Samsung Galaxy A15 5G review

The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is the successor to final yr’s A14, which sat atop our checklist of the most effective funds telephones. It subsequently has its work minimize out if it needs to keep up its grip on the funds market, which yearly appears so as to add new entrants in a position to squeeze extra priceless options into reasonably priced frames.

Luckily, the A15 5G succeeds on nearly all fronts, combining deceptively trendy seems with a 90Hz show, a long-lasting battery, user-friendly software program and a stable most important digital camera.

Simply how a lot value-for-money does it provide, and does it examine to extra mid-range and costly alternate options?

Design & Construct

• Stylish color decisions
• Flat-edged plastic physique
• No IP score

It could carry the ‘funds’ tag, however the Galaxy A15 5G seems like a costlier cellphone than it truly is. Except for the all-important Samsung brand, it contains a very tasteful selection of colors, all of which shimmer and replicate otherwise as you flip the cellphone in your arms.

My overview mannequin sports activities the Character Yellow color, which lives as much as its title by giving the cellphone some distinctiveness in a market saturated by uninspired funds cellphone designs. It seems contemporary, shiny and fashionable whereas serving to you disguise the truth that you haven’t spent £1,000 on a cell.

It additionally helps that the A15 5G has the identical form of flat-edged design because the S24 lineup, with its squared sides making it simpler to grip. There’s a neat triple-lens digital camera module on the rear of the cellphone, arrayed in a vertical line within the top-left nook, with the Samsung brand on the backside rounding off a laudably uncluttered design.

The cellphone is comparatively light-weight, with its 200g making it snug to hold and use for longer durations. With a 6.5in display screen onboard (extra about that under), it’s comparatively massive, though not too massive.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

It’s value mentioning that, at 8.4mm, it’s about 1mm thicker than the usual Galaxy S24, in addition to considered one of its most important rivals, the Motorola Moto G84 5G. This isn’t an excessive amount of of an issue, because it by no means feels significantly weighty or cumbersome in your arms.

However as aesthetically pleasing because the A15 is, it lacks an IP score of any form in any respect. Mixed with a typical glass display screen, this implies you could must take a bit of extra care with it than you’ll with one thing extra premium.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.5in Tremendous AMOLED show
• Teardrop selfie notch
• 90Hz refresh price

The Galaxy A15 5G represents one thing of an improve over its predecessor within the display screen division, that includes a 6.5in Tremendous AMOLED panel, versus the much less spectacular LCD show of the A14.

This makes the cellphone nice for watching movies, TV and movies, with the high-definition 1080p decision making it greater than usable as a media gadget.

Whereas it doesn’t fairly examine to extra flagship fashions, the 90Hz refresh price is tremendous clean, particularly when in comparison with the 60Hz charges you discover on commonplace iPhone fashions.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

Brightness doesn’t fairly examine to those promising core specs, with its max topping out at simply over 800 nits. This isn’t an excessive amount of of an issue in most contexts, with the adaptive brightness typically filling within the gaps, however you might have to manually elevate the brightness to the restrict when taking the cellphone to a sunny park or seashore.

In comparison with pricier fashions, the bezel surrounding the A15’s show is pretty thick, significantly on the backside. The cellphone additionally homes a teardrop selfie notch, which is much less discreet than the pinhole cameras you discover on Galaxy S fashions, as an example, and can in all probability reinforce the feeling of dealing with a less expensive gadget.

Nonetheless, the A15’s display screen does look fairly general, significantly for a cellphone in its worth vary.

Its audio system additionally punch a bit of above their weight, even when they’re neither stereo nor spectacular, with music – even pretty dense music – sounding clear and properly layered.

Specs & Efficiency

• Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ chipset
• 4GB RAM and 128GB storage
• MicroSDXC slot

There’s little doubt that efficiency is the Galaxy A15’s weak level, which in all probability isn’t shocking for a funds cellphone.

