Samsung Galaxy A06 review: Born into basic budget bounds!

Samsung Galaxy A06 Specifications:

• Dimensions: 167.3 x 77.3 x 8mm, 189 grams
• Display: 6.7-inches HD+  PLS LCD, 60Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm)
  • CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU:  Mali-G52 MP2
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 14 with One UI 6.1 on top (2 OS updates)
• Rear Camera: Dual-camera; – 50MP primary sensor – 2MP depth lens
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (notch)
• Audio: Single Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
• Battery: 5000mAh with 25W fast charging (Charger in the box)
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 15,499 (4/64GB) | Rs. 17,499 (4/128GB) | Rs. 19,499 (6/128GB)
• Learn the full specifications of the Samsung Galaxy A06 here. 

Samsung Galaxy A06 Review:

Design and Display

• 167.3 x 77.3 x 8 mm, 189 grams
• Glass front, Plastic back/frames
• 6.7-inches HD+ PLS LCD, 60Hz

Let me brighten the stage with a few positives. Seeing the device for the first time and holding it were definitely 'good' experiences. The Gold color option looks somewhat (big) S24-esy and pretty presentable with its circular cutouts and lined back. It also feels light enough for a phone so big, enough for me to rock it as an everyday carry without feeling the bulk. The tall form factor is also something I'd missed using my regular ol' 'normal' boxier phone and felt like a breath of fresh air but that's where I felt it...the first impact...

Swiping around the home screen, it became quite clear that Samsung has decided to cut not just corners but pretty much chunks to make the A06 possible. The display is slow, has ghosting, and very noticeable smearing when moving around or doing any kind of motion. You, of course, shouldn't expect excellent screens at this price point but this one's especially poor. I mean, I could do with the 60Hz (even though 90Hz is common even at this price point), but the slow response time will leave you wanting everytime you interact with the phone. It also doesn't get super bright and the resolution isn't super sharp so everything just looks a bit hazy.

Speaker and Haptics

I mean it became pretty apparent when I tried to watch my regular daily dose of Youtube during lunch and the stuff didn't look very good." It sounds decent enough though" I thought to myself before covering the bottom grill and muting all of it.

Regardless, the single speaker is decent I would say. I could make out voices well, and everything was fairly audible even with layers of music and effects. Could have been louder, fuller, clearer, but good enough for a phone of its caliber. The haptics play in similarly levelled field where the buzzy Z axis motor hits once in a while, but I complied because it's Samsung's entry level 'A' phone after all. It's good enough for alarms and notifications but I chose to keep it disabled during typing to save myself some frustration.

Performance

• Octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB eMMC 5.1

Let's talk a bit about usability and everyday experience. The Galaxy A06 is a perfectly usable device despite feeling slow most times. If you're familiar with benchmarking apps, you'd already know what I am talking about from the above screenshots. But even if you're not, it's enough to know that this modern smartphone can do all modern smartphone things. Like making calls, browsing the web, watching videos, playing some games, and of course clicking pictures. But, the overall user experience will vary a lot from being satisfactory at best to frustratingly slow at times. Hence, go into it with an open mind and a patient head and you'll find the Galaxy A06 surprisingly workable. Leaning a bit towards the technical side, the brains here is the same Helio G85 we saw in its predecessor so it's no surprise we don't see a performance jump. With that, the base variant (that I am using) gets just 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64 gigs of slow eMMC storage. If that feels criminally (s) low, that's because it is even for a budget phone. The competition isn't necessarily faster, but most brands offer either 6GB or 128GB options at similar prices. That being said, there are 4/128GB and 6/128GB configs of the A06 but those creep the 20k mark where alternatives seem even more appealing. The GPU on the G85 is a MALI G52 MC2 which is actually pretty decent. It can't game GAME but you can have little bits of fun playing Subway Surfer here, and Asphalt 9 there. I mean you can even play Call of Duty at 'High' settings which is a win at this price.

