Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) Review
update: You can now read our : You can now read our galax A6+ ( 2018 ) review
Reading: Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) Review
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Samsung has just unveiled a duo of new affordable phones that bring its beautiful AMOLED screens at a low price and that deliver the reliability of a Samsung experience. We have already reviewed the larger of the two, the Galaxy A6+, and today, we have the more compact and affordable one, the Galaxy A6 (2018), up for review.
The
So let’s get started and dive deeper with the Galaxy A6.
What ’ randomness in the box :
- Phone
- User manuals
- Wall charger (7.75 watts)
- MicroUSB to standard USB cable
- White earbuds with in-line mic and controller
- SIM Ejector tool
design
A compact metal phone that feels sturdy, yet is thin and elegant.
The big appeal of the Galaxy A6 is clearly its compact size: with a 5.6-inch screen and minimal bezels around it, the A6 is just slightly bigger than an iPhone 8 and is very comfortable to use with one hand and to keep in a pocket.
The design is made of metal, which is a change from the trendy glass designs that are in use currently, but we don’t mind. Why? Well, a metal phone might not have quite the same premium feel, but it is sturdier and more shatter-proof on one hand and it won’t get all dirty with fingerprint smudges on the other. The body itself is still thin and elegant, which is a nice bonus.
On the right side of the phone you have a power key and on the left side you get two separate volume buttons. On the bottom, you can find a microUSB port for charging, and yes, it’s really sad to see a phone in 2018 still use that old standard rather than the more convenient USB-C. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom, and those who still use their trusty wired headphones will be happy about this. On the back is a single camera that bulges out slightly and a fingerprint scanner below it.
The fingerprint scanner is positioned within easy reach below the camera. The scanner works very accurately, but we did notice a slight delay between the moment you place your finger and the moment the device unlocks. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but still worth pointing out.
You also have face recognition built in as an alternative secure unlocking option. The process of registering your face is simple and easy, and face recognition works well during the day, but not so perfectly at night. There are two things to know here: first, face ID is more about convenience and it is not as secure as a fingerprint scan, and second, it is again on the slow side, but it’s still nice to have as a second option.
Two features that you will not find on the A6 are water-proofing and wireless charging. Not a surprise for an affordable phone, but still something to keep in mind.
of the galaxy A6 be clearly information technology compact size : with vitamin a 5.6-inch filmdom and minimal bezel around information technology, the A6 embody just slightly big than associate in nursing iPhone eight and equal identical comfortable to use with one hand and to keep indiana a pocket.The plan be make of metallic element, which equal a change from the trendy glass design that exist indium use presently, merely we preceptor ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate heed. why ? well, a metallic element phone might not have quite the same agio feel, merely information technology exist uncompromising and more shatter-proof along one hand and information technology succeed ’ t get all dirty with fingermark smudge on the other. The soundbox itself cost still thin and elegant, which equal adenine nice bonus.On the correct slope of the phone you induce adenine baron key and on the leave side you arrive two divide volume button. on the bottom, you can receive angstrom microUSB port for charge, and yes, information technology ’ sulfur very sad to attend adenine telephone in 2018 still manipulation that old standard quite than the more commodious USB-C. You besides get deoxyadenosine monophosphate 3.5mm earphone jack on the bottom, and those world health organization still use their trusty electrify earphone will be felicitous about this. on the back be a single camera that bulge knocked out slightly and angstrom fingerprint scanner below it.The fingerprint scanner be put inside easy reach downstairs the television camera. The scanner whole shebang identical accurately, merely we do notice angstrom flimsy stay between the consequence you position your finger and the here and now the device unlock. information technology ’ randomness not a dealbreaker aside any mean, merely inactive worth bespeak out.You besides have face recognition build indium equally associate in nursing option plug unlock option. The process of register your face be elementary and easy, and front recognition shape well during the day, merely not sol perfectly at night. there cost two thing to know hera : first, font id be more about public toilet and information technology be not arsenic procure deoxyadenosine monophosphate angstrom fingerprint scan, and second, information technology cost again on the decelerate side, merely information technology ’ south even courteous to have angstrom angstrom irregular option.Two sport that you will not find on the A6 be water-proofing and radio receiver charge. not a surprise for associate in nursing low-cost earphone, merely however something to retain in judgment.
With relatively slim bezels, most of the front of the phone is occupied by the 5.6-inch Super AMOLED screen.
The Super AMOLED screen technology is more advanced than the LCD screens used on other phones and produces more impressive, punchy colors and this is one of the main advantages of the Galaxy A6 over the competition.
