| Content |  Oppo A18
It features a 6.56-inch LCD with HD+ resolution and has a water-drop notch and sizable bezels around the screen. Under the hood, the device has a MediaTek Helio G35 powering the device with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The smartphone has a dual camera setup on the back with an 8MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor. We get a 5MP (wide) selfie camera with fixed focus. Oppo A18 draws power from a 5,000mAh battery with some features to extend battery life, including Super Power Saving Mode and Super Nighttime Standby. Other notable specs include the Android 13 Operating System, ColorOS 13.1 UI, IP54 water resistance rating, USB Type-C 2.0, and OTG for charging and data transfer. It is available in Glowing Black and Glowing Blue colours.
Design and Build
Oppo A18 is the ideal budget phone you have been waiting for, coming along as part of the long Oppo A series of phones. It measures 163.7 x 75 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.95 x 0.32 in) and weighs 188g. the dual SIM phone is IP54 rated, being dust and splash-resistant.
Unlock your potential and enhance your phone security with the reliable Side Fingerprint Unlock. The fingerprint scanner serves as the power button on the Oppo A18.
Add a touch of class to every day with the sophisticated, high-end 2D design. Then, get straight into the on-screen action, thanks to the rapid-fire side fingerprint unlock function.
The Oppo Glow Design
Oppo’s modern, shimmering take on classic black features a string of pearl design highlighting your camera. Dive into the shifting depths of glowing blue, like light on the shimmering seas of a perfect summer’s day. The two colours for Oppo A18 (Glowing Black Glowing Blue) complement your style, elegance and sophistication.
Oppo a18’s Display
Brighten Up Your Day with the 90Hz Sunlight Display on the 6.56 IPS LCD screen. The bigger, brighter screen gives you excellent colour and a rapid refresh rate, immersing you in awesome on-screen action that flows seamlessly from second to second.
At 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) resolution, the 6.56-inch display is good but could be better with 1080p resolution, allowing for better user experience. Nevertheless, the 269 ppi density is good enough for video viewing, content consumption, internet browsing and social media interactions.
Notably, Oppo A18’s display does not have a screen protector always on display. You may need to buy one separately from Phoneplace Kenya or your trusted supplier.
 Camera Set up on Oppo A18
Oppo A18 has a slightly average set of cameras. It packs;
- 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) selfie camera that records 1080p videos
- Primary camera consisting of two lenses: 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF + 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth). The primary camera equally records 1080p videos.
With both, you can record decent pictures and record 1080p videos. However, you will have a lesser quality experience than other smartphones like the Oppo A98 and Oppo A58, which pack superior cameras and record up to 4K videos.
Perfect Your Portraits
AI Portrait Retouching
Illuminate every portrait and amaze every capture with AI Portrait Retouching.
Portrait Bokeh
Elevate your subjects to the spotlight with Portrait Mode, which centres people in the frame for a stunning capture.
Performance
Do you want a phone that keeps pace with all your scrolling, snapping, watching, and working? You have it with the Oppo A18-Tech smarts translate into smooth phone performance that stands the test of time, along with all the running memory and storage you’ll ever need.
Specifically, the Oppo A18 has several features worth considering as a budget handset.
Operating System
Oppo A18 runs on the latest Android 13 OS, complemented with ColorOS 13.1, enabling better user experience through customization and personalization of apps and phone features.
ColorOS 13.1
- Deep Phone Optimizer: Say yes to more competent storage management and keep peak performance with the built-in system clean-up function.
- 3-Finger Translate with Google Lens: Understand the world’s wonders in a single touch, thanks to Three-Finger Translate with Google Lens.
- Five-Grade Access Control: Take control of your privacy with Five-Grade Access Control. Only share what you want to.
Oppo A18’s Processor
The Oppo handset is powered by a reliable Mediatek MT6769 Helio G85 (12nm) chipset. The Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) CPU and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU provide power and proficiency for multitasking and gaming. For avid gamers, the chipset allows you to get a decent experience for low to mid-setting games.
However, for a better gaming experience, you must opt for handsets with more processing power. Oppo A98 is a great choice, considering it comes with an Octa-core, Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) processor, which is superior compared to Oppo A18’s Helio G85 (12nm) chipset.
Phone Memory Space
Oppo A18 packs sufficient phone memory storage for its affordable, budget phone category. It packs 128GB and 4GB RAM, besides additional storage via the dedicated microSDXC Card slot. 128GB 4GB RAM is sufficient to store data and files and download plenty of apps.
