| Content | 
Itel A70
The handset features a 6.6-inch IPS LCD with 500 nits (peak) brightness and 720 x 1612 pixels resolution. A reliable Octa powers it- Unisoc Tiger T603 processor anchored by up to 4+8GB Extended RAM and 128GB/256GB Internal Memory. It packs an impressive 8MP selfie camera and a 13MP + AI primary camera that records 1080p videos. Itel A70 is now available in unique Brilliant Gold, Starlish Black, Field Green, and Azure Blue colour variants.
 Product Description
Design
This handset comes with an astonishing design and legendary aesthetics. Itel have revolutionalized its design and product development, as evident with its Itel S23+ Model and now the Itel A70. The device is slim, lightweight and ergonomic. The use of advanced sandblasting technology imparts a distinctive sophistication, which characterizes the Itel A70.
It comes with a thin 8.6 mm body and a futuristic next-gen design. The handset is featherlight, perfect for on-the-go people. The magnificent look is incredible and simply awesome. Available colours at Phoneplace are Brilliant Gold, Starlish Black, Field Green, and Azure Blue.
Display
Get bright vivid pictures with natural colours for a happier, more satisfying experience. Stay informed with the dynamic display bar, a smart assistant doe easy access to basic information.
With the dynamic bar, you will receive key updates such as incoming calls, battery status, WhatsApp or messages and unlocking.
A 120Hz Touuch Sampling Rate on the 6.6-inch IPS LCD Display matches the expectations for such a great budget device. The big screen provides colourful pictures and images to give you impactful experiences as you enjoy video and pictures in your gallery, besides a great time gaming.
Topping up a decent display packaging is the 500 nits of brightness which adds gloss to the 1080p resolution that helps immerse and give you unforgettable moments as you explore through your phone and connect with the rest of the world.
 Camera Set up
The latest Itel sensational handset features an impressive set of cameras. Overall, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the detailing of the phone plus its camera detailing emphasize as much.
Selfie Shots
Unleash the pure beauty of the scenery with enhanced highlights. Capture captivating selfies powered by a soft front flashlight and AI Beauty with the 8MP front camera
Step in front of the lens and embrace your moment with the timely and convenient AI Portrait Selfie feature which gives the best shots ever for memories.
Main Camera
The main camera consists of a dual set-up: 13MP HDR Camera + AI support camera.
Capture a world with all the charm you see with your eyes
Effortless enhancements are equally provided thanks to the camera improvements through technology. The primary camera auto-identifies scenes and enhances highlight suppression for better clear pictures effortlessly
Processing Power and Performance
Operating System
The new OS 13 System delivers a harmonious blend of avant-garde and timeless elegance. Go ahead and enjoy a smarter, smoother experience once you power your Itel A70 on.
Powerful Core Processor
Itel A7o’s performance is enhanced with a powerful Octa-core CPU integrated with the UniSoc Tiger T603 Chip. The processing unit provides sleek intuitive operations as you navigate through the applications on the device. Enhanced performance is delivered by the greater speed and efficiency you experience with the device.
The Octa-core processor effortlessly tackles multitasking. Matching intensive use demands, the CPU enables you to easily navigate and switch among different apps without freezing or crushing.
Memory
The handset comes equipped for high performance with up to 12 (4+8) GB RAM and 128GB internal memory. Extra RAM ensures your phone can handle heavy workloads and provides a seamless user experience. Notably, the 4+8GB extended RAM offers faster app start-up.
Significant memory consisting of boosted memory offers an increased and smooth performance as you embark on a journey of exploration, discovery and endless searches on the Itel A70. Securely store your beloved content in an extensive 128GB of space, equivalent to keeping 40,000 photos to cherish and enjoy.
Moreover, you can expand additional memory up to 2TB thanks to the 3-Card slot available on the handset.
Enhanced Safety
Experience the ultimate convenience and security with the Dual Unlock feature on Itel A70. It combines the speed and precision of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor with effortless recognition of Face Unlock.
- Match your Usage Habits by embracing a more friendly and effortless verification process. You can unlock your device in record 355ms.
- Unlock with Double Power, which elevates security and your usage convenience.
Connectivity
The device supports twin SIMs, runs on GSM / HSPA / LTE network technology and supports 2G, 3G, and 4G bands, with HSPA, LTE network speed. Although not as speedy and impressive as the 5G band, it is pretty efficient and sufficiently fast in data and file transfer (uploading and downloading).