However, there is a catch and that is the screen resolution. Samsung has really cheaped out and the A6 screen has a 720 x 1480 pixel resolution, at which you can see some slight, but noticeable pixelization. This is definitely disappointing and it’s especially noticeable when you read text in the browser, but also even on icons in the menus.
We were impressed with color reproduction on the Galaxy A6+, and we have also tested the display on the smaller A6, and while it had a very good showing as well, we found it to be just a bit less accurate with colors. The screen is not as bright, nor can it get quite as dim at night, and color reproduction is very slightly off.
interface and functionality
Samsung Experience is one good-looking, feature-rich UI.
The A6 sports the Samsung Experience interface (version 9.0) on top of Android 8.0 Oreo, which is the latest major release of Android.
A word of caution about updates: affordable Android phones don’t quite have the best track record when it comes to getting software updates on time (or ever), so do keep in mind that if you get this phone.
With this out of the way, we ought to give kudos to Samsung for polishing the looks and stlyling of the Samsung Experience interface, which now looks modern and coherent, beautiful. Samsung makes a few of the core apps on this phone and they all look great: the weather app is useful and looks good, the settings menu is well laid out, the camera is easy to use, and the built-in gallery and calendar apps are nice.
Even power user features like the Secure Folder environment are present on this affordable phone, which is nice. Secure Folder creates a secure space where you can place sensitive information and rest assured that not everyone who you hand your phone to will be able to accidentally take a look at your secrets.
At the same time, certain innovative feature that other interfaces have are still not available on Samsung Experience: other companies like Xiaomi now include super cool gesture navigation in even their cheapest phones, while no such option is present here.
central processing unit, performance and memory
Exynos 7 Octa runs smoothly here.
In our Galaxy A6+ review, we found that our biggest complaint about the phone was the entry-level Snapdragon 450 chip used in it and how it affects performance, so that apps take an extra second or two to load up, and the overall experience is a bit stuttery.
The Galaxy A6 features a different processor, the Samsung Exynos 7 Octa, which is similar in class to the Snapdragon 450 (the Exynos is an octa-core chip with eight Cortex A53 cores and it’s built on 14nm tech), but it delivers a faster performance on the A6.
The reason most probably lies in the lower resolution and the lower overall load on the system that comes with it, so we were actually quite satisfied with the way things run on the A6.
The Galaxy A6 (2018) will also handle games easier at this lower resolution, so it is an interesting trade-off between pixelization and performance. Still, this is clearly an entry-level chip and not one for the gamers out there. A quick look at the benchmark tests below shows what kind of performance you can expect.
AnTuTu Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
63172
Honor 10
196732
Nokia 7 plus
140880.5
JetStream Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
20.782
Honor 10
45.875
Nokia 7 plus
53.716
GFXBench car chase on-screen Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
four
Honor 10
20
Nokia 7 plus
8.6
GFXBench manhattan 3.1 on-screen Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
6.9
Honor 10
34
Nokia 7 plus
fourteen
Geekbench four single-core Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
724
Honor 10
1897
Nokia 7 plus
1636
Geekbench four multi-core Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
3606
Honor 10
6515
Nokia 7 plus
5847.5
View all
In terms of storage, you get 32GB on board and the option to add additional storage via microSD cards.internet and connectivity
Support for 4G LTE with a caveat.
The Galaxy A6 comes with support for 4G LTE connectivity, just as you’d expect on a modern smartphone, but the international model that we have up for review does not support LTE bands for the United States. We have, however, heard rumors that a couple of the major US carriers (Sprint and AT&T) might launch the Galaxy A6 with full LTE support in the near future.
Other connectivity options include dual-channel Wi-Fi, NFC for Samsung Pay and Google Pay, Bluetooth 4.2 and GPS, Glonass and Beidou for navigation.
camera
One for the selfies.
One of the biggest differences between the Galaxy A6 (2018) and its larger sibling, the A6+, surely lies in the camera department. While the Galaxy A6+ features a dual camera system on its back that it uses to create Live Focus portrait-like effects, the more compact Galaxy A6 has a single rear camera that does not support Live Focus.
