Samsung Galaxy A04

Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy A04 is a true gem among budget-friendly smartphones, delivering exceptional value without compromising quality. Immerse yourself in a vibrant and captivating visual experience with its expansive 6.5-inch HD+ display, perfect for indulging in videos and seamless web browsing. Embracing style and practicality, the A04 boasts a sleek plastic body with a matte finish, ensuring resistance to pesky fingerprints and smudges while presenting three elegant colors initially when launched: classic black, striking blue, and refreshing green, but now more colors are available.

At the heart of the A04 beats the robust combination of a MediaTek Helio P35 processor and 3/4GB of RAM, unleashing seamless performance for everyday tasks like web surfing, email checking, and social media engagement. Though it may not be tailored for resource-intensive pursuits such as gaming or video editing, its intuitive Android 12 OS, adorned with Samsung's One UI 4.1 skin, ensures a user-friendly interface that beckons exploration and easy navigation.

Capturing life's moments with brilliance is made possible by the A04's triple-lens rear camera system. Encompassing a 50MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor, this versatile setup yields commendable results under favorable lighting conditions. However, that low-light photography may yield some graininess in the shots. The 5MP front-facing camera is equally impressive, lending itself to stunning selfies and seamless video calls.

No need to fret about frequent charging, as the A04 houses a robust 5000mAh battery, standing as a reliable companion for enduring daily usage on a single charge. When the need arises, 15W fast charging support is rescued, ensuring minimal downtime.

The Samsung Galaxy A04 is a commendable choice for those seeking an affordable smartphone without sacrificing indispensable features. Its striking display, long-lasting battery life, and adept camera system make it an ideal companion for day-to-day activities. While it may not cater to the most demanding tasks, its consistent performance for basic smartphone functions guarantees satisfaction. When affordability meets functionality, the A04 stands tall as the embodiment of budget-friendly excellence.

Design

Embracing a plastic body donned with a tactile, it has a textured finish; this device assures a non-slip grip, preventing any untimely slips from your grasp.

The front of this gem boasts a sprawling 6.5-inch HD+ LCD that captivates your senses. A subtle waterdrop notch adorns the top, gracefully housing the front-facing camera. While the bezels surrounding the display may be relatively thick, this concession is well within the realm of expectation for a budget phone, ensuring an immersive viewing experience.

On the reverse, a harmonious duo of lenses compose the dual-camera system. The primary camera wields a 50MP sensor, while a supporting 2MP sensor facilitates depth sensing, culminating in shots that indeed come to life. A trusty LED flash stands ready to illuminate your world, ensuring every shot is well-lit and vibrant. And for your convenience, the fingerprint sensor finds its place just below the camera array, offering swift access without a fuss.

Embodying a svelte and lightweight form, the Samsung Galaxy A04 presents a slender profile, measuring a mere 164.4 x 76.3 x 9.1 mm and weighing in at a feather-light of 192 grams. Its ergonomic design makes it an absolute joy to hold and operate, even during prolonged usage.

While it may not stake its claim as the most avant-garde phone on the market, the Samsung Galaxy A04 remains a testament to functional elegance. Built with a keen eye for craftsmanship, it exudes a gratifying tactile experience. So, if you seek an affordable phone with an unassuming yet dependable design, the Samsung Galaxy A04 is a commendable choice.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A04 is an affordable smartphone with commendable performance within its price bracket. Under the hood, it boasts a MediaTek Helio P35 processor, complemented by 3/4GB of RAM and 32/64/128 GB of storage. This configuration adequately handles web browsing, email management, and social media engagement tasks. Even indulging in some light gaming is feasible on the A04, though it may not cope with more demanding titles.

The device's performance is reflected in its benchmark results, scoring a 247 single-core score and 602 multi-core score on Geekbench 5, which aligns well with other budget-friendly smartphones in its category. Furthermore, achieving a 30fps average on the 3DMark Wild Life benchmark is noteworthy for a phone in this price range.

The Samsung Galaxy A04 feels impressively responsive and smooth when used daily. Apps open swiftly, and seamless transitions between them ensure a lag-free experience. The device also easily handles relatively light games, like Alto's Odyssey and Temple Run 2. However, it does exhibit some slowdowns when subjected to more demanding games like PUBG Mobile.

