The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G carves a niche in the smartphone market. It boasts features typically reserved for higher-end devices, but with a price tag that firmly places it in the budget-conscious category. Does it strike the right balance between all-around affordability and functionality? Here is our review.
Samsung Philippines sent us a unit for review, but consisted of the unit only in the package we received.
Design and Construction
The A25 5G prioritizes practicality over pizazz. We love the pattern on the Blue colorway that we have, but the glossy plastic material it finishes with attracts fingerprint smudges like a magnet. While some might find the glossy finish prone to scratches, it does offer a certain level of grip compared to smoother glass backs. Three rounded cameras protrude slightly from the back, housing housing each of the camera modules, with the LED flash staying at the surface level. The camera bump adds a touch of dimension to the otherwise flat back panel.
Flipping the phone over, we’re greeted by a sizable 6.5-inch display. Bezels surround the display, and while they’re not the slimmest on the market, they don’t detract significantly from the viewing experience. The bezels are slightly thicker on the top and bottom compared to the sides. The uniform bezels give the phone a more symmetrical look. The top bezel houses the front-facing camera and the earpiece grille, which blends in seamlessly with the black bezel.
The sides are constructed from matte plastic, offering a nice contrast to the glossy back. This matte finish helps with grip and reduces the feeling of slipperiness often associated with glossy phones.
The volume rocker and power button reside on the right side within easy reach of your thumb, depending on how you hold the phone. The buttons are placed on a key island, a new design that does not make it at the same level as the rest of the sides, in a bid to protect the keys from being accidentally pressed while you hold the phone during walks. These buttons offer satisfying clicky feedback when pressed.
The SIM card tray and microSD card slot are located on the left side. Unfortunately, the A25 5G utilizes a hybrid SIM slot, which means you’ll have to choose between using two SIM cards or expanding storage with a microSD card.
The bottom edge houses the usual suspects: the USB-C port for charging and data transfer, the primary microphone, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. The inclusion of a headphone jack is a welcome sight for audiophiles who prefer wired headphones over wireless alternatives. The speaker grille is also located on the bottom edge. While there’s only a single down-firing speaker, it gets the job done for casual listening.
Overall, the A25 5G feels sturdy in the hand, thanks to its plastic construction. However, design enthusiasts might find it a bit bland, especially compared to some sleeker options in the price range. The glossy back attracts fingerprints and might show minor scratches more easily. While the phone feels well put together, it doesn’t have a particularly premium feel due to the extensive use of plastic.
Display and Audio
The A25 5G shines with its 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display. AMOLED technology is known for its superior contrast and color reproduction, and the A25 5G’s display does not disappoint. Colors are vivid and true-to-life, with deep blacks and inky shadows. This results to a fantastic viewing experience, whether you’re watching your favorite shows or browsing photos on social media. The display gets plenty bright even under harsh sunlight, making it easy to see the content on the screen outdoors.
The display boasts a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), resulting in a sharp and crisp viewing experience. Text appears clear and defined, and details in photos and videos are well-rendered. An additional perk is the 120Hz refresh rate which treats your eyes with smoother scrolling and animations, making the overall user experience feel more fluid and responsive. Whether you’re scrolling through social media feeds, playing games, or simply navigating through the menus, the 120Hz refresh rate makes a noticeable difference.
While the display is a clear highlight of the A25 5G, the audio experience is a bit more muted. The phone features a single down-firing speaker located on the bottom edge. The speaker can get loud enough for casual listening, but the sound quality can be a little thin and lack bass at higher volumes. If you enjoy listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks on your phone, you might find yourself wanting a richer and more immersive audio experience. Pairing the phone with a good quality Bluetooth speaker or using headphones is recommended for a more enjoyable listening experience.
Camera
The rear camera setup at the back consists of a 50MP shooter with gyro-EIS for aiding in stability, plus an 8-megapixel ultrawide and 2MP macro lens. In good lighting conditions, the rear cameras capture detailed and vibrant photos. Samsung’s image processing does a good job of balancing highlights and shadows, and colors appear natural and pleasing to the eye. Autofocus is quick and accurate, ensuring you capture those fleeting moments in sharp detail.
However, as with most smartphone cameras, the A25 5G struggles a bit in low-light situations. While EIS helps to mitigate camera shake, photos can appear softer and exhibit more noise (grain) compared to well-lit shots, especially during very far digital zooms. Samsung’s Night mode can help to improve low-light performance by extending the exposure time and capturing more light.
The front-facing camera for selfies is a 13MP sensor. In good lighting, the front-facing camera captures decent selfies that are suitable for social media sharing. However, like the rear camera, the front-facing sensor struggles in low-light conditions. Selfies taken in low light can appear noisy and lack detail. Here are some sample shots and clips:
The camera system on the A25 5G is a decent performer for a budget phone. The main sensor with OIS delivers good results in most lighting conditions, and the ultrawide sensor can be useful for capturing certain types of shots. However, the low-resolution macro sensor is best left unused, and the front-facing camera struggles in low-light situations. If you’re a casual photographer who snaps pictures for memories, the main sensor will do the trick. But if you rely on your phone for high-quality photos or social media content creation, you might be left wanting more.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is powered by the Samsung Exynos 1280 processor, with our unit bearing 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.For everyday tasks like browsing the web, checking social media, and using productivity apps, the A25 5G performs adequately. Apps launch quickly, and multitasking between a few apps is handled without too much lag. However, the phone can struggle with more demanding tasks like editing photos or running graphically intensive games. If you’re a power user who needs top-notch performance for demanding apps and games, the A25 5G might not be the best choice.
The phone comes out of the box with Android OS overlaid with Samsung’s One UI interface. One UI is a user-friendly interface that offers a good level of customization.
You can change the look and feel of the interface with themes, icon packs, and wallpapers. One UI also comes with some pre-loaded apps, including Samsung’s suite of productivity and entertainment apps, as well as Lazada and One Esports which are installed upon initial setup. While some users might find these pre-loaded apps helpful, others might prefer to uninstall them and use their preferred alternatives.
On the connectivity front, the A25 5G boasts support for 5G networks. 5G offers significantly faster data speeds compared to 4G LTE, allowing you to download files, stream videos, and play games online with minimal lag at much faster speeds. This is a future-proof feature, as 5G networks are becoming increasingly widespread. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 6, which offers faster speeds and improved performance on compatible Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, Bluetooth 5.3 provides a reliable connection for wireless headphones and other devices, not to mention item transfers to other gadgets.
Battery Life and Charging
The A25 5G packs a hefty 5000mAh battery, which is a major selling point for this phone. In our testing, the A25 5G easily delivered a full day of battery life on a single charge with moderate usage, which included browsing the web, checking social media, streaming music, and watching some videos. With lighter usage, the phone can even stretch into a second day on a single charge. This makes the A25 5G a great option for users who are on the go and don’t want to worry about their phone running out of juice before the end of the day.
However, there’s a bit of a trade-off when it comes to charging. The A25 5G supports only 15W fast charging. While this is sufficient for topping up the battery in a pinch, it pales in comparison to some competitors in this price range that offer faster charging solutions. A full charge from near depletion can take up to two hours. For users who need their phone to charge quickly, the lack of fast charging might be a deal-breaker.
The Rundown: Who’s it for?
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is a good fit for users who:
- Prioritize a long-lasting battery life
- Value a beautiful display for watching videos and browsing the web
- Want a phone with future-proof 5G connectivity
- Are casual photographers who mainly capture snapshots in good lighting
- Prefer a user-friendly interface with plenty of customization options
