Samsung Galaxy A03 Review - Student Friendly Smartphone
Samsung's latest addition to its Galaxy A-Series the Galaxy A03 features better cameras, increased storage space, and long battery life. It's available in 3 variants and is reasonably priced.
The Samsung Galaxy A03 is available in three storage configurations: 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB. Samsung Philippines provided us with the 4GB + 64GB model for review; now it's time to share our hands-on experience.
Samsung Galaxy A03 Specs:
Android 11, Samsung One UI
6.55-inch HD+ TFT LCD display, 1600 x 720 pixel resolution, 267ppi
1.6GHz octa-core processor
3GB/4GB RAM
32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage
Expandable via microSD
48MP, f/1.8 + 2MP depth sensor rear cameras, LED flash
5MP selfie camera
Single loudspeaker, Headphone jack
Dolby Atmos
Dual SIM, Dual standby
HSPA+, 4G LTE
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
micro-USB
5,000mAh battery
Colors: Blue, Red, Black
196g
Design and Built
The Galaxy A03 is an entry-level smartphone that is ideal for students or first-time jobbers. It comes in a plain white box with a print of the Samsung Galaxy A03 on the front and technical specifications on the back.
The box contains the Galaxy A03 phone, a micro-USB cable, a charger, a SIM card pin, as well as the user manual and warranty information; unfortunately, no protective case and earphones included. But, you can always buy your own wired or wireless earphones from a variety of brands, such as the FreeFun TWS.
Students will appreciate the streamlined design of the Galaxy A03 with its cross-hatched light pattern and soft-matte surface on the back, as well as the curved edges, which make it easy to hold. It comes in three different colors: black, red, and blue, the latter of which is the color of our review unit.
The power button and volume rocker are conveniently located on the right side. While the SIM slot on the left features a triple tray layout that accepts two nano-SIM cards and a microSD card for extra storage.
At the back it sports a dual-camera system with a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 2-megapixel depth camera with Live Focus effects its housed in a square frame with the LED flashlight and have a minimal bump, it's recommended to get a protective case, but since it doesn't come with one, you'll need to buy one separately.
The usual 3.5mm audio jack, loudspeaker, micro-USB connector, and microphone are located at the bottom of the device; an additional microphone is located at the top.
The Galaxy A03 is a well-built smartphone with a really nice design and it appears to be durable enough for students and workers to utilize as a daily driver. In terms of build quality and aesthetics, the Galaxy A03 is an excellent choice for students and workers who need a smartphone they can rely on for everyday use.
In terms of security, it doesn't have a fingerprint scanner, which is kind of strange since even other brands have this feature on thier entry-level smartphone. It lacks a fingerprint scanner, which is odd since other brands have this feature on thier entry-level smartphone.
Display
The 6.5-inch Infinity-V display on the Galaxy A03 makes it excellent for streaming Netflix content and playing video games. The 5-megapixel front camera with Live Focus makes it ideal for video conferencing and online classes.
The screen has an 81.8% screen-to-body ratio) and has a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. Additionally, It also has a nice 20:9 aspect ratio, which is ideal for viewing in landscape mode.
The display is nothing spectacular; the colors and sharpness are adequate. There are no visibility or reading concerns when using it on a daily basis; it's also ideal for watching YouTube lesson videos for school activities, work-related videos, or simply to unwind and watch your favorite series on Netflix.
Performance
The Galaxy A03 is powered by a 1.6GHz octa-core processor. While Samsung did not disclose the processor type, CPU-Z revealed that it is a Unisoc UMS9230 octa-core processor with multitasking capabilities. Additionally, it features 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage, as well as microSD card support for additional storage.
Performance
The Galaxy A03 is powered by a 1.6GHz octa-core processor. While Samsung did not disclose the processor type, CPU-Z revealed that it is a Unisoc UMS9230 octa-core processor with multitasking capabilities. Additionally, it features 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage, as well as microSD card support for additional storage.
On AnTuTu it scores 166,414 while on Geekbench 5, it managed to score just 125 in the single-core and 470 in the multi-core tests.
Out of the box, it runs on the Android 11 with One UI 3,0 Core on top and since the software is optimized to run on this not-so-powerful hardware, it runs smoothly without a hit of lag using the usual daily apps such as, browsing the web, updating social media accounts, zoom meetings, playing light games, and using the camera to snap some photos.
It can handle multitasking well, with a minor latency when switching between apps, which is to be expected considering it uses an older CPU. Still, it's an ideal base device for students to use for their daily online school needs, particularly since it comes with a complete suite of Google apps, making it simple to access Google Drive, Google Meeting, and other apps.
