tool—no case or charging brick included, as is now standard with Samsung phones. While the lack of accessories aims to reduce e-waste, their exclusion is still disappointing given this phone’s budget price point.

Consumers may need to purchase these items separately.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Design & Build

At its price point, the Samsung smartphone does bear a resemblance to the higher-tier devices in the lineup. However, it’s important to note that its size is quite substantial, with a massive 6.7-inch screen. The phone’s overall dimensions are even larger due to its thick borders and chunky chin, resulting in a screen-to-body ratio of barely 82%.

The front of the phone features an old-school camera notch, which adds to its budget appearance. On the bright side, if you appreciate a larger screen, you’ll enjoy the 6.7-inch display.

In fact, this phone is currently one of the largest options available at this price point, but it’s worth considering that it can be quite unwieldy to handle.

Moving to the back, Samsung has redesigned this phone to resemble the S series, albeit not exactly matching it. The entire phone, including the back and frame, is made of plastic. It lacks an IP rating or waterproofing, reflecting its budget build.

The lines on the back, which appear to be a texture, are actually beneath the plastic surface, so you can’t feel them. However, compared to previous A0 devices with a cheap plastic rear cover and even lower build quality, the A05’s design and form factor is an improvement.

Taking a closer look at the device, on the left side, you’ll find the dual physical SIM and SD card tray. Although the phone doesn’t support eSIM, the presence of an SD card slot allows you to expand the storage capacity even if you have a 64GB model. This is particularly useful since a third of the storage is already used up out of the box.

On the right side, you’ll find the familiar volume and power buttons, but there is no fingerprint sensor. Face unlock is the sole biometric security option on this phone, likely a cost-cutting measure. There isn’t much to note at the top.

At the bottom, you’ll find a headphone jack, along with the USB-C port and the speaker. The top houses a standalone earpiece above the front-facing selfie camera, while the back features two camera lenses, which I will delve into further in a moment.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Display & Speakers

One thing that has remained very budget on these A0 devices over the years is the actual display. Unfortunately, the A05’s 6.7-inch display continues the line’s tradition of budget-grade screens.

Despite the expansive size, the 1600×720 PLS LCD panel lacks visual sharpness at just 262 PPI. Pixilation becomes apparent during close inspection.

The LCD technology also restricts vibrancy and brightness, which is especially problematic in outdoor settings with significant glare. The 60 Hz refresh rate also feels less smooth compared to high refresh rate displays when scrolling or interacting.

Long-time A series users may find the panel adequate as an incremental upgrade. There are understandable trade-offs to drive down costs on an entry-level device. But display technology has progressed enough that a baseline 1080p LCD panel could have been expected, even on a budget.

Let me know your thoughts – is this corner cut screen quality acceptable considering the price point? Or should Samsung have prioritized a better visual experience while reducing expenses elsewhere? I’d argue today’s minimum standards warrant an improved display at all tiers.

In pairing the display with the speaker setup, the resulting audio experience is adequate, but it doesn’t offer much beyond that.

The device is equipped with a single bottom-firing speaker, which unfortunately tends to produce muffled and echoey sound. However, considering the limitations of the hardware, it’s difficult to expect much more in terms of audio quality.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Software & performance

When it comes to real-world use, Samsung has made meaningful improvements in areas where I’ve criticized past A0 devices. The Galaxy A05 runs on MediaTek’s Helio G85 chipset – dated but capable for an entry-level processor. This processor is also used in all the competitor phones, so I guess that’s also a good thing.

Paired with either 4GB RAM plus 64GB or 128GB storage, there’s finally enough baseline processing capabilities under the hood for navigating day-to-day tasks such as browsing your social media timelines.

 

Of course, the Geekbench results reveal where corners were cut to reach the aggressive sub Ksh 20,000 price point. But keep in mind – synthetic benchmarks rarely tell the whole user experience story.

As Samsung’s most affordable series entry, cuts had to come somewhere, provided day-to-day usability didn’t suffer as a result.

On that front, the A05 succeeds where too many of its predecessors failed. It ships with the latest stable Android 14 OS and Samsung’s One UI 6.0 skin, running the complete experience rather than the laggy, unreliable “Core” versions of old.

