Like every year, the renewal of the Galaxy A range represents big challenges for Samsung. If the Galaxy S put glitter in the lives of fans, the Galaxy A are the models allowing Samsung to put moldings on the ceilings.
While the Galaxy A52 is on track to establish itself as the best-selling Samsung smartphone of 2021 (it is already out of stock), the Galaxy A32 5G, sold for 329 euros, promises to make 5G even more accessible. We tested it for several days.
Galaxy A32 price and availability
The Galaxy A32 5G was marketed when it was released at a price of 329 euros, but we already find it at the beginning of 2023 almost 100 euros cheaper. It is available in a 128 GB version only and comes in four colors: black, white, blue and lavender.
© Lemon squeezer
The A32 is therefore positioned as a direct competitor to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro and realme 8 Pro, two Chinese models with excellent value for money.
Galaxy A32 5G 6/128 GB at the best price Base price: €329
See more offers
Design of the Galaxy A32
Unlike other models in the range, the Galaxy A32 5G does not carry a large photo block on its back. The sensors are an integral part of the shell and only stick out very slightly. Samsung is thus returning to a more old school tinged with a welcome layer of minimalism.
With its flat and shiny back, the Galaxy A32 5G has a family resemblance to Sony’s Xperia smartphones. Make no mistake though: the A32 is covered in plastic, not glass.
© Lemon squeezer
This does not prevent it from suffering from the same defects: it is a nest of dust and fingerprints. And not to spoil anything, its 205 g make it a particularly heavy smartphone with regard to the materials of which it is made.
Dust, me? © Lemon squeezer
In addition to these few disturbing elements, the Galaxy A32 5G remains an attractive smartphone when viewed from behind. From the front, on the other hand, it’s a bit of a cold shower. Samsung has not trodden by integrating an LCD panel with particularly visible black contours. We have seen much better both with the Korean than with its competitors.
© Lemon squeezer
Above all, the A32 5G inherits an Infinity-V panel, that is to say that the front sensor is housed in a notch in the shape of a drop of water. In 2021. On a smartphone over 300 euros… And to top it off, the haptic engine from another time does not improve its business.
The other elements are positioned in the classic way: the USB-C and the loudspeaker keep company with the 3.5 mm jack on the lower edge. On the right, the on/off button positioned under the volume keys also acts as a fingerprint reader. On the left, the nano-SIM slot can accommodate either two SIMs or a SIM and a microSD card to expand the storage memory.
Screen and audio
For 329 euros, we expected to enjoy an AMOLED screen which Samsung has the secret. After all, Xiaomi, OnePlus, realme incorporate this screen technology into their affordable models.
Obviously, equipping the A32 5G with a homemade AMOLED panel is too expensive for the Korean. We must therefore content ourselves with a 6.5-inch LCD screen with HD+ definition (seriously?) and a refresh rate of 60Hz.
© Lemon squeezer
Even if it means missing out, you might as well go all out. When leaving the factory, the screen is poorly calibrated (too cold) and the brightness is a bit tight for comfortable reading in direct sunlight. Only consolation prize, correct contrasts, but not fabulous either. A real disappointment.
No one will be surprised to learn that the quality of the loudspeakers is just fine. On the other hand, we salute the presence of a 3.5 mm jack allowing the listening of all audio files including FLAC. Music lovers will appreciate.
Wireless listening is based on Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. We must then be satisfied with the support of standard codecs: AAC and SBC. Sufficient for listening to audio streaming services without fear of ear canal bleeding.
Performance and interface
To provide 5G connectivity, Samsung opts for an entry-level MediaTek Dimension 720 5G chip. It is associated with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, nothing extraordinary therefore.
Extraordinary, the performances are not either. They are even very far from it. We can understand that the Galaxy A32 5G does not provide enough power to play the 3D games of the moment with optimal graphic quality.
© Lemon squeezer
On the other hand, it is very difficult for us to accept a daily experience marked by slowdowns, jerks, crashesin short, everything that has given the Android universe a bad reputation among the general public.
This is all the more annoying as Samsung is the market leader in smartphones. If Xiaomi, Poco and realme know how to make fluid products, why not him? For the sake of economy? Bad calculations? Precipitation? Whatever the cause, the result remains unworthy of a brand like Samsung and a smartphone over 300 euros. Between this A32 5G and the competition, the gap is wide.
© Lemon squeezer
We could have consoled ourselves with One UI, undoubtedly one of the best Android interfaces of the moment. We could have… if we’d had the chance to use it properly.