It runs on a Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ chipset, which is a 6nm processor constructed to deal with 5G. It’s in any other case an identical in specs and efficiency to the Helio G99 processor discovered contained in the non-5G Galaxy A15.

As with the A15 4G mannequin, the A15 5G comes with 4GB of RAM. That is on the decrease finish of the RAM spectrum, even for some funds telephones, with the Motorola Moto G84 5G wielding a really spectacular 12GB of RAM for instance.

In follow, this implies you’ll expertise a good quantity of slowdown and lag, even when opening apps and pursuing a few of the extra mundane duties your cellphone does for you.

In comparison with one thing like a Galaxy S24 or an iPhone 15, you’ll positively discover a palpable distinction in fact, and anybody hoping to avoid wasting cash whereas having fun with 2024 efficiency might be dissatisfied.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

It additionally signifies that any form of high-end gaming is kind of unattainable on the A15, whereas much less superior video games can even run into slowing points. Nonetheless, finishing on a regular basis duties and looking the online is usually superb as soon as corresponding apps have opened, so much less formidable customers received’t have too many points.

The A15 additionally supplies 128GB of inner storage, which is completely superb for a ‘typical’ consumer who in all probability received’t be utilizing it for rather more than calling/messaging, social networking and taking pictures. There’s a microSDXC slot, so should you’re somebody who likes to take loads of pictures and movies, you’ve gotten the choice of increasing on what you obtain out of the field.

Lastly, the benchmarks under verify that the A15 5G is among the least-powered telephones launched by a significant producer this yr. With solely 4GB of RAM, it’s outperformed by a number of of its funds rivals.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp most important rear digital camera
• 5Mp ultrawide
• 2Mp macro lens
• 13Mp selfie digital camera

Samsung makes a few of the greatest digital camera telephones round, and whereas the A15 5G isn’t considered one of them, it supplies sufficient digital camera prowess for the value.

The spotlight – the one actual spotlight – is the primary 50Mp broad lens, which might do an excellent job in the best arms and light-weight. It doesn’t function optical picture stabilisation (OIS) like most mobiles as we speak, however its use of autofocus does nonetheless typically make it straightforward to make use of and to seize pleasing photographs.

In my expertise, the digital camera’s palette is well-balanced and naturalistic, with little of the oversaturation that used to bug earlier generations of Galaxy telephones. Skies aren’t overexposed, colors are vibrant with out being too vibrant, whereas the Portrait mode supplies sufficient element whereas being flattering.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

That is the place the excellent news ends, nevertheless, as a result of the extra two lenses really feel extra like box-ticking workouts than real additions to the cellphone’s arsenal.

The ultrawide lens can take pretty helpful panoramic photographs if used with a gradual hand, however just a few of our pics ended up having blurred edges or strains, not less than once you zoomed in a bit of. It’s the same story with the 2Mp macro lens, in that photographs normally look superb at first look, however a more in-depth inspection reveals a bit of an excessive amount of rawness and blur.

As such, customers will have to be cautious to get probably the most out of the cellphone’s further cameras, one thing which will also be stated for its evening mode. The latter can be utilized nicely in some circumstances and scenes, however it may be hit or miss, so photographers should have some endurance.

The 13Mp front-facing lens does fare higher than the 2 additional rear lenses, in that it’s extra forgiving and might take flattering selfies in most lights. It’s not good and might lack a sure liveliness, however it is going to actually present sufficient usable photographs for social media and sharing.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• No wi-fi charging

With a 5000mAh battery on board and relatively restricted drains on its sources, the Galaxy A15 5G is constructed to final customers by way of the day, if not significantly longer.

The PCMark for Android battery take a look at returned a powerful results of simply over 15 hours, whereas my day-to-day use of the gadget discovered me simply making it by way of to a second day while not having to recharge.

Sure, the extent will drop extra rapidly should you maintain the 90Hz mode on on a regular basis and use the cellphone for complete afternoons or evenings. However provided that the A15 isn’t actually minimize out to be a devoted gaming cellphone, as an example, the everyday consumer might discover themselves utilizing it for less than important functions, extending its battery life right into a second day.

