Back when we were in school, we all had this classmate who was always present in class, submits all of the home works and projects on time, participates in recitations, scores high on tests and even if they aren’t among the top of the class you knew you could depend on them. Hardworking and consistent– that is exactly what the Samsung A03 reminded me of.
The new Samsung Galaxy A03 is an entry-level smartphone intended for students and those who are joining the workforce that prioritize value and need a dependable phone. It has a sturdy build, a large display, improved cameras from its predecessor, a 5,000mAh long battery life, several storage variants and a price tag that is easy on the budget.
To check if the Samsung Galaxy A03 can really meet the needs of students, I gave the unit to my nephew Calvin to use for his online class the past month, and asked about his thoughts about the phone, I then used it for the past couple of weeks myself and we discussed the UPS and DOWNS of this budget phone.
Is it worth buying or should you save up a little more and invest in something else?
UNBOXING
The Samsung Galaxy A03 came in the standard Samsung box with the phone render on front, the Galaxy A03 label on top and Samsung branding on the bottom.
There is also the branding on the left side of the phone to help you easily identify it when placed in a shelf. On the bottom are some key details like the color and configuration of the phone.
Slide it out of the box and there’s a Samsung compartment on top containing the quick start guide and warranty information.
As this is a Samsung, there is no plastic case included, which is kinda sad.
The A03 unit is the next thing you’ll see and at the very bottom are the charging adapter, USB-C cable and sim ejector tool.
The Galaxy A03 is available in three colors: black, blue and red. We got the the blue one for this review. I do suggest you get a case to protect the phone from bumps and falls and make your phone to last longer.
Exploring the phone layout, there’s a mic hole on top, and on the left is the sim card tray.
This is a triple card slot that lets you add in two nano SIM cards and a microSD at the same time.
On the right are the volume rocker and and power buttons, while on the bottom is a mono speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack with Dolby Atmos support and a microUSB port for charging and docking duties. Seriously, Samsung, still a microUSB port in 2022?
Looking at the back, the Galaxy A03 features a non-removable polycarbonate backplate with a subtle thatched texture that looks like fabric. This finish actually helps repel fingerprints and makes it pleasantly grippy as well. On the upper left is the dual camera array with an LED flash.
Finally, on the front it has a 6.5-inch Infinity V TFT display with HD+ resolution and standard 60Hz refresh rate. The V-shaped cutout at the top houses the 5MP selfie camera.
Now for the specs:
Display: 6.5-inch HD+ (720 x 1600) PLS TFT LCD
Processor: 1.6GHz octa-core CPU
RAM: 3GB, 4GB RAM
STORAGE: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB storage microSD card support(dedicated slot)
Rear cameras: • 48MP F1.8 main + 2MP F2.4 secondary
Front camera: 5MP F2.2
CONNECTIVITY: Dual-SIM 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0
AUDIO: 3.5mm headphone jack
CHARGING PORT:Micro USB 2.0
OS: Android 11
BATTERY: 5,000mAh
DIMENSIONS: 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1mm
WEIGHT: 196g
COLORS: Blue, Black, Red
UPS.
Design and Build: Both Calvin and I agree that the Galaxy A03 has a solid sturdy build and a design that makes it look more expensive than it actually is.
Calvin says “It’s nice for a phone that comes at a pretty affordable price. I like how it looks on the outside, as well as the build quality.” He also liked the pattern and texture which makes it easy to grip and not slippery, so he is not afraid that it will slide of the table.
Display: We also gave another UP for its display. The 6.5-inch HD+ screen is big and clear enough for watching YouTube videos and browsing websites. We both have bad eyesight so it nice that we didn’t have to squint to see the details.
Sound: He was also satisfied with the loudspeaker as it was quite loud. “It’s not the loudest, but it’s enough when playing games or on when I am on a video call. For zoom calls, it works great! My voice was heard clearly and the quality gets even better when you use headphones.” Plug in your earphones to enjoy Dolby Atmos sound that’s full, loud, and seems to surround you in the scene.
Battery: The 5000mAh battery is good enough for a day of average use, and that includes, browsing the web, social media, watching videos and doing research for assignments.
CAMERA: Now let’s discuss the Galaxy A03 cameras. We both agreed that the camera on the Galaxy A03 is good enough considering its price but its far from being the best in its price range.
It has a fairly modest camera setup with the rear sporting a dual camera array that consists of a 48MP F/1.8 sensor with autofocus and a secondary 2MP depth sensor.
The main primary camera can take up to 1080P@30fps video and up to 10x digital zoom while the front 5MP fixed focus selfie camera is also capable of 1080p@30fps video though it lacks any digital zoom options.
The camera interface is a pared down version of Samsung’s higher priced phones but you still several modes including a simplified Pro mode that only allows for you to tweak white balance, ISO and exposure along with the usual food, panorama and night modes.
While the A03 cameras have improved over earlier generations because of its large 48MP sensor its best to keep your expectations modest. In daylight conditions, the Galaxy A03 can deliver pretty good photos up to 2x digital zoom, anything farther than that could lead to very low quality with less details and noticeable softness.
In low light and less than ideal lighting, quality greatly deteriorates and shots are soft and grainy so its advisable to switch to Night Mode as long as you have steady hands. There is no videos stabilization so if you want to take videos use a tripod or avoid moving to much unless you want to give your viewers some nausea. If you are planning to record TikTok videos, I suggest using a ring light or do it when there’s good lighting.
As for the front selfie camera, its also okay at best, good enough for those online classes when you have to turn on your video and again you need good light to get decent selfies.
DOWNS:
Considering the price, it’s hard to find a lot of faults with the Samsung Galaxy A03, but there are several areas we wished the phone could have been better.
Performance: The Samsung Galaxy A03 will provide a decent user experience for most, especially those who simply expect the phone to do daily tasks. We had no problems texting, browsing social media, watching videos or accessing websites with it. But you need to keep in mind the number of apps that are open because even with the 4GB variant, the Galaxy A03 can get a bit sluggish if you open multiple apps simultaneously.
This also isn’t a gaming phone so when Calvin installed Genshin Impact, he said it was terribly laggy and barely playable. Playing Roblox was okay as well as Minecraft and both were playable. It just can’t handle games that are too high.”
Security options: For security, the Galaxy A03 is equipped with only facial recognition and the usual PIN and Pattern passcodes. Most phones already have fingerprint scanners so I wished Samsung included one in the Galaxy A03. The face-unlock was fast enough.
Micro USB port: Micro USB in 2022? Well, if your devices still use micro-USB cables then this wouldn’t be a problem. But for the rest of us who have migrated to USB-C and fast charging this is a Down.
FINAL WORD.
Like I said in the beginning the Samsung Galaxy A03 is just like that hardworking and dependable classmate you had in school and it will help you get things done. It is a good example of a budget phone with nice design, quality build, large display and a huge battery. Having a 3.5mm audio jack and expandable memory via a dedicated microSD card slot are also nice features. It also has a decent pair of cameras, however, it’s not really one of its strongest features. If you are planning to get this phone I do suggest you go with the 4GB+64GB variant to give you better performance and just enough storage even without a microSD.
The Samsung Galaxy A03 is available in dealers and retailers nationwide with the following configurations and prices:
PHP 5,490 SRP (3+32GB)
PHP 6,490 SRP (4+64GB)
PHP 7,490 SRP (4+128GB)
The Galaxy A03 is also available for as low as P660/month for up to 6 months at 0% interest via Home Credit until March 31. Those who purchase the Galaxy A03 until March 31 will also receive a 1-year free subscription to VIU Premium worth P999.