Besides GSM connectivity, enjoy fast and buffer-free internet connectivity thanks to the refreshing and reliable WLAN Technology (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct) installed on Itel A70. The WLAN enables faster and safer connectivity to available Wi-Fi networks, reducing buffering due to poor connectivity.
Connect wirelessly through Bluetooth, with the v 5.0, A2DP, LE supporting intelligent, seamless pairing with your smart devices such as Bluetooth earphones, smartwatch, Smart TV and other gadgets.
Other forms of Connectivity supported by Itel A70
Notably, Itel A70 supports:
- FM Radio
- Comes with a 3.5mm jack port for connectivity with wired headsets
- USB Type-C 2.0, OTG for fast, wired data transfer and connectivity via the USB port.
- GPS positioning for accurate tracking and location.
Communication Support
Itel A70 comes installed with loudspeakers, which improve sound audibility for phone calls and when playing media.
The 3.5mm jack port and FM Radio support are made in heaven. You not only connect to the world by listening to your favourite radio station presentation programs and even follow broadcasts live as you commute or from remote locations where you cannot attend events in person. If you still hold dear to wired earphones, Itel A70 offers continuity of that experience.
Additionally, Itel installed several sensors to improve handling and enhance user experience. These sensors include
- Fingerprint (under display, optical)
- Accelerometer
- gyro
- proximity
- compass
Battery and Power Management
Itel A70 features a large capacity 5,000mAh battery with a USB Type-C charger. The power on full charge is quite sufficient for long-lasting performance and efficient connectivity, either wirelessly or wired through the 3.5mm jack or USB. The power marathon feature, with 3 energy-saving solutions ensures round-the-clock battery use.
 Pros and Cons of Itel A70
Pros
- lightweight and slim phone
- Itel A70 has a beautiful, sleek body
- large display 500 nits brightness and thin bezels
- Extendable memory capacity (4+8) GB RAM
- MicroSD supported, for additional memory up to 2TB
- It comes with the Dynamic Bar, which makes it more convenient and seamless than ever to access crucial notifications such as battery status, incoming calls, reminders, and unlock position.
- Powerful battery, 5000mAh
Cons
- Itel A70 is not 5G enabled
- It is not waterproof
- No 4K video recording capabilities.
- Pretty slow for fast charging
- No Corning Gorilla Glass protection
- Basic Camera set up
Alternative Handsets to Itel A70
| 
Samsung Galaxy A05s
Galaxy A05s weighs 194g and measures 168 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm. It features a 6.7-inch PLS LCD with 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. Samsung Galaxy AO5s runs on Android 13 OS, is powered by an Octa-core Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6nm) processor, and is anchored by 128GB 6GB RAM.
To capture pictures and record videos, you have a single 13MP selfie camera and a triple primary camera set up: 50MP + 2MP + 2MP. Samsung Galaxy AO5 records good quality 1080p@30/60fps videos. Being 4G enabled, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (5.3, A2DP, LE), connectivity is decent. Samsung Galaxy AO5s is powered by a Li-Po 5,000 mAh, non-removable battery with a fast-charging 25W wired unit.
Standout Features
Standout Features on Samsung Galaxy A05s
- Powerful 5,000mAh battery
- Decent phone memory: 128GB 4GB RAM
- Latest Android 13 OS
- Decent main camera, 50MP + 2MP + 2MP
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Key Features
- RAM: 6GB
- Internal Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
- Main camera: 50 MP + 2 MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 13 MP
- Display: 6.7-inch, LCD, 90Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)
- Connectivity: Dual SIM, 2G, 3G, 4G
- Colors: Black, Silver, Light Green, Violet
- OS: Android 13
Build and Design of Samsung Galaxy A05s
The phone is available in Black, Silver, Light Green and Violet and comes in a sturdy frame with a linearly patterned backside. It is a beautiful, slim, sleek phone with a minimalistic, ergonomic design characteristic of most Samsung’s budget and mid-range smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy A05s measures 168 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm and weighs 194 g. It is not featherlight but reasonably light and slim enough to enable good handling when placed in the pocket or pulled out to make calls or text a message.
Samsung Galaxy A05s Display
It features a 6.7-inch PLS LCD with an 82.9% screen-to-body ratio. Such a more extensive screen provides a platform to enjoy content and media consumption better than smaller screens. Moreover, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) resolution is super, providing more quality user experience than 7200p resolution on Samsung Galaxy A05. The default refresh rate and resolution are functionally effective but limit your preferred or expected immersive experience when playing games and browsing through your gallery.
