We choose among seemingly very similar, but in fact very different budget smartphones from the Galaxy A and Galaxy M families
Sometimes it happens that in the line of a particular manufacturer there are several smartphones with almost identical numbers on the price tags. And then it is extremely difficult to make a choice, but it is easy to get confused in the characteristics and differences of very similar models.
Last time we dealt with this situation using the example of Samsung smartphones costing about 20 thousand rubles, and now we have lowered the bar to 10 thousand. Some of these Korean state employees can sometimes be found noticeably cheaper than 10 thousand (say, for 9), while others drop to this level only as part of promotions and sales. And yet: these devices are classmates and actually compete with each other.
What are their advantages and disadvantages, and what is better to choose if you want to buy a budget Samsung smartphone, but with a good set of characteristics?
Samsung Galaxy A02
Why this smartphone should be praised
This is the most affordable smartphone in our selection - you can buy it without any discounts, not even for 10 thousand rubles, but for 9 (more precisely, for 8,990). This is its first advantage. But there are others.
For example, this smartphone has a powerful 5000 mAh battery. Considering that the Galaxy A01 was equipped with only a 3000 mAh battery, this increase can be considered quite serious.
The screen of the Galaxy A02 is also impressive - 6.5 inches . By market standards, this is already a standard today (as, by the way, is a 5000 mAh battery), but Samsung’s budget phones often lag a little behind the market. Therefore, we can be glad that in this model the screen and battery are implemented at the level of competitors.
We also note the ribbed surface of the back panel - due to this, the Galaxy A02 is completely non-slippery. You can easily buy such a smartphone, for example, for your grandfather.
What you have to come to terms with
However, the model also has plenty of disadvantages . The first of them is slowness in operation: the Galaxy A02 is built on a quad-core processor and is therefore far from fast. In this regard, the model is inferior to most of its competitors, and even to its predecessor Galaxy A01 (it had an eight-core “heart”).
The lack of a fingerprint scanner is also a serious minus these days.
As, by the way, are frankly weak cameras : they are in the Galaxy A02 actually for show.
Plus, let’s remember about charging : it’s not even ordinary (by ordinary nowadays we usually mean 10 W), but 7.75-watt.
Therefore, the 5000 mAh battery takes a very long time to charge - it is better to leave the device at the outlet overnight.
What to consider when choosing a phone
If you are looking for an inexpensive smartphone that has the necessary functionality, take a closer look at the basic operating parameters of the device.
#1. Screen Specifications
When evaluating a smartphone screen, you should pay attention to its size, resolution, matrix type, brightness and contrast. The larger the display, the more comfortable it is for the phone owner to receive information. At the same time, a large smartphone is not very convenient to carry in your pocket or operate with one hand.
If nature has blessed you with large hands, you can easily use even a 7-inch smartphone. People with small hands will find it more comfortable to work with a more compact device.
Screen resolution is directly related to its size. Phones with a diagonal of 6-7 inches must have a display resolution of at least 1920x1080 pixels. For a 5-inch screen, 1280x720 pixels will be enough.
Affordable Samsung smartphones predominantly use IPS matrices, which have good color reproduction and good contrast.
In budget smartphones you can find 2 types of screen matrices – IPS and OLED. IPS matrices are made on the basis of liquid crystal pixels, OLED matrices are made on organic light-emitting diodes.
#2. Battery options
Battery capacity affects the battery life of the device without additional recharging. Budget smartphones most often have batteries with a capacity of 3000 to 5000 mAh.
The way you use your smartphone also affects your battery life. In standby mode, the charge lasts 3-5 days. With active use, including launching games, the smartphone will work on one charge for a maximum of a day.
Battery life is affected by features such as wireless connections to other gadgets, running heavy applications, and even using the built-in flashlight.
Some phones have fast and wireless charging capabilities using special chargers.
Fast charging allows you to charge the battery to at least 50% in just 20-30 minutes. With wireless charging, the smartphone is simply placed on the charging station to replenish its charge.