In terms of gameplay, it's capable of running popular online games such as PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile, and Mobile Legends; however, don't expect to be able to play at high graphics settings on these apps.
It can handle multitasking well, with a minor latency when switching between apps, which is to be expected considering it uses an older CPU. Still, it's an ideal base device for students to use for their daily online school needs, particularly since it comes with a complete suite of Google apps, making it simple to access Google Drive, Google Meeting, and other apps.
In terms of gameplay, it's capable of running popular online games such as PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile, and Mobile Legends; however, don't expect to be able to play at high graphics settings on these apps.
For security, it features face recognition, a pattern, a PIN, and a password, but as we mentioned earlier it lacks a fingerprint scanner, which is a slight disadvantage but it's not a deal-breaker.
Cameras
The Galaxy A03 is equipped with a dual-camera system on the back that includes a 48-megapixel primary shooter and a 2-megapixel depth lens. While the 5-megapixel front-facing camera is ideal for snapping selfies and for video conferences.
Cameras
The Galaxy A03 is equipped with a dual-camera system on the back that includes a 48-megapixel primary shooter and a 2-megapixel depth lens. While the 5-megapixel front-facing camera is ideal for snapping selfies and for video conferences.
The camera app supports the following modes: Photo, Portrait, Video, Professional, Food, Panorama Night, and Hyperlapse. Additionally, it features a Deco Pic, which allows you to use the selfie camera and interact with the stickers.
During daylight, the main camera can take really nice photos. It is also capable of zooming up to 4x; however, when magnified from 3x to 4x, the quality of the images is expected to drop significantly.
Sample Photos:
Outdoor Shot
Landscape
Landscape
Bokeh
Night shot
More photos taken using the Samsung Galaxy A03 here.
The camera produces dull and grainy images in low light conditions; however, the included Night mode, which needs a 4-second shutter delay, helps to preserve a little more light detail for photos. AI software performs well in AI Beauty and Pro settings, elevating photos to a better quality.
The Galaxy A03 is capable of recording videos up to 1080p resolution, but a steady hand is needed since its lacks video stabilization. Also, the native camera app includes amazing tools for capturing the most precious moments in life.
Its 5-megapixel front camera features a bokeh effect is ideal for video conferencing, lectures, and taking selfies for posting it on social media.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Galaxy A03 is excellent, with a 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery providing enough power for a full day of use on a single charge.
Charging the battery takes roughly 3 hours with the included 7.8W charger, which is a little slow since it does not support fast charging.
Pros
Affordable Samsung Galaxy Phone
Nice Infinity-V display
Good Performance
Good Camera
Impressive battery life
Cons
Uses old SoC
No fingerprint sensor
No Fast charging support
Final Thoughts
Although the Samsung Galaxy A03 isn't as powerful as some of its rivals, it's still a great choice for students and first-time professionals searching for an affordable smartphone that they can use for their day-to-day activities, thanks to its large display, good cameras, and long battery life.
The Samsung Galaxy A03 is now available for the following variants:
3+32GB - ₱5,490 SRP
3+64GB - ₱6,490 SRP
4+128GB - ₱7,490 SRP
Its also available for as low as ₱660/month for up to 6 months at 0% interest via Home Credit until March 31, 2022. Those who purchase the Galaxy A03 until March 31 will also receive a 1-year free subscription to VIU Premium worth ₱999.
The Galaxy A03 is capable of recording videos up to 1080p resolution, but a steady hand is needed since its lacks video stabilization. Also, the native camera app includes amazing tools for capturing the most precious moments in life.
Its 5-megapixel front camera features a bokeh effect is ideal for video conferencing, lectures, and taking selfies for posting it on social media.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Galaxy A03 is excellent, with a 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery providing enough power for a full day of use on a single charge.
Charging the battery takes roughly 3 hours with the included 7.8W charger, which is a little slow since it does not support fast charging.
Pros
Affordable Samsung Galaxy Phone
Nice Infinity-V display
Good Performance
Good Camera
Impressive battery life
Cons
Uses old SoC
No fingerprint sensor
No Fast charging support
Final Thoughts
Although the Samsung Galaxy A03 isn't as powerful as some of its rivals, it's still a great choice for students and first-time professionals searching for an affordable smartphone that they can use for their day-to-day activities, thanks to its large display, good cameras, and long battery life.
The Samsung Galaxy A03 is now available for the following variants:
3+32GB - ₱5,490 SRP
3+64GB - ₱6,490 SRP
4+128GB - ₱7,490 SRP
Its also available for as low as ₱660/month for up to 6 months at 0% interest via Home Credit until March 31, 2022. Those who purchase the Galaxy A03 until March 31 will also receive a 1-year free subscription to VIU Premium worth ₱999.
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