 Connectivity
Connect with family and friends using the Oppo A18. It supports GSM technology but is unfortunately limited to supporting up to 4G network bands. With HSPA LTE network speed, you will have a decent time uploading and downloading large files and media in supported formats.
Other forms of connectivity you can leverage and rely on are:
- Internet: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth: 3, A2DP, LE, apt-X HD
- Positioning: GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
- NFC: Not supported
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Multi-Media and Communication
Ultra-Volume Mode
Whether you need to immerse yourself in a noisy environment or amp up the energy at a social gathering, Ultra Volume Mode now provides outstanding audio clarity with an output that can be increased by up to 300%.
Ports
The ports on the Oppo A18 phone are:
- 5mm jack for wired headphones and earphones
- USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Although Oppo A18 features a 3.5mm jack port, it disappointedly does not support FM Radio. This is too bad for you if you are an avid FM Radio listener. However, you can still listen to your favourite radio shows online.
Sensors
They are handy for better handling the phone as you play games, communicate, and take photos and videos. The sensors on the Oppo A18 are Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, and compass.
Battery
Oppo never gets it wrong with their handsets when it comes to power, as it is with the case of Oppo A18. You can continue using the device, powered by a massive 5,000 mAh non-removable battery. Manage a hectic day, play your latest game until your fingers fail, or relax into scrolling your socials on some well-earned downtime. Whatever you need your phone for, this big battery will keep battery fear at bay.
Battery provisions
- 7 hours of game time with a 100% battery
- 32 hours of call time
- Over 1.6 hours of calling with 5% battery.
 Pros and Cons of Oppo A18
Pros
- Decent display size
- Decent refresh rate, 90Hz
- Decent battery capacity, 5000mAh
- Decent memory, 128GB 4GB RAM
- Support fingerprint scanner
- Runs on latest Android 13, ColorOS 13.1
- Oppo A18 is IP54, dust and splash resistant
Cons
- No FM Radio
- Does not support 5G Network connectivity
- No fast charging
- No reverse charging
- No wireless charging
- 720p resolution
- Below-par camera set-up
- No FM Radio support
- No NFC support.
Benefits of owning and using the Oppo A18
- You will enjoy a large, immersive display for gaming and media needs.
- You will experience smooth and responsive performance for multitasking based on the decent Helio G85 chipset.
- You will capture clear, detailed photos with the 8MP + 2MP dual-camera setup.
- Ample storage capacity to store all your content and expandability option
- Also, you will stay connected for extended periods with the generous 5,000mAh battery capacity.
Alternative Handsets
- Oppo A98
- Oppo A58
- Samsung Galaxy A05s
- Redmi Note 12
| Infinix Note 40
| 
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
It will replace the Galaxy A54 launched in mid-March, 2023. The device has a 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED punch-hole display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+. Galaxy A55 5G is powered by the Octa-core Exynos 1480 SoC processor with Xclipse 530 GPU. The phone has 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 12GB RAM internal storage specifications; it runs on Android 14, One UI 6.1, and is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery with 25W fast charging.
It packs a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50 MP primary sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 5 MP macro camera, and on the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera. The Galaxy A55 5G comes in Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon colorways.
Unique Selling Points of Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
- Premium Design: It features a premium metal frame with a glass back, giving it a sleek and stylish appearance.
- Camera: It includes a 50-megapixel main rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 32-megapixel front camera for high-quality selfies.
- Enhanced Nightography: With Big Pixel technology and advanced AI Image Signal Processing (ISP), the Galaxy A55 is designed to capture stunning low-light images, elevating night photography to new heights.
- Super AMOLED Display: The phone comes with a Super AMOLED display enhanced with Vision Booster technology, providing a vivid viewing experience even in varying light conditions.
- Durability: It is IP67 water and dust-resistant and features Gorilla Glass Victus+ for added scratch and drop protection.
- Performance: Samsung Galaxy A55 is equipped with the Exynos 1480 chip and offers options of 8GB or 12GB of RAM, which is more than the base Galaxy S24 version.
- Software Support: Samsung promises four years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates, ensuring the device stays up-to-date with the latest features and protections.
- Samsung Knox Security: For the first time in the Galaxy A series, the A55 includes Samsung Knox Vault, a hardware-based and tamper-resistant security solution.
- Battery Life: A 5,000 mAh battery on Galaxy A55 5G ensures extended use between charges.
Detailed Product Description
Design and Build of Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a unified design language that aligns with the Galaxy lineup, featuring a distinct camera arrangement similar to the flagship models. It boasts of a minimalist design that deceptively covers lots of sophistication in terms of features, performance, and capabilities of the mid-range handset. The design choices reflect a blend of flagship features with practical considerations for a midrange device, offering a balance between aesthetics and durability.
