Samsung Galaxy A04 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy A04 is the 2022 entry point of the A line, running the MediaTek Helio P35 in a 6.5-inch 60 Hz LCD, with a 5000 mAh battery, 15 W charging, and a 192-gram body. Our catalog scores it 26 on everyday use, 10 on camera and 85 on compactness. A 50-megapixel main camera leads the rear array, and the 3/32 GB trim is tracked at about $140 new. The Samsung Galaxy A05 is the direct successor, and the Samsung Galaxy A03 is the earlier budget step.

Display and design

The 6.5-inch LCD runs at 60 Hz, scoring 18 on our screen axis: a basic panel with a 400-nit ceiling, serviceable indoors and difficult in sunlight. No ingress rating is documented, and at 192 grams the phone sits in the ordinary weight band of its class.

Performance

The Helio P35 posts an everyday axis of 26 and a gaming axis of 0: calls, messaging and light streaming define the envelope, and multitasking beyond two apps will show the 3 to 4 GB RAM of the tracked trims. The two-year software window closed some time ago, making updates a closed chapter.

Camera

The camera axis of 10 rests on a 50-megapixel main sensor alone. Daylight shots in flat light are acceptable for messages and documents; there is no ultrawide, no stabilization and no documented video specification — the camera here is a utility in the strictest sense.

Battery and charging

The 5000 mAh battery scores 40 on our battery axis, an easy full day at this modest pace, while 15 W charging scores 0 — overnight refills are the realistic routine. Endurance is the one specification this class reliably delivers, and the A04 delivers it.

Verdict

At about $140 new for 3/32 GB, the Galaxy A04 answers a simple question: the cheapest new Samsung with a big battery and a recognizable name. Everything else is the compromise; the Galaxy A05 moves the platform a generation forward at a similar price.