Camera Set-up
Capture the world from different angles. Cherish the photos you take with the powerful 50MP primary camera, the portraits taken with the 2MP Depth camera + 2 MP, f/2.4 (macro) that ensures you capture clear pictures of small details and objects, and your favourite selfies with the 13 MP, f/2.0 Front camera.
Performance and Processing Power
Samsung Galaxy AO5s has a powerful octa-core, Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) processor that powers the phone, enables multitasking and carries out essential functions. Adreno 610 GPU installed on the handset allows you to effectively and seamlessly play low to mid-setting games without lags and stutters. Anchoring the handset is 128GB 6GB RAM phone memory, besides additional memory support via MicroSD. With 6GB of memory and 128GB internal storage, Galaxy A05 offers efficient performance for the task at hand.
Connectivity and Communication
Samsung Galaxy AO5s is 4G network-enabled, supporting 2G, 3G and 4G bands. You will enjoy decent uploading and downloading speeds of files with the handset. Equally enjoy decent connectivity through:
- Bluetooth: 5.1, A2DP, LE
- Internet: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0
A 3.5mm jack port is an excellent consideration for the handset, enabling you to connect to your favourite radio stations and enjoy hands-free music and entertainment on your wired headsets.
Battery and Power Management on Samsung Galaxy AO5s
The 5,000mAh (typical) battery gives you more time to do what you love—streaming, sharing, gaming and more. And with up to 25W of Super-Fast Charging, Galaxy A05 gets back to full power quickly.
Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy A05s
Pros
- 4G enabled
- Affordable
- Large screen
- Decent camera set-up
- Decent processor
- Sufficient memory
- Supports additional memory via memory card
- Has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Large battery and supporting fast charging.
Cons
- No 5G network speeds
- No NFC
- No 4K Video recording capabilities
- No Gorilla Glass protection for the screen
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy A05s is an excellent, affordable budget smartphone that will keep you going. It is an improved version of Samsung Galaxy AO5, with most features and functionalities in mid-range handsets. A 5,000mAh battery with wired fast charging support, a large display, and a decent camera setup make it a decent phone. Despite low 720p resolution, no 4K video recording support, no 5G network connectivity and lacking custom UI, you will still find value for your money when it comes to:
- Making and receiving quality calls
- Large display for viewing content
- Large battery with 24+ hours of use before the need to recharge
- An audio jack plug in your wired headset and listen to your favourite shows and videos
- Samsung Galaxy A05 is pretty affordable, retailing at only Kes 20,000.
Alternative Handsets to Samsung Galaxy A05s
- Samsung Galaxy A05
- Oppo A18
- Modio M22
- Realme A15
| Tecno Pop 8
It has a 6.6-inch display with an IPS LCD HD+ resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels. The Tecno Pop 8 features an Octa-core Unisoc T606 (12 nm) processor with 64GB 3GB RAM / 64GB 4GB RAM / 128GB 4GB RAM of storage. For more storage, it has a microSD card slot. The Pop 8 packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging and runs on Android 13 (Go edition). The display notch houses an 8-megapixel selfie camera. There is an LED flash on the device’s top bezel for snapping brighter selfies in dim-light conditions. Its back panel has a 13MP + 0.08MP primary camera with dual-LED flash. The Tecno Pop 8 comes in Mystery White, Alpenglow Gold, Magic Skin, and Gravity Black.
General Body Build
The handset measures 163.7 x 75.6 x 8.6 mm. The Square Shape 2.0 of Pop 7 is a breakthrough in the phone’s unibody design. The 8.6 mm thickness is impressive on a budget phone, slimmer than 8.9mm on Pop 7. Prep for a posh texture and design overhaul! The slim body comes in two styles: Rainbow Ring for a pop of color burst And Magic Skin 2.0 for a luxury sensation that feels like premium leather – crafted from 100% Hazard-free high-polymer silicone! Tecno Pop 8 comes in Trendy Colours. The fashionable bright colors of the Pop 7 series have captured the latest color trends. The colors available on the Pop 7 model are:
- Mystery White
- Alpenglow Gold,
- Magic Skin
- Gravity Black
The body and frame are made of plastic, while the front is made of glass. The handset needs to be waterproof and have a display protector. At least it has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Display
Enjoy chatting, playing games, and watching movies on the large and bright 6.6-inch IPS LCD on the Tecno Pop 8. With the big screen, enjoy a visual world of delight. The screen provides an average visual experience, and AI brightness dimming and eye protection mode also help minimize eye fatigue. 720 x 1612 pixels resolution and 480 nits peak brightness are enough for the required functionalities.