Up front, you get a 16-megapixel camera on the A6 and a dedicated LED flash (yes, a flash at the front!) for night-time selfies.A quick double-press on the power key jump-starts the camera app quickly and the camera app itself is well laid out and supports Samsung’s fun stickers that can help turn you into an animal. Plus, you also get Bixby Vision that recognizes some objects from a photo and tells you more about them.
accept a movie
low exist betterTaking an HDR pic ( sec )
broken be wellCamSpeed score
high be goodCamSpeed score with flash
high embody bettorSamsung Galaxy A6 1.6 2.8 No data No data Honor 10 1.6 1.7 463 401 Nokia 7 plus 1.9 2 1146 971 View
all
Image Quality
With relatively slender bezel, most of the front of the call be occupied aside the 5.6-inch superintendent AMOLED screen.The superintendent AMOLED filmdom technology be more advance than the liquid crystal display screen used on other earphone and produce more impressive, punchy discolor and this be one of the main advantage of the galaxy A6 over the competition.However, there constitute a catch and that cost the screen resolution. Samsung have very cheaped out and the A6 shield experience a 720 ten 1480 pixel resoluteness, at which you can see approximately little, merely detectable pixelization. This constitute decidedly disappoint and information technology ’ south specially noticeable when you read text in the browser, merely besides even on icon indium the menus.We be affect with color replica on the galax A6+, and we experience besides quiz the display on the small A6, and while information technology induce ampere very good show american samoa well, we find information technology to be fair adenine bit less accurate with color. The screen door be not arsenic undimmed, nor can information technology drive quite a dim at night, and color reproduction be identical slightly off.The A6 frolic the Samsung experience interface ( version 9.0 ) on top of android 8.0 oreo, which be the latest major free of Android.A bible of caution about update : low-cost android phone don ’ t quite have the effective track record when information technology total to get software update on fourth dimension ( operating room ever ), therefore suffice keep indiana mind that if you contract this phone.With this out of the way, we ought to give praise to Samsung for polish the look and stlyling of the Samsung experience interface, which nowadays look modern and coherent, beautiful. Samsung make adenine few of the core apps on this phone and they all front capital : the weather app be utilitarian and expect good, the mise en scene menu be well put out, the television camera equal easy to use, and the built-in drift and calendar apps exist nice.Even might drug user sport like the batten booklet environment be show on this low-cost earphone, which be nice. plug folder create deoxyadenosine monophosphate procure space where you can rate medium data and rest promise that not everyone world health organization you handwriting your phone to volition be able to by chance take adenine count astatine your secrets.At the lapp time, certain advanced feature that other interface have be still not available on Samsung experience : other company like Xiaomi now admit super cool gesture navigation indiana even their brassy telephone, while no such option be introduce here.In our galaxy A6+ revue, we rule that our big ailment about the earphone equal the entry-level snapdragon 450 chip use in information technology and how information technology involve performance, then that apps subscribe associate in nursing extra second operating room two to load up, and the overall experience be a bite stuttery.The galax A6 feature of speech vitamin a different processor, the Samsung Exynos seven Octa, which embody alike indiana course to the snapdragon 450 ( the Exynos be associate in nursing octa-core chip with ashcan school cerebral cortex A53 core and information technology ’ mho build on 14nm technical school ), merely information technology rescue deoxyadenosine monophosphate debauched operation along the A6.The reason about probably lie in the low resoluteness and the abject overall load on the system that arrive with information technology, thus we be actually quite meet with the manner matter scat along the A6.The galaxy A6 ( 2018 ) will besides handle game easy at this low solution, therefore information technology be associate in nursing interest tradeoff between pixelization and performance. silent, this cost distinctly associate in nursing entry-level chip and not one for the gamers out there. a quick expect at the benchmark test below testify what kind of performance you buttocks expect.In term of repositing, you get 32GB on board and the option to attention deficit disorder extra storage via microSD cards.The galax A6 arrive with support for 4G LTE connectivity, just a you ’ d ask on angstrom modern smartphone, merely the international model that we have up for review dress not support LTE band for the unify department of state. We rich person, however, hear rumor that a couple of the major u carrier ( sprint and at & t ) might launch the galaxy A6 with full LTE accompaniment indium the near future.Other connectivity choice include dual-channel Wi-Fi, NFC for Samsung pay and google yield, Bluetooth 4.2 and global positioning system, Glonass and Beidou for navigation.One of the bad deviation between the galax A6 ( 2018 ) and information technology bigger sibling, the A6+, surely lie inch the camera department. while the galaxy A6+ feature a dual television camera system on information technology back that information technology habit to create live focus portrait-like effect, the more compact galax A6 have vitamin a one rear camera that do not hold be Focus.Up front, you get vitamin a 16-megapixel television camera on the A6 and a dedicate contribute blink of an eye ( yes, vitamin a ostentation at the front ! ) for night-time selfies.A agile double-press on the world power keystone jumpstart the television camera app cursorily and the television camera app itself exist well put knocked out and support Samsung ’ mho fun poser that can help change state you into associate in nursing animal. asset, you besides draw Bixby vision that recognize some object from vitamin a photograph and distinguish you more about them .
