Samsung Galaxy A08 Review: Small Upgrades, a Much Bigger Price!

I still remember reviewing the Galaxy A07(review) as an affordable Samsung phone last year. Now, looking at the Galaxy A08’s price, I have to check whether we are still talking about the same entry-level lineup. The A07 started at Rs. 15,999 for the 4/64GB variant in Nepal. Its successor starts at Rs. 34,499 for the same memory configuration, more than twice as much.

That naturally raises my expectations. If I am paying this much more, I want to see improvements I can actually notice while using the phone.

After testing the Galaxy A08 alongside the A07, I found a few welcome changes, but also some results I wasn’t expecting. Let’s just say the predecessor gave more competition than I thought it would.

So, where has Samsung actually improved, and are those changes enough to justify the higher price? Let’s get into my Galaxy A08 review and find out.

Samsung Galaxy A08 review: Specifications

• Design: 167.4 × 77.4 × 8.0mm, 197g
• Build: Plastic body, IP64 dust and splash resistance
• Display: 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm)
• Memory options in Nepal: 4/64GB, 4/128GB, 6/128GB
• Storage expansion: Dedicated microSD slot
• Software: One UI 9 based on Android 17
• Update promise: Up to six Year of Android Version and security updates
• Rear cameras: 50MP main + 2MP secondary
• Front camera: 8MP
• Video: Up to 1080p at 30fps on the front and rear cameras
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity and audio: Dual nano-SIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, mono speaker
• Battery: 6,000mAh with 25W wired charging
• Full Specs

Samsung Galaxy A08 Price in Nepal

The Galaxy A08 comes in three memory configurations in Nepal, starting at Rs. 34,499.

For context, the A07 has also become more expensive since launch. Its 4/64GB version is now listed at Rs. 25,499, making the A08 Rs. 9,000 more expensive at today’s listed prices.

That is a different comparison from the much larger jump between their launch prices, but either way, the A08 has more to prove.

Samsung Galaxy A08 Review

Design and Build Quality

• 197g weight, 8.0mm thickness
• IP64 rating, side-mounted fingerprint sensor

Pick up both phones, and the first difference is their weight. The Galaxy A08 is 13g heavier and 0.4mm thicker than the A07, and I could feel that extra bulk in my hand. It is not a completely different experience, but the older phone does feel slimmer and lighter.

Samsung has also changed the finish on the back. The A07’s glossy look makes way for a matte finish, with reflective lines that become visible from certain angles. They almost look like little hashtag patterns. It gives the back some character, although the overall design and camera placement remain familiar.

The side-mounted fingerprint sensor has been fast and reliable for me. No complaints there. And yes, Samsung has kept the 3.5mm headphone jack, so wired earphone users still have a place to plug in.

The IP rating has improved from IP54 to IP64. To be clear, the improvement is in dust protection. The water-resistance digit is still 4, so this remains splash protection rather than an upgrade in water resistance.

Display

• 6.7-inch HD+ LCD
• 90Hz refresh rate

Samsung has kept the same HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate as the A07, so the A08’s screen is no sharper than before. Considering the higher price, I would have liked a Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

However, I did notice some improvements when comparing them side by side. The A08 looks brighter both indoors and outdoors, and colours appear more vibrant across the interface and in YouTube videos. This makes content look more appealing, although the colours sometimes feel a little too saturated for my liking.

Touch response has also been good, and I haven’t had any issues. The display is enjoyable to use, whether I’m scrolling through Reels or watching movies. I just expected Samsung to improve the sharpness too, especially considering the higher price.

Software

• One UI 9 based on Android 17
• Up to six OS upgrades and six years of security updates

Software is one of the reasons I still enjoy using Samsung phones, and the Galaxy A08 continues that familiar experience. It comes with One UI 9 based on Android 17, and the interface feels clean and easy to get around. I did not find unnecessary bloatware getting in my way.

The layout is straightforward, and I can see it being easy to use for older family members as well. There is something reassuring about an interface that does not need much explaining.

Samsung’s promise of up to six OS upgrades and six years of security updates is also welcome. If you tend to keep a phone for several years, that support matters. It is worth remembering, though, that the A07 already offered a six-generation OS upgrade promise, so long support is a continuing strength rather than something entirely new.

You do not get the full Galaxy AI suite here. Still, Circle to Search works well, and Gemini works as the default assistant. For quick searches and everyday questions, those have worked perfectly fine for me.

Performance and Gaming

• MediaTek Helio G99
• PUBG Mobile offers Smooth + Extreme settings

Samsung has carried over the Helio G99 from the A07, so I would not go into this expecting a big jump in performance. Samsung also advertises upgraded LPDDR5X memory, but my main concern is how the phone actually handles everyday use.

For my usual tasks, it has been fine. Switching between four or five social media apps did not give me much to complain about. If that is mostly what you do on your phone, along with watching videos and messaging, the A08 handles the basics well enough.

I also tried PUBG Mobile. The game lets me select Smooth graphics with Extreme, the 60fps setting. That is the available setting, though, not a claim that it maintains 60fps throughout a match.

The game was playable, but it was not the best gaming experience. I would be comfortable playing casually on it, but gaming is not a reason I would choose the A08. With the same processor as before, this is one area where I wanted Samsung to do more for the money.

Speaker and Haptics

• Single bottom-firing speaker
• Basic vibration feedback

The speaker was a pleasant surprise. It is still a single bottom-firing unit, but it sounds significantly better than the one on the A07.