Software and UI

• Android 14 with One UI 6.1 on top
• 2 years of OS updates

So, if the hardware ain't nothing special, maybe Samsung's software is the mark I am missing? ....Probably not! Even with the cut down Core version of their OneUI skin, Samsung fails to deliver a snappy experience on their budget smartphones. Maybe that's why the full One UI 6.1 was a little too much for the A06 to handle. This isn't a problem isolated to the A06 but it is a significant part of the user experience. I mean, there aren't any stability issues or major bugs that I came across during my review, but is that enough? I say no! As a reviewer, I must admit it's a perfectly good software for the price but Samsung needs to change it up because something's off in the balance between stability and weight. The UI is clean with no ads or bloatware but this skin paired with a ghosting display, a budget chip, and slow eMMC memory doesn't feel smooth or polished or Samsung like. Lastly, the Galaxy A06 ships with Android 14 out of the box with update support for the next two versions which is a big plus but again I do wonder, will the hardware hold up long enough for that to be practical?

Camera

• Dual camera setup at the back
• (50MP primary, 2MP depth)
• 8MP selfie camera (notch cutout)

Leaving that food for thought on the table, let's switch to the cameras. Our big gun here is a 50MP primary shooter backed by Samsung's processing. There's a 2MP depth lens too but it's more of a decor and majorly serves to improve your portrait shots. Keeping the smartphone class in mind, I would say the Galaxy A06 takes eye-pleasing shots backed up by Samsung's recognizable colors. Daylight shots look good at a quick glance, but of course, there isn't a ton of details or dynamic range. The 2x crop loses even more details so I would only ever use it in a properly lit environment or you are getting a mush of pixels.

Landscapes and buildings look fine but faces often turn out washed and lacking in depth from the A06. Portrait mode makes it a little more digestible with smoother skin, better highlights, and optimized contrast but the edge detection there can be a hit or miss too. Selfies are in the same ball game where normal shots do look good once in a while but portraits are just more pleasing to look at and consistent. Lowlight isn't the Galaxy's strong suit either as the small sensor can't capture enough light to give you sharp images. The Night Mode is hidden in the settings but I recommend using that instead to get more controlled shots with better dynamic range and details. Video-wise, you can go up to 1080p 60fps from the back and 1080p 30fps from the front. There are no stabilization modes and the 1080p60 footage gets shaky quick. So, staying at FHD 30 is the best option. There are ok-ish details and a little shake but the quality is passable.

Battery and Charging

• 5,000 mAh
• 25W fast charging, charger bundled in with purchase

Lastly, touching on the endurance and refills, you get a standard 5000 mAh cell with support for fast charging. Although the brand doesn't ship you a charger in the retail box, Samsung Nepal is generous enough to bundle in a 25W adapter with every purchase. The phone easily lasts over a day or even two on light usage so running out of charge isn't something you'll have on your mind with the A06. Charging is quick too with a 50% top-up in about half an hour and a full charge in an hour extra. Ideally, I would plug the Galaxy in at around 20% and reach 80% in under an hour, good enough for another day and a half.

Samsung Galaxy A06 Review: Conclusion

Throughout my review, I couldn't help but think that the Galaxy A06 stumbles on the same hurdles as Samsung's other budget offerings, from an overall slow experience to less competitive hardware and higher price. But this one especially gets the brunt of it because the screen, your primary means of interaction, is extra compromised. It's still a decent option if you like the look or want a decent shooter with somewhat reliable shots. And the battery life and fast charging are pluses as well.

Giving you some alternatives, the OnePlus Nord N30 SE is a fast performer in the 20k market, while the Redmi 13 offers plenty of memory. Pushing your budget by a few extra grand, options like Realme's 12X and Redmi Note lineup become viable bringing upgrades in almost all aspects.

Samsung Galaxy A06 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Presentable lightweight design
   
• Multiday battery
• Good looking pictures
   
• 25W fast charging
   

Cons:

• Ghosting and Smearing
   
• Performance could be snappier
   
• Single speaker