#3. Device performance
The ability to respond quickly depends on the power of the processor and the amount of RAM. Budget models are equipped with processors that support applications from the Play Market, but do not have enough power to run resource-demanding games.
Snapdragon processors that can withstand heavy loads are considered the most efficient. The number of cores also matters. Currently, 8-core processors are popular; 4-core processors are already considered outdated and weak.
If you do not plan to use your smartphone to run heavy programs or 3D games, there is no point in choosing a device with the most powerful processor. A phone with average performance will be fine for you
The amount of RAM in modern inexpensive smartphones can range from 1 to 4 GB. Devices with a parameter of 1-2 GB are suitable for running a limited number of applications and weak video games.
The minimum allowable volume to ensure smooth operation of programs is 3 GB, the optimal amount of RAM is 4 GB.
#4. Camera Features
For those who like to take photos and shoot videos, we recommend taking a closer look at the camera's characteristics. Most often, the cameras of budget smartphones are not of high quality.
But recently, models have been released onto the market equipped with multi-component shooting devices equipped with 3 or even 4 modules, including wide-angle and macro units, as well as a depth sensor.
#5. Additional functions
Don't forget to check out the list of additional features that each model you like has.
These include unlocking a smartphone using a fingerprint or facial recognition, the presence of an infrared port for controlling household appliances such as a TV or split system, and the presence of an NFC module for contactless payment for purchases.
Samsung Galaxy M01
Why this smartphone should be praised
It’s also an inexpensive model that can be purchased thousands for 9 rubles. As a big plus (especially in comparison with the Galaxy A02), we note a decent hardware platform : an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, as well as 3 GB of RAM instead of 2 GB.
The 5.7-inch screen, of course, is small by modern standards, but for some it is, on the contrary, an advantage : there are very few compact smartphones on the market from first-tier brands, and the Galaxy M01 is just one of them.
With such a screen diagonal, the 4000 mAh battery can be called more of a plus than a minus. The smartphone will work no less than the same Galaxy A02 with its 5000 mAh.
What you have to come to terms with
If everything is fine with the battery itself, then with charging it is no longer good : the Galaxy M02 has only a 5-watt charger, and this is extremely low.
Otherwise, the disadvantages are the same as the Galaxy A02 : no fingerprint scanner, weak cameras.
Huawei Honor 8A - Huawei fans
Honor 8A
A good budget phone from Honor. It is equipped with a Helio P35 processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM and 32 gigabytes of internal memory. The device cannot be called optimal for its price. It is priced at 8 thousand rubles, and for this money we have access to the more recent A01. However, Honor fans should be happy to have such a phone in the market. This is the basic option, and its main feature can probably be called Emotion UI - Huawei’s proprietary shell. Otherwise, you are unlikely to notice much difference in technical terms between any budget Samsung or Huawei. In this segment, even Samsung has already learned to offer interesting solutions, and it all comes down to software. And in terms of software, as I said above, Galaxy A01 is the best option.
Samsung Galaxy A11
Why this smartphone should be praised
One of the most popular smartphones of 2021 - and this is quite logical, since the model offers an excellent set of characteristics.
Let's start with the fact that it has a “gentleman's set” that is quite rare for a budget employee : an NFC chip, a USB Type-C port, fast charging (15 W) and a fingerprint scanner.
And that’s not all: we can note that the cameras are quite decent for such a price , and the front one also looks out not from a banal droplet, but from a more fashionable round hole.
The hardware of the Galaxy A11 is purebred and generally acceptable in terms of performance - we are talking about the eight-core Qualcomm Snapgragon 450.
What you have to come to terms with
It’s quite difficult to scold this smartphone , and yet let’s remember the 4000 mAh battery: I would like 5000 mAh, so that there are absolutely no compromises. But that doesn't happen. Or does it happen? See below.
What types of cameras can you buy in this price segment?
The first thing you need to understand is which type of camera to choose. In this price segment, these are the ones that are very common: compact, instant printing. To better understand their differences, we need to consider each of them separately.
Compact cameras
Suitable for: Beginner.
