The Samsung A02 is marketed as an ultra-budget smartphone, ideal for those looking to stay connected without breaking the bank. Priced at around $150, it seems like a simple, reliable phone on paper. However, after spending several days with the Samsung A02, I can confidently say this device fails to deliver even the most basic smartphone experience.
In this Samsung A02 review, I’ll explain why this phone isn’t worth your money and share my day-to-day frustrations using it. From poor performance to outdated hardware, there are too many flaws to overlook.
Outdated Hardware in 2021
Let’s begin with the basics. Released in 2021, the Samsung A02 still features a Micro USB charging port—a technology that should have been left behind years ago. Most smartphones, even in the ultra-budget category, have moved to USB-C for faster charging and data transfer. Using a Micro USB in 2024 feels like going back in time.
Also read this: Samsung A03 Review: A Budget Smartphone That Packs Surprises
The camera situation isn’t any better. The phone’s camera specs remind me of early-2000s flip phones. Picture quality is blurry, grainy, and washed out, which is disappointing even for a $150 device. Basic snapshots in good lighting look mediocre at best, while low-light photos are nearly unusable.
Samsung A02 Performance – Slow and Frustrating
The biggest reason I recommend avoiding this phone is its poor performance. I’m not talking about gaming or heavy multitasking—simple tasks like browsing the web, watching YouTube videos, or installing apps were painfully slow.
For example:
- Opening web pages takes noticeably longer than on similarly priced devices.
- Scrolling through apps and websites often results in freezing or lagging.
- Installing even small apps like Amazon took over a minute, and once installed, apps were often slow to launch.
What’s frustrating is that this isn’t just a minor inconvenience. The Samsung A02 struggles with the basics: texting, calling, and simple Google searches. If you try to multitask—like watching a video while browsing the web—the performance takes an even bigger nosedive.
YouTube and Google Maps – Inconsistent at Best
Since many users rely on budget phones for simple entertainment and navigation, I paid close attention to YouTube playback and Google Maps.
Watching videos on YouTube was inconsistent. While playback was mostly smooth, there were still moments of choppy video and noticeable load times when switching between videos. For a phone in 2024, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Google Maps was worse. Navigating an area or simply looking up a location felt like an eternity. Scrolling around maps or jumping between apps often led to frozen screens or delayed responses. For people who might use this phone for basic navigation, this is unacceptable.
Gaming: The Only Bright Spot
Here’s the weird part: gaming performance on the Samsung A02 was surprisingly decent. After waiting an absurd amount of time for a game to download and launch, I found that games like Need for Speed ran smoother than expected. While animations were slow, the gameplay was “playable.”
But here’s the thing: this phone isn’t meant for gamers. It’s marketed toward budget-conscious users who want a reliable device for calls, messages, and basic apps. A phone that handles gaming better than browsing Google Maps simply doesn’t make sense.
Why the Samsung A02 Isn’t Worth It
Budget smartphones often make compromises, but the Samsung A02 makes too many sacrifices to be usable. For $150, you can easily find better-performing phones with faster load times, USB-C charging, and cameras that take passable photos.
To summarize this Samsung A02 review:
- Outdated hardware like Micro USB and poor cameras hold it back.
- Everyday tasks like web browsing, app installs, and multitasking are painfully slow.
- Even simple apps like Google Maps and YouTube fail to deliver a smooth experience.
While the Samsung A02 handles gaming moderately well, this is not enough to redeem its day-to-day usability issues. For individuals seeking a budget-friendly smartphone, alternatives with better software optimization, modern hardware, and smoother performance are readily available.
In conclusion, this Samsung A02 review highlights a phone that falls short of expectations, proving that affordability should not come at the cost of usability.
