Samsung Galaxy A04

The Samsung Galaxy A04 is an entry-level smartphone that offers a range of basic features at an affordable price point. With its 4G connectivity, dual camera setup, HD+ display, and a 5000mAh battery, it aims to provide a satisfactory user experience. In this review, we will focus on the Samsung Galaxy A04 price in Pakistan, highlighting its key features and drawbacks.

OneUI Core:

The Samsung Galaxy A04 runs on the OneUI Core, a lighter version of Samsung's proprietary operating system based on Android 12. The interface is visually appealing, offering essential Samsung features with minimal customization. While the device comes preinstalled with Microsoft and Google apps, most of them can be uninstalled, reducing bloatware.

Software Performance:

Although the software experience is generally smooth, there are occasional bugs, such as app auto-closing and freezing. The phone's entry-level chipset, the Helio P35, contributes to occasional hiccups during multitasking and scrolling on social media. It is important to note that the performance of the device is average due to its entry-level chip.

Performance:

Powered by the Mediatek Helio P35 chip, the Samsung Galaxy A04 handles day-to-day activities such as social media usage, multitasking, and light gaming. However, it struggles with more demanding games like PUBG, offering only balanced graphics at a medium frame rate. While basic games like Subway Surfers and Candy Crush run smoothly, graphics rendering on PUBG is significantly slower, making it barely playable and less enjoyable on this phone.

Design:

The Samsung Galaxy A04 features a plastic build, which is expected in its price range. It has a waterdrop notch on the front and weighs 192 grams, giving it a slightly heavier feel compared to lightweight phones. The camera module on the rear adds a touch of elegance to the design, but the placement of the headphone jack at the bottom left side may feel awkward during gaming in portrait mode.

Display:

The device sports a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The viewing angles are decent, and the display is calibrated for warmer tones. It offers a satisfactory experience for content consumption, with maximum resolution available at 1080p. Sunlight readability is also acceptable within this price range.

Cellular Reception with VoLTE:

The Samsung Galaxy A04 supports a 4G network and works seamlessly with VoLTE, enhancing voice quality by using 4G networks for both calls and data simultaneously. This results in crisp and loud call quality. Additionally, the device allows carrier video calling without the need for enabling mobile data.

Camera:

Equipped with a dual camera setup, the Samsung Galaxy A04 features a 50MP main shooter with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2MP depth-sensing unit.

Daylight Pictures:

In daylight conditions, the primary camera captures decent photos with warm tones and good details. The camera clicks pixel-binned photos at a 12MP resolution. However, it is worth mentioning that the dedicated 50MP mode is not available on this phone.

Portraits:

The phone delivers satisfactory portrait shots with acceptable edge detection and skin tone reproduction. Users can adjust the blur level before capturing portraits.

Night Shots:

In low-light conditions, the Samsung Galaxy A04 captures average photos with some available light. While the device lacks a dedicated night mode, it performs reasonably well considering its budget-friendly price.

Selfies:

The front-facing 5MP camera captures average selfies in daylight. However, the accuracy of skin tones may vary, given the lower resolution of the camera. The bokeh effect is satisfactory.

Videography:

The Galaxy A04 can shoot videos at a maximum resolution of 1080p and 30fps. Stabilization is lacking, but the quality is acceptable for its price range. The front camera performs adequately for video calls.

Battery Life:

With its 5000mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy A04 offers long-lasting battery life. It easily lasts a day with light gaming, social media usage, and multimedia consumption. The included 15W charger takes approximately 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery. While the presence of a USB Type-C port is appreciated, a faster charger would have been a welcomed addition.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy A04 is a suitable choice for users seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with a decent display and capable camera performance. The software experience, while average due to the Helio P35 chipset, offers satisfactory performance for everyday tasks. The design, display, and battery life make it an appealing option within its price range. However, users should note the limitations of the Helio P35 chipset and the average quality of selfies.