When I first got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy A06, I was intrigued by its affordable price and the promise of decent specs for a budget smartphone. But as I spent more time with it, I realized it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. While it has its strengths, there are noticeable drawbacks that can’t be ignored. Let me take you through my experience so you can decide if this phone is worth your money.
Design and Build: Lightweight but Underwhelming
The first thing I noticed was the lightweight design, which felt nice in the hand. However, the tall form factor and circular cutouts on the back look somewhat dated. The gold color option tries to add a premium touch, but it doesn’t entirely succeed.
The build quality isn’t exactly confidence-inspiring. The plastic back feels cheap, and the phone lacks any real heft, which some users might associate with durability. While the side-mounted fingerprint sensor is conveniently placed, it’s not as responsive as I hoped, often requiring multiple attempts to unlock the phone.
Display: Ghosting and Muted Colors
The 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD seemed decent on paper, but in practice, it left me disappointed. The 60 Hz refresh rate is noticeably sluggish, especially when scrolling through apps or websites. Worse still, the screen suffers from ghosting and smearing issues, which can be distracting.
Colors on the display appear muted and lack vibrancy. Watching videos or playing games doesn’t feel immersive because of the hazy resolution and limited brightness. Outdoors, the screen struggles under sunlight, making it difficult to see what’s on display.
Performance: A Slow and Frustrating Experience
Powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 and paired with 4/6 GB of RAM, I expected the Galaxy A06 to handle basic tasks with ease. However, the eMMC 5.1 storage proved to be a bottleneck. Apps take noticeably longer to load, and multitasking isn’t smooth. There were instances of app crashes and stutters when switching between apps.
Gaming performance was another letdown. While lighter games like Subway Surfers ran fine, more demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile lagged significantly. The Mali-G52 MP2 GPU isn’t equipped to handle modern gaming needs, even on lower settings. If gaming is important to you, this phone will likely frustrate you.
Camera: Great in Daylight, Poor Elsewhere
The 50 MP primary sensor performs well in good lighting. Daylight shots are crisp and have decent detail. However, the moment lighting conditions drop, the weaknesses become evident. Lowlight photos are grainy, and the camera struggles to maintain dynamic range.
Portrait mode is hit-or-miss. While edge detection works reasonably well, the 2 MP depth sensor adds little value. Selfies from the 8 MP front camera are underwhelming, especially in artificial or lowlight settings. Video recording maxes out at 1080p 60 fps, but the lack of stabilization makes the footage shaky and almost unusable for action shots.
Battery: Decent but Not Exceptional
The 5000 mAh battery is one of the few areas where the Galaxy A06 performs as expected. It comfortably lasts a day of moderate usage. However, the 25 W fast charging doesn’t feel particularly fast. It takes about two hours to fully charge the phone, which is slower than competitors in the same price bracket.
The absence of wireless charging isn’t surprising at this price point, but the inclusion of eMMC storage over faster alternatives results in slower system performance, which could impact battery optimization in the long run.
Audio: Mediocre at Best
The single loudspeaker is loud enough for calls but lacks clarity and depth for music or videos. There’s a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which is a welcome addition for budget users, but the overall audio experience is subpar. The speaker struggles with higher volumes, distorting audio and making it unpleasant to listen to.
User Experience: Clean UI but Laggy
Samsung’s One UI 6.1, based on Android 14, is clean and free from ads, which I appreciated. However, the phone’s hardware struggles to keep up. The interface feels sluggish, and notifications sometimes take a while to appear.
The haptics are another weak point. The Z-axis motor feels cheap, especially when typing or receiving notifications. It’s a small detail but one that impacts the overall experience negatively.
Market Position: Better Alternatives Exist
At its price point, the Galaxy A06 faces stiff competition. Phones like the Redmi Note 13 and OnePlus Nord N30 SE offer better specs for a similar price. The Galaxy A06 feels like it’s relying on the Samsung brand name rather than providing real value. The slow storage and lack of features like gyro-EIS for video stabilization or higher refresh rates make it hard to recommend.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Clean UI with no ads or bloatware
- Decent battery life
- Solid performance in daylight photography
Cons:
- Ghosting and muted colors on the display
- Slow eMMC storage affecting overall performance
- Poor lowlight camera performance
- Lack of video stabilization
- Single speaker with subpar audio quality
Is It Worth Your Money?
After using the Samsung Galaxy A06 extensively, I’d say it’s a mixed bag. While it has a clean UI and decent daylight camera performance, its slow performance, ghosting display issues, and mediocre audio quality make it hard to justify even at its budget price. If you’re brand loyal to Samsung, it might still appeal to you, but for those prioritizing performance and value, there are better options in the market.
FAQs
How does the Galaxy A06 perform in gaming?
It struggles with demanding games. Lighter games like Subway Surfers run fine, but Call of Duty Mobile lags significantly.
Is the Galaxy A06 good for photography?
It’s decent in daylight but poor in lowlight. Videos suffer from a lack of stabilization.
Does the Galaxy A06 have fast charging?
It supports 25 W fast charging but takes around two hours to fully charge, which is slower than competitors.
How is the display quality on the Galaxy A06?
The display has muted colors and suffers from ghosting and brightness issues, especially outdoors.
What are the alternatives to the Galaxy A06?
Consider phones like the Redmi Note 13 or OnePlus Nord N30 SE, which offer better specs at a similar price.
