Samsung is no doubt the biggest brand when it comes to Android phones, with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus dominating the market. As much as they cater to high-end users, however, they also have budget-friendly phones that suit other users, even those who might just need a good-looking device that does the basics like surfing the Internet and making calls.
The Specs
Last May 2018, Samsung came out with their A6 and A6 Plus phones, and retailers that sell cell-phone units have been hearing some positive feedback. At a mid-range price point, the features promised sound like a deal:
- Great front and rear cameras, both with a 16MP sensor
- Decent screen quality with a 5.6″ Super AMOLED Infinity display and 1480 x 720 pixel resolution
- An octa-core 1.6GHz processor
- A sizeable 3,000mAh battery
While a lot of the features seem to prioritize photo-taking, users are also given the option to unlock their screen using Face Recognition and use fingerprint scanning to access apps and websites without a hassle.
The Samsung Galaxy A6 also comes with the usual set of must-haves, like the expandable microSD storage of up to 256GB and the photo-editing features for the perfect Instagram feed. At a reasonable price of £270 (around $356) to start, it’s one of the more affordable phones from the Samsung lineup.
The Look and Feel
At first glance, it looks quite similar to the Galaxy A8 – simple, a little plain, and lacking brand identity without a Samsung logo. That being said, its size makes the device easy to hold without sacrificing screen space. The phone also has small bezels, though not as discreet as the Galaxy S9. Of course, for the price, this is expected.
Unlike the S9 with its all-glass back, the A6 has a metal back with a matte finish and apparent antenna lines. It has a nice grip, though some may argue that with glass backs being one of the current trends in smartphone design, the metallic look tends to seem quite dated.
For users in need of a lightweight phone, the Samsung Galaxy A6 will be a treat. At just 7.7mm and weighing 162g, it will be a great alternative to other smartphones for long-term use.
Given the price, it should be obvious that waterproofing was not an option for the Galaxy A6, unlike its sibling the A8. It does come in attractive colors to make up for some of these limitations, with blue, gold, and lavender among the available choices.
The Decision
While the Samsung Galaxy A6 boasts nice features, there are other devices like the Moto G6 – which is currently being offered on Amazon at just $229 – that bring more to the table for almost the same price. If you’re big on brand names, then you can’t go wrong with Samsung. If you want more value, though, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at other devices that may not be as popular but also deliver.