 Self-developed Dynamic Port
Welcome aboard TECNO’s ingenious Dynamic Port, seamlessly integrated into the screen display. Intuitive UI brings efficient notifications – Stay in the know without frequent unlocking, checking, or app switching. Traditional mode is also available for your flexibility.
Camera Specifications
Main Camera.
The primary camera comprises a dual camera set-up made up of the following:
- 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1.12µm, AF primary camera
- 08 MP (auxiliary lens) supporting lens
 Dual Flash Selfie Camera
Dusk to dawn, in or out, the selfie master on the front is always here to deliver! 8MP camera for sharp clarity, with light-sensitive pixel, dual flash, and screen fill light for your radiant glow. Plus, battle-tested beauty enhancements for every skin tone! Step into the spotlight and let your inner star shine doubly.
 13MP HDR Portrait Camera
Super-Wide aperture + Super-Large pixel unit. Let the SUPER DUO on the back supercharge your portraits in all lighting. Undimmed even in the backlight! HDR merges frames for clarity to outshine, while background blur crafts a stage for you to star. Capture beauty whenever, wherever.
AR Shot
Express your vibrant self with playful cartoon avatars, lively backgrounds, and various AR elements.
Stand out and steal the show!
Platform And Processing Capacity
Tecno Pop 8 runs on Android 13 (Go edition). You are assured of above-average performance with the Pop 8, powered by a Unisoc T606 (12 nm) chipset, Octa-core (2×1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) CPU, and Mali-G57 MP1. Enjoy upgraded applications and Tecno’s friendly UI when you switch on and use the device. You will undoubtedly enjoy multi-tasking, playing low-setting games, and consuming multimedia on your device.
64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, and 128GB 4GB RAM inbuilt memory space are sufficient, besides the MicroSDXC, which gives you options for additional memory for your applications and media content. Download music and videos, and save photos without worrying about storage. 1GB RAM expansion by default and up to 2GB RAM Extended RAM 2.0 allows up to 2GB of storage memory to be used as RAM to keep the phone running smoothly and fast.
 Communication, Sensors, and Connectivity
- Tecno Pop 8 is a 4 G-enabled smartphone.
- It supports 4G Bands and utilizes HSPA, LTE network speeds.
- The handset supports Bluetooth pairing, GPS, OTG (MicroUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go), FM Radio with a 3.5mm Jack, and WLAN (Wi-Fi, Hotspot).
- Several sensors are installed on the device. They include Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, and proximity.
 Battery
Powering the handset is a massive 5000mAh non-removable lithium battery. Enjoy a visual world of delight with long-lasting battery life so you can use your phone without worrying about low battery. It has a 10W fast charger, making it convenient to recharge the device quickly and avoid low-power disappointments.
Three battery modes come along with the phone to help you manage the power, depending on your situation and preferences. The modes are:
- Long battery life
- Super power saving
- Smart power saving mode.
Pros And Cons of Tecno Pop 8
Pros
- 5mm Jack
- Supports FM Radio
- Side-mounted Fingerprint scanner
- MicroUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go Support
- Massive battery
- Supports fast charging
- Stereo dual speaker sound by DTS 400% Big Volume
- Extendable RAM
- Supports additional memory, up to 1TB
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Very affordable.
Cons
- Not good for high-end gaming
- Not suitable for multitasking
- No display glass protection
- Low camera resolution set-up
- Low display resolution.
Verdict
Tecno 8 is a cost-effective entry smartphone. You will find value for that price when using it for essential communications, browsing the internet, and entertainment. The RAM and sufficient ROM, but the display quality could be a bit higher; hence, expect less enjoyment than 1080p displays on other handsets.
Alternative Handsets
- Infinix Smart 6 Plus
- Oppo A15
- Tecno Pop 7
- Nokia C10.
 |  Hot 40i has a 6.56-inch IPS LCD 90Hz display that supports a screen resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels. The Unisoc T606 processor powers the phone with Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. It boasts of an impressive 128GB, 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM of internal storage, runs on Android 13 and XOS 13, and is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging. Moreover, it has a dual rear camera setup with a 50MP(wide) primary camera, 0.08MP (Auxiliary Lens), and a 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide) selfie camera. The Infinix Hot 40i comes in Starlit Black, Palm Blue, Horizon Gold, and Starfall Green.
