For a cheap and cheerful smartphone, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy A0 range. Released in January 2021, the Galaxy A02s is a lower-priced handset that sits alongside its top flagships.
Samsung Galaxy A02s key features
The main advantage of the Samsung Galaxy A02s is its very low price, even at launch.
But despite that, it has the same sleek design we can expect from Samsung – featuring a nice big 6.5-inch screen covering the whole front of the phone, and a smooth glossy back.
It also boasts good battery life, so it can go all day on a single charge.
Samsung Galaxy A02s dimensions
The Galaxy A02s has typical Samsung dimensions: 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1mm. That’s about the same size as the Galaxy S11 and S22 Ultra models.
It houses a screen that measures 6.5 inches. More of which later.
Samsung Galaxy A02s design
The design of the Galaxy A02s is as sleek as we can always expect from Samsung. It looks just like the manufacturers’ flagships: a nice big 6.5-inch screen covers the whole front of the phone, while the back is glossy with a very faint diamond pattern.
Made primarily out of plastic, the A02 feels a little cheap compared to reassuringly weighty higher-end phones with metal constructions. But it certainly doesn’t look like a low-cost handset.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy A02s camera?
The Samsung Galaxy A02s camera setup is pretty decent – especially at this price point.
It features three lenses: the main 13MP snapper, and two 2MP lenses – one for depth and the other for macro shots. This means you can get a good range of different shots, from landscapes to portraits.
It doesn’t have the best light capture on the market, and you’ll of course find significantly better cameras on more expensive phones. Especially flagship Samsung Galaxy handsets. But for a budget smartphone, amateur photographers won’t be disappointed.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy A02s display?
Measuring 6.5 inches, the A02s’ display is nice and large, with plenty of space to watch videos, do some light work while you’re on the move, and play games.
The resolution is 720 x 1600 pixels, which is far from the highest res on the smartphone market – though certainly clear enough for its size. (You’ll get a similar resolution on most laptops, for comparison.)
It uses LCD tech, so it’s quite bright and easy to see even in bright sunlight.
Sure it’s not as crisp and clear as the QHD OLED display on the Samsung Galaxy S20, but at this price there’s very little to complain about.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy A02s battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy A02s comes packing a whopper of a 5000mAh battery. That’s pretty large, especially as it doesn’t need to run particularly powerful tech.
What that translates to is great battery life day to day. It’ll last all day and beyond, with independent tests indicating it lasts go up to 22+ hours a day on one charge.
Samsung Galaxy A02s pros and cons
Pros
- Sleek design
- Large, bright screen
- Very low price
- Good battery life
- Has a 3.5mm headphone jack
Cons
- Specs are low, including processors and memory
- Cameras aren’t the best on the market
- Cheap build quality
- No 5G
How does Samsung compare to other smartphone manufacturers?
Samsung is one of the best smartphone brands, consistently producing some of the top Android phones on the market. It’s often better known for its major flagships, however, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22.
Its nearest competitor is the Google Pixel line of handsets. These are also Android, running the purest version of the OS, and because it comes straight from Google it runs it perfectly. You’ll see similar specs to Samsung models at a high level – but Google doesn’t really have a decent budget line like Samsung does.
At this price point, meanwhile, the best competitors are Motorola and HTC. Both offer great phones, featuring a few higher specs than the Samsung Galaxy A02s at a similar cost. That said, Samsung tends to have a better long-term track record of producing handsets that last.
MoneySuperMarket’s expert rating: 3/5
It’s hardly the best phone on the market – look to the latest and great Samsung Galaxy S handsets for that – but the Galaxy A02s has some clear pros. And for a budget-priced phone, it has a lot to offer.
It’s a great choice for anyone who just needs a phone to make calls, message the group chat, and scroll a bit of social media, and wants to do all that at a cheap price with a battery that can power it all day.
Samsung Galaxy A02s contract options
A mobile contract can help make this already low-priced phone even easier to pay for by spreading the cost out across a year or more.
Compare all your options for Samsung Galaxy A02s contracts above, using our comparison tool. Click on the filters and sliders to find all the deals that fit what you’re looking for – such as contracts with unlimited data, or with no upfront cost.
What was the Samsung Galaxy A02s release date?
The Samsung Galaxy A02s was released on 4th January 2021.
Is the Samsung Galaxy A02s worth buying in 2023?
The Galaxy A02s wasn’t even a top-tier phone at the time of its release, but was designed as a viable budget version of Samsung’s best.
What that means is that the A02s is packing some quality tech, and should remain future-proof for some time.
If you’re on a tight budget but are willing to pay for a slightly better Samsung phone, there are more recent handsets in the Galaxy A range available – such as the Samsung Galaxy A03s.
Is now a good time to buy the Samsung Galaxy A02s?
If you find a fantastic deal that you like, go for it.
Samsung tends to announce new flagship phones in the autumn, and new phones in the Galaxy A range (including A0 models, like this one) in early spring. So if that time is coming up, it could be worth waiting to see what the new cohort has to offer.
Will the Samsung Galaxy A02s drop in price?
Samsung handsets usually drop in price when new models are announced. In the case of the Galaxy A range, that’s early on in the year.
You’ll also see drops in price when special offers arrive, such as Black Friday or the January sales.
Should I upgrade to a newer Samsung Galaxy?
That depends if you’re willing to spend a little more.
The latest Samsung Galaxy A0 model is a touch better, and you’ll only pay a bit more for it. Other Galaxy A phones are better too (A1 models are better than A0 models, A2 models are better still, and so on), but, again, they cost more. If your budget really is tight, though, you’re safe with the A02s.
If you want top specs and a really premium smartphone in your hands, however, look to Samsung flagships – the Galaxy S range.
Galaxy A02s specs
Manufacturer | Samsung |
---|---|
Operating System | Android |
Sim Card Type | Nano |
Accelerometer | Yes |
---|---|
Proximity | Yes |
Compass | Yes |
Barometer | Yes |
Gyroscope | Yes |
GPS | No |
Form Factor | Candy Bar |
---|---|
Thickness | 9.1 mm |
Size | 75.9mm x 9.1mm x 164.2mm |
Weight | 196 g |
Battery Type | Lithium Polymer |
---|---|
Capacity | 5000 mah |
Standby | hours |
Talktime | hours |
Display Size | 6.5 inches |
---|---|
Screen Type | IPS LCD |
Resolution | 720 x 1600 inches |
Pixels Per Inch | 270 ppi |
Touch Screen Type | Capacitive |
CPU | 0 mhz |
---|---|
Processor Cores | Octa Core Cores |
Memory | 4000 MB |
Internal Storage | 16, 32, 64 |
---|---|
External Storage | Micro SDXC |
Primary Camera | 13 MP |
---|---|
Flash | Yes |
LED Flash | |
GEO Tagging | Yes |
Auto Focus | Yes |
Fixed Focus | Yes |
Touch Focus | |
Face Detection | Yes |
Smile Detection | |
Image Stabilisation | Yes |
Video Quality | 1080 |
2nd Camera | 5 MP |
Generation | 4G |
---|---|
Frequency | |
NFC | No |
Wi-Fi | No |
Wi-Fi Hotspot | No |
Wi-Fi Direct | No |
Bluetooth | No |
USB | No |
Loudspeaker | Yes |
---|