Everything feels responsive enough for most common needs like web browsing, maps and navigation, simple gaming, email, messaging, and media consumption. You won’t be playing cutting-edge 3D titles at max settings or juggling dozens of demanding apps. But I no longer feel the device struggles with basic functions either.

In my experience, this marks the first time an A0-series phone ships as a properly functional, if basic, entry-level Samsung device at its price rather than a crippled also-ran. It reminds me of what the lineup aimed to deliver years ago before missing the bar.

Samsung also promises at least three years of Android updates for all flagships from 2019 and later, and extended that to four for various devices, including tablets, flagships, foldable phones, cheaper Galaxy A-series phones, and Galaxy Watches.

So this essentially means the A05 will be getting Android 18 and this is one area where it edges its competitors.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Battery & Charging

The A series Samsung phones have always been known for their enticing battery life, and this particular phone is no exception.

It boasts a generous 5,000 mAh battery capacity, which is understandable considering its large size. However, what sets this phone apart is the improved charging speed. With 25W wired charging, it outperforms most of its competitors and previous A0 phones, in charging speeds.

Not only does this phone offer a full day and more of usage on a single charge, but when it eventually runs out of power, it can be juiced up in just a couple of hours, matching the charging speed of higher-tier Samsung devices.

While wireless charging and additional power features are absent, the 25W charging speed is a significant improvement. I should note that you’ll need to get a 25W compatible charging brick to enjoy the benefits.

Samsung Galaxy A05: Cameras

When it comes to the camera setup, it’s no surprise that the Galaxy A05 doesn’t boast the best camera system in the world. However, Samsung has made some practical changes to this phone’s camera setup, focusing on functionality rather than simply adding random lenses and gimmicky shooting modes.

The dual-lens setup on the back consists of a 50 MP F1.8 aperture main shooter and a 2 MP depth sensor. While there is no macro lens, which is understandable as it often lacks utility, the absence of a wide-angle lens is a disappointment.

The selfie camera has seen a slight improvement, now featuring an 8MP sensor. The camera app still offers a basic set of features, including 10X digital zoom, basic pro controls, panorama, night mode, and slow-mo, which have been available for years.

However, there are also robust portrait mode controls that allow users to adjust the depth of field and utilize the secondary depth-sensing lens. Unfortunately, 4K video recording is not supported.

 

In terms of image quality, the pictures captured by the A05’s camera still give off a budget feel. They lack sharpness and fine details, while the colors tend to be oversaturated. Additionally, focusing issues were observed with the rear lens.

Overall, the camera setup feels like it utilizes outdated hardware, and the software and CPU struggle to compensate. While it can still capture decent pictures of pets, kids, and food, don’t expect anything exceptional.

Conclusion

The A05 may not be the best budget Samsung phone out there, but it remedies critical flaws that rendered past A0 models ineffective for basic use. This feels like meaningful progress where it matters most.

Usability and real-world performance now seem responsive enough for daily needs, not hamstrung by insufficient hardware. The design shows some refinement as well – still plastic but less chintzy. Faster charging rates also facilitate convenience.

Individually, these changes appear modest. Collectively, they modernize an entry-level device to suit budget-conscious consumers rather than disappoint. Those buyers want reliability without major compromise, not top-tier frills.

In that regard, the Galaxy A05 finally fulfills the series’ original promise as an affordable yet functional Samsung phone – a usability baseline past models couldn’t achieve. It rights previous wrongs.

So, Should You Buy The Galaxy A05?

So, with all that out of the way, should you buy the Galaxy A05? If your budget is strictly capped at KSH 20,000, I’d recommend the 128GB A05 model for sufficient storage. Just temper expectations around more demanding use cases.

However, if higher memory and storage take priority, consider rivals like the Xiaomi Redmi 13C or Tecno Spark 20 in the same bracket. They offer better configurations, albeit with different tradeoffs.

On the other hand, if you can stretch your budget slightly to around KSH 25,000, take a look at the Galaxy A05s. It represents a meaningful step up over the A05 in areas like camera quality and display resolution for the premium.

Whether those upgrades justify the extra cost depends on your needs and finances.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts: do you believe the Galaxy A05 now hits that baseline to consider purchasing? Or do you expect more features and quality without a price hike? Let me know which improvements mattered most, and which you still found lacking.