Product Description
Physical Attributes
A large center-notched glass display dominates the front side of the Infinix Hot 40i. The back and body frames are made of plastic. It weighs 190g and measures 163.6 x 75.6 x 8.3 mm, making it slimmer than the Hot 30i. The handset’s power button on the side also serves as the fingerprint sensor. A USB 2.0 Type C port enables charging and data transfer. The device comes in Starlit Black, Palm Blue, Horizon Gold, and Starfall Green color variants. Notably, the handset has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, supports Dual SIMs, and is not waterproof.
 Display
The Hot 40i features a high-quality, 6.56-inch IPS LCD that will give you a good viewing experience, especially when playing games, watching movies, or reading. At 720 x 1612 pixels, it is not one of the best but still functional, especially considering the handset is an entry-level smartphone. With 480 nits (peak) screen brightness and 90Hz refresh rate, Infinix Hot 40i gives an exceptional visual experience with sharp details outdoors, even in strong sunshine. Your screen will give you ready access to sharp images and videos wherever you are.
 
Processing Unit
Infinix Hot 40i boasts an Octa-core gaming engine with an advanced Unisoc T606 (12 nm) processor that will easily handle your daily needs. It has 128GB, 4GB RAM, 256GB, and 8GB RAM, besides a dedicated microSDXC slot, making it great for gaming and intensive use without running out of space or slowing down on processing speed.
 Connectivity and Communication Capabilities
The handset is 4G enabled and runs on GSM / HSPA / LTE network technology and HSPA, LTE. Uploading and downloading speeds are commendable and will get the job done, but not as efficiently as fast as experienced on 5G.
Use fast and safe internet connectivity using the installed Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band on the Infinix Hot 40i.
Bluetooth pairing is equally smooth and efficient, with the installed version supporting seamless pairing with your smart devices (smartwatch, TV, Headphones).
The Infinix device supports GPS, NFC, and FM Radio and comes installed with a 3.5mm jack port. If you love to plug in your headphones and listen to your favorite FM Radio shows or mp3 music hits, you will love the experience on the Hot 40i.
Battery
Infinix Hot 40i is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. A fast, wired 18W charger recharges lithium battery. The battery will give you reliable service on day-to-night usage. You won’t necessarily need to spend your money on a power bank to supplement the power needs of the handset. The power marathon technology enables battery life extension. You can enjoy 2 hours of calling and up to 24 hours of standby time with 3% of the battery.
Besides the 18W fast charging, the handset supports reverse-wired charging. Thus, it can be used as a power bank to charge your other smartphone, Bluetooth headphones, or smartwatch on the go if you are away from a power source and need to use these devices.
 Pros and Cons of Infinix Hot 40i
Pros
- Supports 4G Network
- Decent camera setup
- Large 5,000mAh battery
- Supports fast charging
- USB 2.0 Type-C port
- Large display
- Dynamic Island display for notifications.
- Affordable phone
- Support fingerprint sensor
- Comes with 3.5mm jack port
- Supports FM Radio
- NFC services supported.
Cons
- 720p is not the best resolution on a smartphone
- Low power processing unit
- Not waterproof
- Infinix Hot 40i does not have a screen glass protector
- Cheap material used to make phone
Verdict
It is a good phone, based on the specifications and affordability (price). Hot 40i does just fine for essential functions expected of a smartphone within that price range. Browsing, calling, and playing basic games are doable on the Infinix Hot 40i. It is a significant upgrade to Hot 30i, especially regarding storage capacity and camera specifications.
 | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
The Galaxy A25 has a 6.5-inch super AMOLED screen with an Infinity-V notch, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It runs on an Octa-core Exynos 1280 (5 nm) processor with 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, and is based on Android 14, One UI 6 OS. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G has a triple rear main camera setup consisting of 50MP+ 8MP + 2MP. At the front, it features a 13MP (wide) selfie camera. The Front is made of glass, and the body and back are plastic. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging out of the box.
Product Description
Design and Display
The Samsung Galaxy A25 boasts a sleek and modern design, contrasting its budget-friendly price as it appears and feels premium. Its slim profile and rounded edges make it comfortable to hold. The plastic back panel with a matte finish adds a touch of class, sophistication, and elegance. Galaxy A25 is now available in various colors, from Black, red, and yellow.
Samsung Galaxy A25 Display
Its v-notched Super AMOLED display stands out. Boasting 120 refresh rate and 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density), the Full HD+ resolution and vibrant colors create an immersive visual experience, especially when immersed in games or video streaming. The bezels are thin and minimized to maximize viewing space.
Notably, the distinctive waterdrop notch at the top houses the front-facing camera. This does not interfere with your viewing experience as you watch Netflix or YouTube on the handset or immerse yourself in epic gaming.