Autonomy and charging
Accustomed to AMOLED screens, Samsung masters the optimization of autonomy with this type of panel. Here, the manufacturer opts for an LCD screen, which consumes more energy. Good news, Samsung tames energy consumption just as well with this type of panel.
It must be said that the Galaxy A32 5G embarks a generous 5000 mAh battery, which makes the task somewhat easier. The processor, a bit lazy, also makes the exercise more trivial.
© Lemon squeezer
Let’s not minimize the know-how of engineers, however. With a roughly similar configuration, the Poco X3 Pro is far from being as enduring as the Galaxy A32 5G. In fact, Samsung’s smartphone is even twice as durable. It lasts about two days in general-purpose use.what to see coming then.
Everything could have been perfect if Samsung had paid as much attention to charging as to autonomy. The A32 5G only supports 15W charging power, far too little in 2021. Count more than 2 hours of waiting to fully recharge the beast. In 30 minutes, we cap at best at 30%…
Galaxy A32 camera
So far, we can’t say that the A32 5G impresses. Is Samsung catching up on the photography part? Yes and no. Like most of its competitors, the Korean is betting on the multiplication of sensors even if it means integrating secondary optics of questionable interest. Thus, the Galaxy A32 5G embeds:
- a wide angle 26mm (f/1.8); 48 Mpxl sensor (1/2”; 0.8 µm photosite); PDF
- ultra wide angle 13m (f/2.2); 123° field of view; 8 Mpxl sensor (1.4”; 1.12 µm photosite)
- a macro lens (f/2.4); 5 Mpxl sensor
- a depth sensor 2 Mpxl; f/2.4 lens aperture
© Lemon squeezer
Samsung therefore opts for a fairly classic configuration, even a bit less muscular than that of the competitors. The Redmi Note 10 Pro, for example, has a main sensor of 108 Mpxl.
As everyone knows, the number of megapixels is not enough to make a good camera. In this specific case, it still helps a lot. Thus, the main sensor of the A32 5G never really competes with that of its rival.
That doesn’t mean it’s bad. If expert eyes will observe a clear difference in sharpness, the average user will see nothing but fire. Especially since Samsung compensates for the loss of detail with other very flattering elements for the retina: color saturation and frankly marked contrasts. We will therefore be satisfied with the shots captured with the A32 5G for publication on social networks.
The main sensor does not fail in low light either. If the loss of details is obvious and the digital noise is present, the whole remains quite acceptable for a smartphone at this price.
In summary, the main sensor gets away with the honors. We would even venture to call it good even if it does not reach the level of its competitors (realme 8 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro in the lead).
As we mentioned above, the secondary sensors on affordable smartphones are more of a marketing argument than a real technical asset. The Galaxy A32 5G, alas, is no exception to this rule.
Thereby, the ultra wide-angle will only be relevant if the light conditions are optimal, and even. Distortion is present and the loss of detail is obvious. There is also an obvious difference in rendering compared to the wide-angle. Do we have to specify that launching into low-light shootings is at best impossible, at worst madness?
For close-up shots, the macro lens, although decent, is as relevant as an anti-radiation patch stuck to the back of a smartphone (in other words, completely useless). From a distance, the absence of a telephoto lens forces us to curb our enthusiasm: we will be satisfied with a perfectly correct 2x zoom. Beyond that, the shots are unusable.
Portrait mode, on the other hand, is effective. even if the AI sometimes has trouble with the clipping. The possibility of modifying the intensity of the blur during and after the shoot largely compensates for these small failures.
The 13 Mpxl front sensor (f / 2.2 wide-angle lens) does the job if you don’t risk confronting it with backlit scenes. The self-portrait mode is very correct. Finally, the Galaxy A32 5G can shoot up to 4K at 30 fps, obviously without stabilization.
Galaxy A32 5G 6/128 GB at the best price Base price: €329
See more offers
Our opinion after the Galaxy A32 5G test
Ouch! Small hiccup at Samsung with this Galaxy A32 5G which does not really meet what is expected of a model at this price. Marketed at 329 euros when it was released, it has far too many flaws to hope to eclipse ever fiercer competition in this price segment. Its screen is not up to what Samsung knows how to do, its performance is too fair, its charging system too slow and its front panel a little has-been.
Even on the side of the photo, yet one of the big strengths of Samsung smartphones, the A32 5G does not make the weight, the fault of secondary sensors that are too mediocre.
Finally, its design, its main photo sensor and its autonomy are its only three assets. Far too little to justify its price of 329 euros when it was released. And shortly at the beginning of 2023, to justify the purchase, as we can do better with the competition in this price range.