As beneficiant because the cellphone’s battery is, the A15 doesn’t include a charger out of the field. And it’s appropriate with chargers of a most of solely 25W, so replenishing the battery isn’t a very speedy affair although a results of 55% in half an hour isn’t unhealthy both, managing to match the 33W Redmi Observe 13 5G with the identical battery capability.

This doesn’t detract from the worth for cash supplied by the A15’s battery an excessive amount of. The cellphone will show a dependable companion for many customers, saving them from worries that they might run out of juice earlier than they return residence.

Software program & Apps

• Android 14
• One UI 6
• Three years of core updates
• No AI options

The Galaxy A15 5G runs on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.0 excessive, retaining a lot of the options One UI 6 brings to extra premium Galaxy telephones.

The one vital omissions are the absence of an always-on show and DeX mode, which might be not shocking provided that the A15 isn’t marketed as a productiveness cellphone and Samsung is inside its rights to maintain options for costlier fashions.

In any other case, the A15 affords a usually clean One UI expertise, even when the cellphone’s gradual efficiency means you might have to attend a second longer than standard for apps to open. Menus such because the Fast Settings panel are straightforward to entry and laid out intuitively, with the bigger icons making issues less complicated.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

As with different Galaxy telephones, the A15 affords loads of customization choices, permitting customers to alter wallpapers, residence and app screens to swimsuit. It additionally affords the Modes and Routines options first launched with One UI 5, permitting you to regulate settings based on the time of day, what you’re doing and/or the place you’re.

One slight, albeit completely unsurprising, draw back is that the A15 doesn’t include any of the neat AI-based options yow will discover with the Samsung Galaxy S24 collection. It is a disgrace, however provided that these options don’t provide something really game-changing (but), most customers in all probability received’t discover.

In contrast to the equally reasonably priced Galaxy A25 5G, which Samsung will deal with to 4 years of core Android updates, the A15 5G will obtain three. This can be disappointing for some, however given how underpowered the A15 already is, it might not be sensible to anticipate Samsung to increase its software program life too far and that is typical for telephones of this worth.

Worth & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G launched with a worth of £199. UK clients can even purchase it from Amazon, Very and Currys.

The A15 5G comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of reminiscence as commonplace, however sure areas have the chance to purchase the cellphone with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. 

Sadly that’s not the case within the US the place the cellphone is $199.99 and solely out there in two colors from the official retailer. It’s also possible to get it from Amazon and BestBuy.

So far as alternate options go, there’s the 4G model of the A15, which can prevent £30 should you’re not too fussed about 5G. There’s additionally the Galaxy A25, which for about £50 additional provides extra RAM, a sooner processor and a brighter show with a good smoother 120Hz refresh price.

One other good choice is the Motorola Moto G84, which is one other extra highly effective choice in the identical worth bracket. Discover extra choices in our greatest funds telephones chart.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is a really robust all-round funds cellphone, with its solely actual weak spot being its lack of computing energy. 

Due to this fact don’t purchase it with gaming or different demanding duties in thoughts however aside from this, it affords nice seems, a giant fluid show, a good most important digital camera, and spectacular battery life.

Sure, the extra digital camera lenses aren’t significantly helpful, and sure, three years of core Android updates isn’t something to write down residence about, however there are minor blemishes on a funds cellphone that in any other case supplies nice worth.

Specs

• Android 14, One UI 6
• 6.5in Tremendous AMOLED (2340×1080) 19.5:9, 90Hz
• Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ processor
• 4GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 128GB RAM UFS 2.2 inner storage
• Cameras:
• 50Mp most important/broad sensor
• 2Mp macro
• 5Mp ultrawide
• 13Mp entrance dealing with
• Aspect-mounted fingerprint scanner
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz+5GHz, VHT80
• Twin SIM (Nano-SIM, twin stand-by)
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 5,000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• 160.1 x 76.8 x 8.4mm
• 200g