Camera Set up
The handset packs a 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide) selfie camera that takes decent selfies and records quality 1080p videos at 30fps.
The main camera consists of a triple setup:
- 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS
- 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
- 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) lens.
The cameras capture fantastic pictures with an outstanding balance of black and white and color saturation. Capture awesome 1080p@30fps video as you leverage the LED flash, panorama, and HDR features, which help adaptability of different scenes and circumstances.
Performance
Samsung Galaxy A25 is powered by an Octa-core Exynos 1280 (5 nm) processor and is anchored by 128GB of 6GB RAM and 256GB of 8GB of RAM storage. Running on Android 14, One UI 6, Galaxy A25 handles day-to-day tasks and multitasking efficiently and is user-friendly even as you navigate through apps and browse the internet. While it is an average gaming smartphone, it takes most casual games well. Notwithstanding, for a budget phone, the A25’s overall performance is impressive.
Other Notable Key Features
Galaxy A25 is 5G network-enabled and equipped for fast uploading and downloading of pictures, videos, and other supported heavy files.
It comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is fast and accurate. The rear-mounted scanner combined with the supported facial recognition for unlocking the device enhances security access to your phone.
The handset has a USB-C port for wired data transfer, charging, and expandable storage via a microSD card slot. Connectivity and communication are enhanced by the Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, and LE installed, besides Wi-Fi connectivity (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct), accurate positioning (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSPS), NFC, FM Radio and 3.5mm jack port for wired headset connection.
Battery Life
The powerful and large capacity 5,000mAh battery is a significant highlight for the Samsung Galaxy A25. As an average user, you will have at least 1.5 days of usage time before recharging. Samsung’s One UI includes power-saving features that can help stretch the battery life further. To recharge, use the 25W wired fast charging unit that gets you going quickly.
Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy A25
Pros
- Sleek, slim design and excellent aesthetics
- Friendly pricing on the budget smartphone
- 5G network connectivity
- Decent storage specifications (128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM)
- Dedicated microSDXC slot
- Decent camera setup
- Great display, resolution, and refresh rate for immersive gaming and cinematic viewing
- 5mm jack port supported
- FM Radio supported
- NFC support
- Powerful 5,000mAh battery that matches demands placed on the Galaxy A25
- Supports fast charging
Cons
- No 4K Video recording capabilities
- No wireless charging
- No gorilla glass protection
- The handset is not waterproof
- Cheap due to the type and quality of material used.
Alternative Handsets to Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A34
- Tecno Pop 8
- Infinix Smart 8
- Itel S23+
- Oppo A77s
Summary and Final Thoughts on Samsung Galaxy A25
The Samsung Galaxy A25 is a remarkable budget smartphone. It offers quite a handful for its price: 5G connectivity, a Super AMOLED Display with 120Hz, a decent camera system, and massive storage capacity. It has all the features you want in a smartphone at a decent, budget-friendly price. Although it lacks 4K connectivity, waterproof grading, wireless charging, and Gorilla glass protection, its pros often outweigh the cons. If you work with a tight budget, you are guaranteed value for money with the Galaxy A25 without compromising on many things you will want on a smartphone in 2024.
 | 
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
It replaces the Galaxy A34 5G, its predecessor. The handset weighs 209g, measures 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm (6.37 x 3.07 x 0.32 in), and features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) display. The display has 1080 x 2340 pixels, a 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) and the screen comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protector. Galaxy A35 runs on Android 14, One UI 6.1 OS, and is powered by an Octa-core Exynos 1380 (5 nm) chipset. Anchored the device for optimal performance are 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 8GB RAM besides microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) for additional memory.
For optics, the Galaxy A35 has a 50MP + 8MP + 5MP main triple camera set up, and 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06″, 1.12µm single, front camera for selfie and video chatting. It is a 5G-enabled device with Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 802.11, NFC wireless connectivity, and supporting USB Type-C 2.0, OTG wired connectivity. The handset is powered by a 5,000mAh non-removable battery, supporting 25W fast charging but no wireless or reverse charging.
Samsung Galaxy A35 Unique Selling Features
- Elegant Design and Durability: With an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, the Galaxy A35 is designed to withstand the elements.
- Enhanced Nightography: Equipped with advanced AI Image Signal Processing, Galaxy A35 5G captures clearer and more vibrant photos even in poor lighting conditions.
- Super AMOLED Display: a 6.6-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,000 nits brightness offers an immersive and vivid viewing experience.