The older phone sounded sharp and shouty to me, with very little bass. The A08 is more balanced and adds a bit of bass to the mix. It is a difference I appreciated during the comparison, even though Samsung has not moved to stereo speakers.

Haptics are much less interesting. The vibration feedback is basic, and I do not have much more to say about it. The speaker is the improvement worth talking about here.

Cameras

• 50MP main camera with a 2MP secondary camera
• 8MP selfie camera

The camera comparison turned out to be more mixed than I expected. The A08 often produces the more colourful photo, but that does not always make it the better one.

How Are the Daytime Photos?

Daytime photos from the Galaxy A08 have those typical Samsung-style punchy colours. I particularly liked how flowers and other colourful subjects looked straight out of the camera. Close-up shots also have a pleasing background blur, which helps the subject stand out.

However, it struggles with HDR scenes. Take this photo of a tree shot directly against the sun, for example. The image looks hazy, and some detail in the leaves is lost. The camera brightens the shadows too much, reducing contrast and making the photo look flat. Of course, we can’t expect much from a 2026's "budget" phone.

Does it Take Good Portraits?

I generally liked the portraits from the A08. The colours look punchy, and skin tones have a slightly warm finish that I found pleasing in most of my shots.

The results are not always consistent, though. Occasionally, the camera made faces look too warm or produced a darker portrait than I expected. I like Samsung’s approach here, but more consistent colours and brightness would make it easier to get a good shot every time.

What About Selfies?

Selfies follow a similar approach, with bright, colourful processing. I noticed a slight reddish tone on faces, which is something to keep in mind if you prefer more neutral-looking skin tones.

The 8MP camera also preserves a reasonable amount of facial detail. Overall, I found the selfies decent, although the processing has a noticeable influence on how your face looks in the final photo.

How Does it Perform at Night?

I was quite happy with the A08’s low-light photos. Colours look rich, and I liked how the camera preserved the warm lighting of the scene. That helps the pictures retain the atmosphere of the place.

Detail is also well preserved in my low-light samples. Taken together, the colours and detail made this one of the more satisfying parts of my camera experience with the A08.

What About Video Recording?

Coming to videos, I actually liked the colours from the A08! It can record up to 1080p at 30fps, and when I kept my hands still, I got some pretty good-looking footage. For casual recording, I was quite happy with how it looked.

But move even a little, and the video gets shaky. That’s the frustrating part here. The colours look good, but the stabilization lets the footage down as soon as you start moving. So yes, you’ll need steady hands to get the best out of this camera.

I quite liked the selfie videos, too. The framing is nice and wider than before, giving you more room in the shot, and the colours look pleasing as well. If you’re someone who enjoys making TikToks or Reels, I think you’ll like recording yourself on this phone. Just don’t expect smooth footage while moving around!

Are the Cameras Better Than the A07’s?

Putting the two phones side by side, I found that the A08 does not win every comparison. Its daytime photos are brighter and more vibrant, making colourful subjects look more eye-catching. But the A07 often preserves finer detail and handles high-contrast scenes better. In my shots of leaves against the sun, the A08 looked hazy, while the A07 maintained better contrast and detail. I repeated the shots a few times, just to make sure my photography skills were not the problem, and the results stayed much the same.

For portraits, I generally preferred the A08’s warmer skin tones and punchier colours, although edge detection was similar on both. Selfies also look brighter and more colourful on the A08, with slightly better detail retention, but they come with that reddish tint on faces.

Low-light photography is where I found a clearer improvement: the A08 produces richer colours, preserves the warm ambience better and holds on to more detail. So, there are useful improvements here, but daylight photography is one area where the older A07 still holds its own.

Videography has improved a little, especially when recording selfies. I liked the wider framing on the A08 because the A07’s videos felt too cropped in. Colours look better in selfie videos too! Video quality from the back camera is more or less the same, but these are welcome improvements if you often record yourself.

Battery Life and Charging

• 6,000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging

Battery life is one of the A08’s strongest points. Samsung has increased the capacity from 5,000mAh on the A07 to 6,000mAh, and in my use, the phone easily lasted around one and a half to two days, depending on what I was doing.

That is the kind of improvement I appreciate without needing a side-by-side comparison every time. Having more time between charges makes the phone easier to live with, and battery endurance is a good reason to consider it.

Charging remains at 25W, though. Samsung has given us more battery capacity without increasing the charging power.

Samsung Galaxy A08 Review Conclusion

After using both phones, I can’t say Samsung has changed nothing. The display is brighter, the speaker sounds more balanced, and the battery lasts longer. I also prefer the A08’s portraits and selfie videos, especially with that wider framing. These are useful improvements that I appreciate in everyday use.

But that doesn’t mean there are no limitations here. We still have the same Helio G99 processor, an HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and poor video stabilization. These things are harder to overlook when the price has gone up this much.

If you’re open to other brands, I’d look at the Redmi 17 5G for battery life or the Honor X6d(review) if performance matters more to you. For someone looking to buy an entry-level Samsung, the Galaxy A07 is still available for Rs. 9,000 less. It gives you a similar everyday experience, so I’d seriously consider it before spending extra on the A08.

Then again, if you want the latest model, maybe as a gift for your parents or an older family member, the A08 makes sense too. One UI is easy to get around, especially for someone who is already familiar with Samsung phones, and the longer battery life is always welcome.

So yes, an entry-level Samsung now costs around Rs. 35,000 in Nepal, and the higher variants cost even more. This is the new normal, I guess! I’m not expecting a price drop any time soon, but hopefully Samsung at least keeps it here.

Samsung Galaxy A08 Review: Pros and Cons