The Samsung Galaxy A04 undoubtedly offers commendable performance, considering its affordability. It is an excellent choice for users seeking a phone primarily for basic tasks and occasional light gaming. For those with higher performance expectations, exploring more premium models might be a more suitable avenue.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A04, a wallet-friendly smartphone, impresses with its camera capabilities at its price point. Sporting a dual-camera setup on the rear, it comprises a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, while the front-facing camera boasts 5 megapixels.

However, when faced with low-light conditions, the primary camera encounters challenges, resulting in noisy images with reduced sharpness. Nevertheless, the Night mode feature comes to the rescue, enhancing the photo quality significantly under such circumstances.

The 2-megapixel depth sensor finds its purpose in creating portrait mode photos, where it generally performs admirably. Subjects are skillfully brought into focus, while the background receives a pleasing blur. Though the edge detection may not always be perfect, slight haloing around the subject can occasionally occur.

On the front, the 5-megapixel camera proves itself by capturing decent selfies. The images showcase sharpness, detail, and faithful color representation. As with the primary camera, the dynamic range remains commendable, making it possible to preserve both shadows and highlights even in front-facing shots.

Summing up, the Samsung Galaxy A04's camera serves as a commendable performer for its price range. It delivers good results in well-lit conditions, with the Night mode stepping in admirably for low-light scenarios. Additionally, the portrait mode feature adds a touch of finesse to the overall camera experience.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A04, a smartphone tailored to budget-conscious consumers, impresses with its remarkable battery life. Equipped with an extensive 5,000mAh battery, it boasts one of the giant batteries within its price segment. In extensive testing, the A04 demonstrated its staying power by comfortably enduring over two days of typical use on a single charge.

The battery remained resilient even when subjected to more demanding endeavors like gaming sessions or video watching. It gracefully offered around a day and a half of runtime before calling for a recharge.

The A04's impressive battery longevity can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the phone's display is modestly sized at 6.5 inches, reducing power consumption while delivering a satisfying visual experience. Secondly, the A04 relies on the efficient MediaTek Helio P35 processor, designed with power-saving capabilities that prevent rapid battery drain compared to specific other processors.

Furthermore, the A04 supports 15W fast charging, allowing users to swiftly up their battery if needed. However, even without resorting to fast charging, the A04's battery life is nothing short of exceptional.

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy A04 epitomizes outstanding battery performance. Among budget-friendly smartphones, it secures its place as one of the best in battery life, making it an ideal choice for users seeking a device that can reliably last them throughout the day and beyond.

User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy A04 boasts a user interface that exudes simplicity and intuitive design. Running on Android 12 with Samsung's One UI Core skin, it offers a clean and modern aesthetic characterized by sizable icons and ample whitespace.

A standout feature in the UI is the One-handed mode, a remarkable addition that scales down the interface for easy thumb reach, catering even to users with smaller hands. This feature ensures comfortable one-handed operation, alleviating any strain on the fingers.

Another convenience lies in the Quick panel, accessible by swiping down from the top of the screen. This nifty pop-up menu provides swift access to essential settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and brightness adjustments.

Gesture-based controls further enhance the user experience. For instance, a simple swipe on the fingerprint sensor unveils notifications, while swiping up from the bottom of the screen promptly takes you home. These clever gestures save time and facilitate seamless navigation throughout the phone.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A04's interface shines excellently crafted and user-friendly. While it may not possess the plethora of features found in more complex interfaces, it more than adequately fulfills the needs and preferences of most users.

Connectivity

The Samsung Galaxy A04 boasts an array of versatile connectivity options, ensuring seamless communication and access to a wide range of features:

4G LTE: With support for 4G LTE networks, the A04 delivers swift data speeds, enabling smooth streaming of videos, rapid app downloads, and effortless web browsing.

Wi-Fi: The A04 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, facilitating seamless connection to modern Wi-Fi networks and ensuring stable internet access at home, cafes, and other Wi-Fi hotspots.

Bluetooth: Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, the A04 easily pairs wirelessly with various devices, from headphones and speakers to smartwatches. Its enhanced range and faster data transfer speeds ensure a seamless and swift connection experience.