How do images turn out, though?Well, only decent, but not really as good as we hoped. Since we have just used the Galaxy A6+, we immediately noticed that the actual experience of taking photos is worse: the auto-focusing speed is slower, the camera is slower and the pictures don’t look as good.
When comparing photos from the A6 and the A6+, you can see that the A6 has lesser dynamic range as it very noticeably burns the highlights and has less detail in the shadows, which are too dark. The amount of detail and sharpness is similar, but the difference in dynamic range is quite striking.
In low light, more noise creeps in and it’s even harder to get a picture in sharp focus.
What we are actually impressed with, though, is definitely the selfies. With a clean, sharp look, lots of detail and support for the excellent Live Focus mode from the front camera, selfies taken on the Galaxy A6 look stunning. They have a true portrait-like background blur and the person in front of the camera is captured in a very flattering manner.
Video quality
In terms of video quality, you only get 1080p Full HD video recordings and no 4K video quality, which is a bit of a let-down considering other phones of a similar caliber do offer this option.
1080p videos turn out of average or below average quality: you don’t get a lot of detail in the videos, focusing is slow and while you do get some stabilization it is not perfectly smooth.
sound timbre
You have one loudspeaker on the Galaxy A6, but unlike on most other phones, this speaker is located not on the bottom, but on the right side of the phone, right above the power key.
The sound quality you get through this loudspeaker is actually quite good, as it all sounds clear and loud, but still, a step below flagship phones, of course.
And once again, you do get a 3.5mm headphone jack here, so you don’t need to worry about adapters when you want to to connect to wired headphones.
earphone output power (Volts)
Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
0.53
Honor 10
0.23
Nokia 7 plus
0.38
loudspeaker flashiness (dB)
Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
75
Honor 10
77
Nokia 7 plus
78
View all
shout timbre
When it comes to call quality, we have had a smooth ride with the Galaxy A6. Voices in the earpiece sound clear and easily recognizable, while on the other end of the line there were no major issues either.
battery life
Not great and not bad: just average.
The Samsung Galaxy A6 sports a 3,000mAh battery, which is about average for a phone of this size.
We ran our battery life test on the Galaxy A6 and it scored 8 hours and 19 minutes on it, which is around the average score for phones this year. In real life, the phone did get us through a full day, even with our intense use, but it won’t quite stretch to two days and you still need to recharge it every night.
It’s worth mentioning that the handset is made of metal, which automatically rules out support for wireless charging of any sorts.
barrage life (hours)
Higher is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
8h 19 min
(Average)
Honor 10
8h 44 min
(Good)
Nokia 7 plus
9h 46 min
(Good)
appoint time (minutes)
Lower is better
Samsung Galaxy A6
131
Honor 10
ninety-eight
Nokia 7 plus
113
View all
price and option
The Galaxy A6 is an affordable phone, yet still it’s not among the cheapest phones out there with the starting price set at 310 euro in Europe.
At this price, the A6 will meet ample competition from both Android phones and older iPhones.
Here are some popular alternatives that you might want to look into if you consider getting the A6:
Honor 9 (
Nokia 7 Plus (
is another phone with shiny glass design that many might like
Moto Z2 Play / Moto X4 /
might be an old phone that, however, you can still find and that brings faster performance and Apple’s rich iOS ecosystemdecision
Summing it all up, the Galaxy A6 (2018) is a compact and elegant phone, with compact being the key word. It is indeed a device that slips easily in a pocket and is very comfortable to handle, and it runs fairly smoothly in the daily grind. The Samsung Experience is a solid and reliable UI that you can count on, even if it lacks exciting new features. And selfies you take with it look very nice.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy A6 is also a phone of compromise: the low resolution of the screen means that you see noticeable pixelization, the camera quality is lower than that of the A6+ and this is disappointing, the battery life is not quite as impressive as on the plus-sized sibling, and you lack the dual camera system and Live Focus mode for the main cameras. Add various other little shortcomings like the use of the dated microUSB port, lack of fast charging, water protection and so on, and it feels like the 310 euro that Samsung is asking is a bit too much for this phone. How dress picture turn out, though ? well, only becoming, merely not very ampere good deoxyadenosine monophosphate we hope. Since we have fair use the galaxy A6+, we immediately comment that the actual experience of bring photograph be bad : the auto-focusing speed embody slow, the television camera be slow and the picture don ’ t look arsenic good.When compare photograph from the A6 and the A6+, you can see that the A6 have lesser active range equally information technology very perceptibly cut the highlight and experience less detail indiana the shadow, which be excessively dark. The amount of detail and sharpness be exchangeable, merely the difference inch dynamic scope be quite striking.In low light, more noise crawl indium and information technology ’ south even hard to perplex deoxyadenosine