A compact camera is a small device with a built-in lens, popularly known as a point-and-shoot camera. Basically, these cameras have occupied this price niche because they are easy to use and, more or less, rich in technical characteristics for this category.
Examples of successful models: Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810, Canon IXUS 190.
Remarkable durability, unusual design, varied color palette - these are the main qualities of this camera, which is suitable for the whole family.
Instant printing cameras
Suitable for: Beginner.
An excellent option for active young people who want to capture every moment of their life and share it with friends. There is no question of zoom and megapixels here; this type of camera is not for everyone. The main feature is that you receive a ready-made photo for the album immediately.
Best option: Fujifilm Instax Mini 25, Fujifilm Instax 300.
Retro design, small dimensions, exclusive photographs - what else does a lover of such cameras need?
For 10,000 rubles, you can buy a high-quality compact camera “for every day.” If you wish, you can also look for a suitable model in the budget segment up to 5,000 rubles.
In some cases, the capabilities of cheap cameras may not be enough, so it makes sense to look towards more expensive and multifunctional models for 15 thousand.
Samsung Galaxy A02s
Why this smartphone should be praised
The model has a nice design
– it is brighter than the same Galaxy A11. The back of the case is designed with geometric shapes, just like some of Samsung's more expensive models.
The hardware here is the same as the Galaxy A11, namely Qualcomm Snapgragon 450
, but there is even more RAM: 3 GB versus 2.
Everything is fine with the battery
: 5000 mAh, plus supports 15-watt fast charging via a modern USB Type-C connector.
Conclusions on the topic
We presented the TOP Samsung brand phones worth up to 10,000 rubles. The models included in the rating have good functionality.
If you are not chasing flagships with high performance and a set of additional optional features, you can easily choose an inexpensive smartphone from a South Korean company for solving everyday tasks.
Each presented model received many positive reviews from the owners of such phones. Whatever device from the rating attracts you, you can be sure that you have chosen a high-quality and useful device.
Do you still have questions about inexpensive Samsung smartphones? Please ask them using the comment form. We will also be glad to know your opinion about the operation of any phone included in the TOP.
Samsung Galaxy M11
Why this smartphone should be praised
In fact, this is the same Galaxy A11, but with a 5000 mAh battery instead of 4000
. That is, our quibble, voiced in the section dedicated to the Galaxy A11, is irrelevant in the case of the Galaxy M11.
The
emka also has more RAM
: not 2 GB, but 3.
Otherwise, all the advantages of the Galaxy A11 are preserved
: NFC chip, USB Type-C port, support for 15-watt fast charging, fingerprint scanner, Quaclomm hardware, sane cameras.
No. 10 – Fly Slimline
Price: 5,090 rubles
A budget solution called Fly Slimline has an 8-megapixel rear camera. To the surprise of many, it is this component that sets the smartphone apart from its competitors. Pictures taken with the camera cannot boast of sharpness and detail, but they have no problems with color rendition and saturation.
Other strengths of the model include the device’s support for 4G LTE, as well as a 5.45-inch screen. Its resolution is 1440 by 720 pixels. It shows a bright picture without pixelation. In a word, you can read a book on it and watch videos on the Internet. For such a price, there are no special complaints about the model.
Fly Slimline
No. 9 – DOOGEE X60 L
Price: 7,490 rubles
The main advantage of the cheap DOOGEE X60L is the fast focusing of the main photo module, represented by two 13 and 8 MP sensors, as well as color rendition close to natural. In addition, the pictures are quite clear, but only in the presence of daylight. In its absence, photos will be spoiled by noise. However, even this does not prevent us from confidently recommending this model. In terms of price-quality ratio, this is one of the best offers in the segment.
The device is also suitable for those users who value the design of their device. The 5.5-inch display is covered with curved glass, which makes DOOGEE X60 L look stylish and expensive. There are also no complaints about the performance of the screen - its resolution is 1440 by 720 pixels. It has excellent brightness and contrast, but you won’t be able to enjoy them in sunny weather, because when the rays hit the display, the image will be difficult to distinguish. The disadvantages of the model include the lack of NFC.
DOOGEE X60L