GPS: Integrated with built-in GPS, the A04 proficiently tracks your location, facilitating easy navigation using popular mapping apps like Google Maps. This feature proves invaluable while traveling or exploring new locations.

NFC: Featuring NFC technology, the A04 enables contactless payments using your phone, offering a convenient alternative to carrying cash or credit cards. It simplifies transactions for goods and services with a simple tap.

The Samsung Galaxy A04 presents an impressive range of connectivity features, encompassing 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC. This comprehensive suite ensures uninterrupted internet connectivity, smooth media streaming, efficient data transfer, location tracking, and convenient payment options, making it a reliable companion for staying connected and enjoying various digital experiences.

Storage and Memory

The Samsung Galaxy A04 impresses with its flexible storage options, offering 32, 64GB, and 128GB variants. Both options can be expanded to a staggering 1TB through a microSD card, liberating users from storage anxiety. With this capacity, you can comfortably store your cherished photos, videos, music, and apps without fretting about running out of space.

The 64GB option caters well to users who don't require extensive storage. It provides ample space for a few apps, photos, and videos, ensuring smooth operation for everyday usage. However, those with a penchant for hoarding media files may find the 128GB variant more suitable.

The Galaxy A04 employs a UFS 2.2 storage chip, which, albeit slightly slower than the UFS 3.0 chip seen in pricier smartphones, exhibits no noticeable impact on daily usage performance.

Regarding memory, the device offers a choice between 3GB and 4GB of RAM. The optimal amount of RAM depends on the number of concurrent apps you intend to run. For light multitasking, 3GB of RAM suffices, while those engaging in more extensive multitasking scenarios should consider the 4GB option.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A04 provides commendable storage and memory options, well-suited to most users' needs. With sufficient space and smooth everyday performance, it is an excellent choice for various users.

Software and Updates

The Samsung Galaxy A04 comes with the latest Android 12, boasting an updated design, a fresh color palette, and a more streamlined user interface. Android 12 further enhances user privacy with novel features, such as microphone and camera usage indicators, providing peace of mind to users.

The Galaxy A04 is slated to receive at least one major software update, elevating it to Android 13. Samsung's commendable history of supporting its smartphones with software updates suggests that the Galaxy A04 will continue to receive security updates for several years post-release.

To check for software updates on your Galaxy A04, navigate to Settings > Software update. Should an update be available, a notification will prompt you, and you can initiate the installation by tapping Download and Install.

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy A04 offers a robust software experience, debuting with the latest Android 12. Additionally, Samsung's dedication to providing software updates for an extended period cements the device's reliability and ensures it stays relevant in the evolving mobile landscape.

Price and Value

In the Indian market, the Samsung Galaxy A04 is competitively priced at ?11,999, positioning it within the lower-midrange segment, competing with Redmi 10 Prime and Realme C31.

In terms of value, the Galaxy A04 indeed offers a compelling package. It presents a well-rounded proposition with a spacious 6.5-inch display, a capable MediaTek Helio P35 processor, and a noteworthy 50-megapixel rear camera. Additionally, its long-lasting 5000mAh battery further enhances its appeal.

However, it's important to note that the Galaxy A04 does have inevitable trade-offs to accommodate its price point. The display resolution is limited to HD+, which might offer different visual clarity than some competitors. Similarly, while the 50-megapixel camera is commendable, its performance may not match other smartphones.

Another aspect is that the Galaxy A04 needs more 5G connectivity support, which may concern users seeking the latest mobile network technology.

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy A04 undoubtedly represents good value at its price. It delivers a solid performance for fundamental tasks such as web browsing, email management, and casual photography. However, exploring slightly higher-priced alternatives might be worth considering for users prioritizing a superior display, camera, or overall performance.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A04, a pocket-friendly smartphone, offers a commendable array of features at its price point. With its spacious 6.5-inch display, a capable 50MP primary camera, and an impressive 5000mAh battery, the device promises an enjoyable multimedia and photography experience while boasting extended usage without frequent recharges.

Driving the phone's performance is the MediaTek Helio P35 processor, which, though not the latest, adeptly manages essential tasks and even light gaming. While it may not deliver top-tier processing power, it remains reliable for daily usage and entertainment.

The software experience is another highlight, with Samsung's OneUI 4.1 interface gracefully enhancing the user experience atop the Android 12 platform.