- Robust Performance: Powered by a 5nm octa-core Exynos 1380 SoC, it offers smooth and efficient performance3.
- A Versatile Camera System: the triple camera setup with unique features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and video digital image stabilization (VDIS) ensures crisp photos and videos.
- Guaranteed Security: Samsung Knox Vault provides flagship-level security, protecting your data more effectively.
- Long-Lasting Battery: A 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging keeps you powered throughout the day.
These features are engineered to provide a premium experience at a budget-friendly price point, making the Samsung Galaxy A35 a compelling choice if you are looking for quality, sophistication, great performance, and innovation.
Detailed Product Description
Design and Body Build
Galaxy A35 5G boasts of a modern design with a focus on sleekness and functionality. Dimension-wise, it measures 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm (6.37 x 3.07 x 0.32 in) and weighs 209g. Certainly, it is a bulky and heavy phone, but reasonably good enough for portability and easy handling while in use. The weight could be attributed to its robust build, consisting of a glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, and glass back. Comparatively, the newly released Galaxy A55 consists of an almost similar body build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), and aluminum frame; with the difference coming in on the body frame.
The front of the smartphone features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Galaxy A35 5G has a waterproof IP67 rating, ensuring durability against dust and water. The rear material is glass, providing a premium feel, while the frame material is plastic, which contributes to a lighter weight. Galaxy A35 5G comes in a variety of colors including Iceblue, Lilac, and Navy
Overall, the Galaxy A35 5G design aligns with Samsung’s 2023 smartphone lineup aesthetics, featuring rounded corners and a focus on a seamless user experience. The smartphone is designed to offer a balance between style, performance, and durability.
Display
Samsung Galaxy A35 features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Notably, its impressive display performance, particularly for its color rendering in various lighting environments and good readability outdoors is praiseworthy. The immersive Super AMOLED display also boasts a peak brightness of 1000 nits in sunlight conditions, which is quite high compared to its rival models. Besides, the screen comes protected with the much-adored break and scratch-proof Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, ensuring an optimized viewing experience and durability. Certainly, Galaxy A35 is a champion display-wise for its category and price category.
Camera Set up
Samsung Galaxy A35 features a versatile triple-camera setup, designed to cater to various photography needs. It features:
- 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96″, PDAF, OIS Primary Camera: Equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), the primary camera ensures sharp and clear images even in shaky conditions.
- 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm Camera: this ultra-wide lens captures wider scenes, perfect for landscapes or group photos.
- 5 MP, f/2.4 Macro Camera: the macro camera allows you to capture fine details with precision, fine-tuning close-up shots.
- 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06″, 1.12µm front camera: great for awesome selfies and video chatting, besides 4K video recording.
Additionally, Galaxy A35 5G records 4K videos @30fps, using both the front and rear (50MP) cameras, providing high-quality video capabilities. The 13MP front camera ensures your selfies are crisp and full of detail, with wide-angle capture capabilities. This setup is a significant improvement from its predecessors (A15, A25), offering you a commendable photography and videography experience.
Samsung Galaxy A35 Performance
Processor
It is powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, which is an octa-core processor with a configuration of 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This chipset is designed to provide a balance of performance and efficiency for the 5G-enabled Galaxy A35 smartphone, supporting advanced features like high-resolution cameras that record 4K videos, medium-set video games, and intensive processing associated with fast 5G connectivity.
Operating System
It runs on Android 14, complemented by Samsung’s One UI 6.1. Android 14 comes along with a host of new features aimed at enhancing personalization, privacy, security, and accessibility.
Android 14 OS
Here are some of the key highlights include:
- Personalization: Improved photo quality, new themes, and AI-generated wallpapers to customize your device to your style.
- Privacy and Security: Updates include restricting photo and video access, and data protection with 3rd party apps.
- Accessibility: Non-linear font scaling, using the Android camera as a webcam, and a transparent navigation bar.
- Camera and Media: Features like ultra HDR for images and passkeys for 3rd
- User Experience: Custom actions and improved ranking in the share sheet, separate ring, and notification volume settings.
These features are designed to make the Android experience more customizable, accessible, and protective when using your Android 14-based Galaxy 14.
Samsung’s One UI 6.1
It is an update that brings a variety of new features and improvements to enhance your experience on Samsung devices, like in this case the Galaxy A35 5G. Some of the key features introduced with One UI 6.1 include:
- AI Integration: One UI 6.1 includes several AI features, such as Circle to Search, which allows users to circle anything on the screen to search for it via Google Search.
