Galaxy A02 and Galaxy A03 are Samsung’s entry-level cell phones that offer technical specifications for those looking for a good cost-benefit ratio. Both are offered for prices below $150 and bring a battery that can last up to two days. Check below all the details of the smartphones and find out what’s new with the generation change.
The A03 was announced in February 2022 to replace the A02 from 2021. About two months after hitting the market, the Galaxy A03 can be found for $145, while the Galaxy A02 can be found for $124.27.
Samsung Galaxy A02 vs Samsung Galaxy A03
| Samsung Galaxy A02 | Samsung Galaxy A03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | March 2021 | February 2022 |
| Current price (Amazon) | $124.27 | $145 |
| Screen | 6.5 inches | 6.5 inches |
| screen resolution | 1600 x 720 pixels (HD+) | 1600 x 720 pixels (HD+) |
| Processor | MediaTek MT6739, 4 cores up to 1.5 GHz | Unisoc SC9863A, 8 cores up to 1.6 GHz |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| Memory card | Yes, microSD up to 1 TB | Yes, microSD up to 1 TB |
| Main camera | 13 MP main and 2 MP depth sensor | 48 MP and 2 MP Depth Sensor |
| Front camera | 5 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Operating system | Android 10 | Android 11 |
| Dimensions and weight | 164 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm; 206 grams | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm; 196 grams |
| Colors | blue, black, and red | blue, black, and red |
Screen and design
The two phones are similar in several aspects: both Galaxy A02 and Galaxy A03 have 6.5-inch displays with HD+ resolution (1600 x 720 pixels). The displays are TFT LCD, which usually come with Samsung’s entry-level models.
The display of these devices has thin edges on the sides. The back cover is made of plastic and none of them has extra protection against scratches, such as the desired Gorilla Glass. There is also no biometric reader.
As for the housing of the cameras, both have embossing on the cover, but the embossing on the Galaxy A03 is larger, square-shaped, and reminiscent of the brand’s more expensive models. The front camera on both is housed in a drop-shaped notch. Both Galaxy phones are available in blue, black, and red colors.
Camera
In the cameras, the main differences appear in focus and resolution. The Galaxy A02 has a camera set that includes a macro camera, whose main function is to take close-up shots of objects without losing quality. The Galaxy A03’s camera set demonstrates an aptitude for photos with a blurry background effect, called by Samsung as Live Focus. It is worth mentioning that this feature is also present in the front camera of the Galaxy A03.
The camera set of the Galaxy A02 is as follows:
- 13 megapixels main (f/1.9)
- 2 MP Macro (f/2.4)
- Front 5 MP (f/2.0)
Although the phones do not present major innovations in this regard, the Galaxy A03 brings 48 MP on the main camera, a jump from the 13 MP of the predecessor. However, there are no stabilization features and the zoom is only digital (10x for the A03 and 8x for the A02). Finally, the videos come in Full HD resolution, which is not bad at all for an entry-level device.
The camera suite of the Galaxy A03 has the following sensors:
- 48 MP main (f/1.9)
- 2 MP depth (f/2.4)
- 5 MP front (f/2.2)
Performance and storage
If the devices are quite similar in several aspects, it is on the inside that they differ the most. The Galaxy A02 has a processor with only four cores, while the Galaxy A03 has an eight-core chip. And although the speed is similar (1.5 GHz for the A02 and 1.6 GHz for the A03), the newer smartphone should perform better, since it can perform more tasks simultaneously.
To aid multitasking, the Galaxy A03 has double the amount of RAM. This helps performance, without allowing the phone to crash or take longer to load files. The newer model also has more storage space: 64 GB versus 32 GB for the Galaxy A02.
Both smartphones offer memory expansion via microSD cards up to 1 TB.
Battery
A positive aspect of the devices is that both Galaxy comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, an amount that Samsung points out is enough for the devices to last two days away from the outlet. Neither offers fast charging, but both come with the charger in the box.
Android Version
The Galaxy A02 leaves the factory with Android 10, while the A03 has native Android 11. Both devices should receive Android 12, the most current version of Google’s operating system.
Additional Features
The Galaxy A02 and Galaxy A03 are entry-level products, and as such, they have limited features. Neither the NFC – which allows payment by proximity – nor the fingerprint reader is present on the models. There is also no extra protection on the glass.
There are differences in the connectivity features. In Wi-Fi, both devices can connect to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, but this year’s phone can connect to faster networks with 802.11ac protocol, reaching 1,300 Mb/s.
The situation is reversed concerning Bluetooth. The older handset offers a more modern version, 5.1. In practice, the main difference is in the use of trackers, which allows the location of the signal emitter to be pinpointed more accurately.
Samsung also highlights the Galaxy A03’s Dolby Atmos-featured audio experience, which should provide clear, quality sound. This feature only supports stereo headphones and Bluetooth speakers, which must be purchased separately.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy A02 is available and can already be found for $124.27 on Amazon. The Galaxy A03, on the other hand, is available on Amazon for $145.
- Buy Galaxy A02
- Buy Galaxy A03
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