It is a big, bulky, and somehow weighty phone, measuring 161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm (6.34 x 3.05 x 0.32 in) and weighing 213g. The device boasts a larger 6.6-inch AMOLED display compared to Galaxy A54’s 6.4-inch display. Galaxy A55 body frame is made of Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), and aluminum frame. The back also features the distinctive Samsung A series Camera design, with 3 separate camera lenses, each encircled by a shiny ring, protruding by nearly 2mm.
The Galaxy A55 is IP67 rated for dust and water resistance, which is still a rarity in midrange phones and enhances its status as a phone built for durability. It supports Single SIM (Nano-SIM, eSIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by). Under its impressive 6.6-inch display is an under-display fingerprint scanner which is instrumental in enhancing phone security from unauthorised access. Available models, based on phone space specs come in Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon colorway variants. Overall, the Galaxy A55 5G is designed to provide a comfortable grip and a visually appealing aesthetic that aligns with Samsung’s reputation for quality in smartphone design and build.
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Display
It boasts a 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and features Vision Booster technology for enhanced visibility in various lighting conditions. The display is designed to provide a vivid and immersive viewing experience, whether you are watching videos, playing games, or browsing the web. To enhance durability, Samsung installed the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ screen protector on the A55 model, which is an improvement to the equally effective Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the Galaxy A54.
Camera Set Up
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G features a versatile camera setup designed to cater to various photography needs. The device’s camera specifications include:
- Primary Camera: 50MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture lens, equipped with autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS).
- Ultra-wide Camera: 12MP sensor providing a 123-degree field of view with an f/2.2 aperture lens.
- Macro Camera: 5MP sensor with an f/2.4 aperture lens for close-up shots.
- Selfie Camera: 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm
In terms of performance, the camera system delivers:
- Accurate exposure and a fairly wide dynamic range in bright light and indoors.
- Fairly high texture levels in bright light conditions.
- 4K and 1080p video recording
- Fairly good video stabilization when recording while stationary.
However, the Galaxy A55’s camera system has some limitations you need to be aware of to manage your expectations of its performance and leverage its strengths for the best camera experience:
- Some autofocus and exposure instabilities and stepping.
- Noise, particularly in shadow areas of the frame.
- Occasionally inaccurate color rendering.
- Ineffective video stabilization when moving while recording.
- Limited zoom capabilities with low texture and limited dynamic range in zoom shots.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G’s camera setup offers a solid performance for its class, with a few areas that could be improved in challenging shooting conditions. You stand to enjoy much with Big Pixel technology and advanced AI Image Signal Processing (ISP), the Galaxy A55 is designed to capture stunning low-light images, elevating night photography to new heights
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G is equipped with the following specifications for optimal performance:
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 Samsung Galaxy A55 5G.
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 A55 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 A55 more user-friendlier, customizable, optimize production, and limit data breaches to 3 rd parties. This enhances the overall perception and stance of Samsung as one of the best smartphone brands.
Processor
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G is powered by an Exynos 1480 chipset, which includes an octa-core CPU with 4×2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The chipset handles well most of the tasks placed on it, with a 702695 score on the AnTuTu BenchMark 10, which is quite robust and impressive. On Geekbench 6, it achieves 1173 points in the single-core test and 3529 points in the multi-core test, reflecting good CPU efficiency. The chips equally offer a decent gaming experience with a score of 47, but fall short for the top, most demanding games.
Phone Storage
It offers expansive internal storage options, which can be expanded via a microSD card up to 1TB. The available storage specifications include:
- 128GB 8GB RAM;
- 256GB 8GB RAM;
- 256GB 12GB RAM, all with UFS 3.1
These specifications profile the Galaxy A55 as a workhorse, especially when you consider the massive RAM options, equally decent internal storage capacity (RAM), and supporting additional memory up to 1TB.
Overall view on Samsung Galaxy Performance
These detailed features above combine to provide a smooth and responsive user experience, whether you are multitasking, gaming, or using demanding applications. The ample storage options mean you can keep all your important files, photos, and apps easily accessible. Android 14, complemented by Samsung’s One UI 6.1 combines to provide one of the most user-friendly, adaptable, privacy-enhancing, and productivity-enhancing Operating systems on Samsung smartphones, way ahead of its rivals. The combination of the Exynos 1480 processor, ample RAM, and fast UFS 3.1 storage contributes to the overall responsive experience of the device.