- Live Translation in Calls: This feature provides real-time translation during calls, displaying what is being said as text on-screen.
- Enhanced Quick Panel: The quick panel has been redesigned for easier access to frequently used features, with dedicated buttons for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Improved Notification Layout: Notifications now appear as separate cards for better visibility, and full-color icons are used for a more vivid display.
- Lock Screen Customization: Users have more freedom to move the clock to their preferred position on the lock screen.
- Simplified Home Screen: App icon labels are limited to a single line for a cleaner look, and some app names have been shortened.
- Multitasking Enhancements: Pop-up windows remain open when accessing the Recents screen, allowing you to continue your tasks without interruption.
- Samsung DeX Updates: The new Samsung DeX allows for switching between DeX mode and tablet mode while maintaining the same home screen layout.
These features aim to personalize everyday experiences, increase productivity, and ensure data security and privacy. From a user point of view, these features on the operating system make the Samsung Galaxy A35 more user-friendlier, customizable, optimize production, and limit data breaches to 3rd parties. This enhances the overall perception and stance of Samsung as one of the best smartphone brands.
Storage Space
It offers 3 storage variants:
- 128GB 6GB RAM;
- 128GB 8GB RAM;
- 256GB 8GB RAM, all with expandable storage via microSD card.
Overall, these specs indicate that the Galaxy A35 5G should provide a smooth user experience for everyday tasks and some level of gaming performance. The expandable storage option is also a plus if you need more space for your files and apps. With more dependability on 5G and the need to access many heavy multimedia files, it makes perfect sense to acquire and use a phone that meets the challenges and fits the bill.
Connectivity and Communications Support
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G offers a comprehensive range of connectivity and communication features:
- Network: The device supports 5G connectivity and comes with a Nano SIM card slot. eSIM support is also available, but applicability depends on the region.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) with support for Dual Band, Wi-Fi MiMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, and Wi-Fi Display.
- Bluetooth:3 with LE (Low Energy) support.
- USB: USB Type-C with USB 2.0 features, including Charging, USB-storage mode, and OTG (On-The-Go).
- GPS: Includes support for GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, and QZSS.
- NFC: supported, with availability depending on the region.
- Sound: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support for an immersive audio experience.
- 5mm Jack port: not supported
- FM Radio: Not supported
These features ensure that the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G provides fast and reliable communication, and makes you productive and accessible at all times to family, friends, and the online community through social platforms to share knowledge and moments.
Battery and Power Management
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G packs a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. This allows the phone to charge up to 57% in just 30 minutes. The device does not support wireless charging or reverse charging, which is a disappointment. Nevertheless, its fast-charging capability ensures that you can quickly power up the device when needed. The full charging time for the battery is approximately 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Power Management and Optimization
The Galaxy A35 5G comes with optimized power management to balance performance and efficiency, ensuring all-day usage without frequent charging. Running on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, the handset offers various software optimizations to enhance battery life. Moreover, the 6.6″ Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels is designed to be energy efficient, contributing to better battery management and power longevity hence optimizing your productivity.
Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
Pros
- Access to the benefit of fast 5G connectivity
- Large, vibrant, Super AMOLED display providing an immersive, comprehensive viewing experience
- It is powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, which provides good performance for everyday tasks and mid-level gaming.
- The triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor captures high-quality images, and the phone supports 4K video recording, with Gyro EIS support for image stabilization;
- Massive RAM and ROM, making it a great device for intensive tasks that require lots of RAM and internal storage.
- A 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging ensures long-lasting battery life, and the ability to charge on the go.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ screen protection add to the durability of the device.
- Samsung Knox Vault offers robust security to protect user data.
Cons
- The plastic frame material is plastic, which may make the handset feel cheap compared to the Galaxy A55 model, or rival phones with eco-leather or glass back panes and aluminum body frames.
- No eSIM Support: Unlike some of its competitors, the Galaxy A35 5G does not support eSIM technology.
- The single-core performance might be slower compared to some other models in the same range.
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy stands aloof in its category and price segment, with an outstanding processor, camera capabilities, and display quality. The battery life is also a strong point, with up to 26 hours of video playback. However, you need to be wary of the plastic frame built which deprives the A35’s premium feel, lack of eSIM support, and most significantly the single-core performance which might be slower compared to some other models in the same range. Overall, the Galaxy A35 is a solid choice if you are seeking a mid-range phone with strong features and reliable performance.
Alternative Handsets to Galaxy A35 5G
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Xiaomi POCO x6 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
- Oppo Reno 11
- Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
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