One of the cheapest – and best – ways to get a 5G phone in your hand is with the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. Here’s everything you need to know about this mid-range, great value smartphone from January 2021.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G key features
As part of Samsung’s mid-range set, the Galaxy A32 5G comes at an excellent price. It isn’t the cheapest phone on the market, but it’s far from the most expensive either. For the specs and hardware you get, it’s fantastic value.
For instance, it comes with 5G connectivity – currently a rarity for a mid-range smartphone.
The design is also on par with Samsung’s more premium handsets. It’s attractive and pleasant to use.
You can also enjoy great battery life. The A32 5G can go all day on a single charge.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G dimensions
The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G measures 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1mm.
It houses a screen that measures 6.5 inches.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G design
The Galaxy A32 certainly looks very Samsung. It matches the manufacturer’s flagships, almost indistinguishable from the Galaxy S handsets to the untrained eye.
The front is taken up mostly by the screen, with a small curved notch for the camera at the top, and bezels at the edges measuring a couple of millimetres.
The back is a solid colour with a column of camera lenses in the top corner. It’s made of shiny plastic – it’s a little less premium than the glossy glass of Samsung’s flagships, but still looks rather attractive.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G camera?
For a mid-range smartphone, the camera is pretty good. The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G can take some great snaps with good colour capture that you’ll be proud to share.
It has an incredible four camera lenses:
- 48MP main lens
- 8MP 123-degree ultrawide
- 5MP macro
- 2MP depth
They aren’t quite as top-notch as you’ll see on more expensive phones, but aren’t to be sniffed at.
On the front of the phone, you’ll see a 13MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture, meaning high-res selfies that can easily get multiple people in shot.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G display?
It’s decent. A few corners have been cut compared to Samsung’s flagships, but it’s not a bad bit of tech at all.
The size is good, at a nice large 6.5 inches. The resolution is 720 x 1600 pixels, which could be better – the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has a Full HD+ 1080p resolution – but in all fairness, it’s still very high, similar to a lot of laptop screens. You’ll be able to see pictures in clear definition and watch HD movies.
It’s also got a refresh rate of 90Hz, which is better than you’ll find on the majority of mid-range smartphones. What it means day-to-day is smooth movement when you’re playing games, watching videos, or even just scrolling text. It’s a nice touch.
And finally, the display is also made of Gorilla Glass 5, making it pretty resistant to scratches and shatters.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G battery life?
The battery life is one of the best features of the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. It sports a huge 5000mAh battery, which can go all day easily without needing a charge.
In fact, some independent tests reckon it can last more than 20 hours on a single charge – that’s impressive.
What are the key differences between the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G was released a year later than the A32, so it has some more up-to-date specs. That includes better processors, more RAM, and higher internal storage options.
The display is noticeably improved on the A33 too, with a full HD 1080p resolution and higher brightness levels.
The main camera lens on the A33 is better too, and unlike the A32 the phone can record video in 4K resolution.
On the other hand, the A33 drops the headphone jack. Stick with the A32 if you like to plug in.
And finally, price. Being an older model, the A32 costs a little less than the A33.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent value
- Great battery life that lasts all day on one charge
- 5G connectivity included
- Decent display
- Has a 3.5mm headphone jack
Cons
- Not the best performance
- Display isn’t as good as higher-end Samsungs
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 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 competitor is OnePlus. It offers great phones, featuring a few higher specs than the Samsung Galaxy A range at a similar cost.
MoneySuperMarket’s expert rating: 4/5
As mid-range smartphones go, this is a good one. Although it’s clear where it doesn’t quite measure up to Samsung’s biggest and brightest, what you do get is a nonetheless fantastic phone.
And vitally, it shines in all the ways that give the average person what we want from a smartphone: decent cameras, a screen that won’t shatter, good battery life, and a platform that simply works. Best of all, it does all that at a good value price.
It’s a solid 4 out of 5 from us.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G contract options
There are plenty of options for getting an A32 5G on contract from a network. Use our comparison tool to see everything available that we’ve found.
Adjust the filters, and we’ll only show you the deals that have what you’re looking for – whether that’s unlimited data, no upfront cost, or a preferred contract length.
What was the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G’s release date?
The Galaxy A32 5G was released on 22nd January 2021.
A version without 5G, the Samsung Galaxy A32, was also released on 25th February 2021.
Is the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G worth buying in 2023?
The Galaxy A32 5G was released at the start of 2021, and at release Samsung guaranteed at least three years of platform updates and four years of security patches.
So, use your judgment here. Consider how long you want to keep this phone for before your next upgrade, and how much you care about software updates.
It may well be that one of the latest Samsung Galaxy handsets is the best choice for you.
Is now a good time to buy the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G?
If you spot a good deal on a Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, it’s always a good time to go for it – especially as some deals are only available for a limited time.
The only time when it may be worth waiting is if it’s time for a new cohort of mid-range Samsung Galaxy models to land. That’s usually early on in the year, often early spring.
Will the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G drop in price?
Samsung Galaxy phones usually drop in price when a new version is released. For Galaxy A models, including A3 phones, that’s usually springtime.
You may also see drops in price when retailers run special deals, or for limited-time sales such as Black Friday.
Galaxy A32 5G specs
Manufacturer | Samsung |
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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 | 76.1mm x 9.1mm x 164.2mm |
Weight | 205 g |
Battery Type | Lithium Ion |
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Capacity | 5000 mah |
Standby | hours |
Talktime | hours |
Display Size | 6.5 inches |
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Screen Type | TFT |
Resolution | 720 x 1600 inches |
Pixels Per Inch | 270 ppi |
Touch Screen Type | Capacitive |
CPU | 0 mhz |
---|---|
Processor Cores | Octa Core Cores |
Memory | 6000 MB |
Internal Storage | 64, 128 |
---|---|
External Storage | Micro SDXC |
Primary Camera | 48 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 | 2160 |
2nd Camera | 13 MP |
Generation | 5G |
---|---|
Frequency | Dual-band |
NFC | No |
Wi-Fi | No |
Wi-Fi Hotspot | No |
Wi-Fi Direct | No |
Bluetooth | No |
USB | No |
Loudspeaker | Yes |
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