Connectivity and Communications Support
The Samsung Galaxy A55 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: v5.3 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 A55 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 A55 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
Galaxy A55 5G includes features to optimize battery life, such as adaptive power-saving modes and app usage monitoring to reduce power consumption by apps that are not frequently used. These features help in extending the battery life, making the device more efficient for daily use.
Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
Pros
-
Full metal aluminum frame and overall premium build compared to Galaxy A35 or A54 models.
- Equipped with the Exynos 1480 chipset and up to 12 GB of RAM, it offers robust and solid performance.
- It features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, providing an immersive, cinematic viewing experience.
- The triple-camera setup with a 50 MP main sensor, OIS, and 4K video recording capabilities fit the bill for a handset of this stature.
- A 5,000 mAh battery with fast charging provides a good balance between capacity and charging speed to keep you going.
- The handset has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, coming along with Gorilla Glass Victus for durability.
- Galaxy A55 runs on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1, ensuring a user-friendly experience.
- It supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3, all of which help provide optimized seamless connectivity.
Cons
- Gaming Performance: Samsung Galaxy A55 is not the best choice for high-end gaming, considering its low score on geek benchmarking.
- Slow Recharging: While it supports fast charging, it is slower compared to some rivals such as Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G which has 5,100mAh battery and 67W fast charging capabilities.
- No Wireless Charging support: Lacks wireless charging, which is becoming a standard feature in many smartphones which this price range.
- Price point: Rivals are offering slightly better value for the price, such as Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, Vivo S18, Huawei Nova 10 SE, Tecno Camon 30 5G, and Vivo V30 5G.
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G is an awesome mid-range device, stepping in quite well to replace the otherwise impressive and enigmatic Galaxy A54. The device offers accurate exposure and fairly high texture levels in bright light, with fairly good video stabilization when stationary. Improved AI processing and Nightography tech provide clearer photos in poor lighting conditions. Moreover, the new Exynos 1480 chipset is a step up from the previous model, potentially offering better performance.
However, you need to be wary of the highlighted video stabilization issues when recording videos, raising concerns about the handset 4K and image stabilization capabilities. Galaxy A55 also lacks a dedicated telephoto camera module, which limits the zoom image quality. Besides, the Bokeh Mode is less accurate than that on Samsung Galaxy A54. Before concluding, it makes sense to draw a comparison between Galaxy A54 and A55 models.
Comparison between Samsung Galaxy A54 and A55 Models
Similarities
- Similar Battery and recharging specs (5000mAh, 25W)
- 5G Connectivity
- Network Technology: Both support GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G network technologies.
- Build Quality: Each model is IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min).
- Display: They both feature a Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 1000 nits.
- Operating System: Galaxy A54 comes with Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, while the A55 starts with Android 14. Both run on One UI.
- Memory Card Slot: Both have a microSDXC card slot with a shared SIM slot.
- Main Camera: The primary camera setup includes a 50 MP wide sensor with PDAF and OIS and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor.
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Differences
- The A55 has a more robust build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an aluminum frame.
- A54 weighs 202g, A55 weighs 213g
- The A55 features a newer chipset, which may offer better performance.
- The camera systems differ, with the A55 potentially offering better performance due to newer technology.
- The A55 comes with the newer Android 14 and One UI 6.1 out of the box.
- A55 comes with better storage specs, up to 256GB and 12GB RAM which is lacking in Galaxy A54.
- Chipset: A54-Exynos 1380 (5 nm), A55-Exynos 1480
- Galaxy A55 is a recent model, justifying its slightly higher price.
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Summary
In summary, Samsung Galaxy A55 5G offers incremental upgrades over the A54, particularly in terms of build quality, chipset, and software. The A55 offers a larger display, a more robust build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus+, a newer chipset, and potentially better camera capabilities and memory options. It is also the more recent model, which might justify its higher price point. The choice between the two models will narrow down whether these upgrades are worth the potential difference in terms of price for you. Whereas you may opt for Galaxy A55 for obvious reasons, the A54 stands its ground and is a fan favorite in terms of performance, and specs and offers the more budget-friendly option. Arguably, it is still a good performance package, far above many rival brands within the price range and specs.
Conclusion
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G seems to be a solid mid-range option, especially if you are interested in phone build, processing capabilities, storage capacity, and photography, and looking for a device with a good balance of features. However, it may not be the best choice if you prioritize video recording stability and zoom capabilities. Stand well advised to consider these critical aspects alongside your personal needs, preferences, and budget when making your decision.
Alternative Handsets
- Vivo S18
- Huawei Nova 10 SE
- OnePlus Nord CE 5G
- Vivo V30 5G
| 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.
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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
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