Samsung has you covered if you’re looking for a cheap Android phone with 5G with the Galaxy A32 5G ($279.99). This low-cost phone should satisfy you for a very long time thanks to its excellent battery life, strong performance, and years of promised Android upgrades and security updates. With the exception of its low-resolution display, the Galaxy A32 5G is a very solid value and the recipient of our Editors’ Choice award for 5G phones under $100.
Low-Res Has Never Appeared Better
The Galaxy A32 5G has a nice design. Although the back panel and chassis are made of plastic, it does not resemble the low-cost phones from the past. The phone has a glossy gray finish here in the US. Sadly, when tested, it immediately gathered fingerprints and hairline scratches.
The phone weighs 7 ounces and has dimensions of 6.5 by 3.0 by 0.4 inches. While a phone with a 6.5-inch display typically weighs that much, the Galaxy A32 5G is more prone to drops than models with textured backs because of its slippery finish. While I was testing it, the phone a few times slipped out of my hands. Thankfully, its Gorilla Glass 5 display and plastic body weathered these mishaps.
The Galaxy A32 5G’s upper left corner includes three distinct sensor bumps vertically stacked in place of the protruding camera module found on the majority of Samsung smartphones. Another sensor and the flash are flush with the phone to their right. On the bottom third of the back panel, there is a Samsung logo and microscopic regulatory information.
Excellent 5G
The Galaxy A32 5G is available from Samsung online as well as through AT&T and T-Mobile. The phone supports both sub-6GHz 5G bands and solid LTE, and it also works on Verizon.
Be aware that if you use AT&T, you shouldn’t purchase the Galaxy A32 5G that is unlocked. In line with AT&T, “When our 3G services finish on February 22 [2022], any Galaxy A32 5G built for our network will continue to function. But, there are some models of this device that other carriers have brought on our network that will be impacted. In this case, we are providing qualified clients with complimentary replacement phones.”
In Chicago, I put the phone to the test using T-5G Mobile’s network, and the results were astounding. 141.9 Mbps down and 42.8 Mbps up were the average speeds. These figures fall short of the average speeds of 154.2 Mbps down and 46 Mbps up for the Nord N200 5G, but there are other factors that could explain the discrepancy. These stats are fast for a low-cost phone, but they don’t match the lightning-quick speeds you’ll experience on a premium device with mmWave connectivity.
Daily Battery Life
A MediaTek Dimensity 720 5G chipset and 4GB of RAM power the Galaxy A32 5G. There is 64GB of storage, with around 46GB of that being usable right out of the box. If that’s not enough, you can use a microSD card to add up to a terabyte more of external storage.
Overall effectiveness is strong. Applications load swiftly, and screen transitions are almost completely lag-free. The phone is not slowed down by multitasking either. The initial boot-up procedure takes a beat longer than it does on the Nord N200 5G, but unless you’re paying close attention, the difference is difficult to notice.
The Galaxy A32 5G scored 501 single-core (SC) and 1,678 multi-core on Geekbench 5, a benchmarking test that measures unprocessed computational power (MC). On the same test, the Nord N200 5G managed 508 SC and 1,588 MC. Despite having different multi-core scores, the two phones function almost equally well in daily use.
A few days of moderate use should be possible on one charge of the 5,000mAh battery. The Galaxy A32 5G shut down after 13 hours and 1 minutes in our battery drain test, which streams HD video over Wi-Fi at maximum brightness. The phone supports 18W rapid charging if you need a boost right away; an adapter is provided in the box.
What exactly is bad?
In the Galaxy A32 5G, Samsung made one design decision that was a huge mistake for every one that was right. This phone is incredibly slick. With its “Fantastic” finishes and simple design, the rear panel may appear amazing, but the moment you put the phone down, it nearly runs away from you. This problem can be fixed by a case, but holding the Galaxy A32 5G without one is like attempting to maintain a strong grip on a young seal.
The shiny plastic exterior may have given you a hint, but the Galaxy A32 5G is also nearly impossible to maintain spotless. Smudged fingerprints are left behind by even picking up the phone.
Although though Samsung’s One UI is one of the greatest Android skins available, Samsung smartphones still come pre-installed with a ton of identical apps because of brand alliances. Interestingly, the Galaxy A32 5G includes a full range of Microsoft programs in addition to those from Google and Samsung. Right out of the box, you can use Gmail and Outlook as well as OneDrive and Google Drive. On the plus side, you can remove the most of the extras right away, although there are several redundant apps included by default.
Though there were a few hitches, my Galaxy A32 5G typically gave me acceptable performance in daily use. When I used Bluetooth to connect my phone to my car for GPS instructions, the phone tended to get warm. Although it immediately returned to normal temperature, it might not be the best for lengthy navigational voyages.
Conclusion
The Galaxy A32 5G is well worth your consideration if you’re looking for a 5G-ready gadget but have a strict $300 budget. It has a wonderful combination of inexpensive cameras, a long battery life, a sophisticated design, and Samsung’s user-friendly One UI software. There isn’t much lacking for $279 as long as you’re willing to face a slick phone that is readily fingerprinted. For this pricing, the shortcomings, which mainly include an IP rating and quick charging, are not necessarily deal-breakers.