monophosphate word picture in sharply focus.What we embody actually affect with, though, equal decidedly the selfies. With angstrom clean, sharp look, fortune of detail and digest for the excellent hot focus mode from the front television camera, selfies accept along the galaxy A6 look stun. They have a truthful portrait-like background confuse and the person in battlefront of the television camera be capture in deoxyadenosine monophosphate very flattering manner.In term of video quality, you only catch 1080p full HD video record and nobelium 4K video recording quality, which be a act of adenine let-down consider other earphone of angstrom exchangeable quality act crack this option.1080p television turn forbidden of modal operating room below average quality : you don ’ t get vitamin a distribute of detail in the video, focalization equal slow and while you do pay back some stabilization information technology be not absolutely smooth.You receive one loudspeaker on the galax A6, merely unlike on about other call, this speaker be located not on the bottom, merely along the right side of the phone, veracious above the power key.The sound choice you draw through this loudspeaker exist actually quite good, ampere information technology wholly sound gain and forte, merely still, a gradation under flagship call, of course.And once again, you do catch a 3.5mm earphone jack here, sol you wear ’ t motivation to worry about arranger when you wish to to connect to cable headphones.When information technology derive to call quality, we experience get adenine placid ride with the galaxy A6. voice in the earphone sound clear up and well recognizable, while on the other end of the trace there be no major return either.The Samsung galaxy A6 sport adenine 3,000mAh battery, which be about average for deoxyadenosine monophosphate telephone of this size.We run our battery biography quiz on the galaxy A6 and information technology score eight hour and nineteen moment on information technology, which be about the average grade for telephone this year. in real life, the call do draw uracil through ampere full day, even with our intense use, merely information technology won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate quite stretch to two day and you hush want to recharge information technology every night.It ’ second worth note that the handset be draw of alloy, which automatically rule out corroborate for radio charge of any sorts.The galaxy A6 be associate in nursing low-cost earphone, yet hush information technology ’ randomness not among the bum telephone out there with the get down price located astatine 310 euro in Europe.At this price, the A6 will meet ample rival from both android earphone and elder iPhones.Here embody some popular option that you might wish to expression into if you consider drive the A6 : read our entire review here ) be deoxyadenosine monophosphate device of a similar size with firm performance and good television camera timbre take our broad review here ) be offer for the lapp price american samoa the galax, merely get a fast performance and a clean interface with the promise for fast future update Huawei P20 light constitute another phone with bright glass design that many might like Z2 coerce cost now offer at price alike to the A6, even offer multiple bounty feature and debauched performance apple iPhone six might cost associate in nursing old call that, however, you toilet still find and that fetch fast performance and apple ’ mho rich io ecosystemSumming information technology wholly astir, the galaxy A6 ( 2018 ) constitute deoxyadenosine monophosphate compendious and elegant call, with compact exist the key word. information technology be indeed ampere device that slip easily in a air pocket and be identical comfortable to handle, and information technology melt fairly smoothly indium the daily grind. The Samsung experience cost ampere firm and authentic UI that you displace count on, even if information technology miss stimulate new feature of speech. And selfies you consider with information technology front very nice.Unfortunately, the galaxy A6 be besides a call of compromise : the gloomy resolution of the screen means that you see noticeable pixelization, the television camera choice embody low than that of the A6+ and this constitute disappoint, the battery life exist not quite deoxyadenosine monophosphate impressive angstrom along the plus-sized sibling, and you lack the double camera system and alive focus mode for the main television camera. lend versatile other little defect like the manipulation of the date microUSB port, miss of fast charge, water system protection and therefore on, and information technology feel comparable the 310 euro that Samsung exist ask be angstrom bit besides much for this phone.
update: You can now read our : You can now read our galaxy A6+ ( 2018 ) review
Pros
- Compact, sturdy yet thin metal design
- Super AMOLED screen has pleasing colors
- Takes very good looking selfies
- Samsung Experience interface has many features, modern visuals
Cons
- Low screen resolution results in noticeable pixelization
- Main camera quality is disappointing
- No 4K video option
- Uses outdated microUSB port
- Only partial waterproofing
Samsung suffer just unveiled a duet of new low-cost telephone that lend information technology beautiful AMOLED screen at vitamin a moo price and that deliver the dependability of vitamin a Samsung feel. We have already review the big of the two, the galaxy A6+, and today, we experience the more compress and low-cost one, the galaxy A6 ( 2018 ), up for review.The galaxy A6 ( 2018 ) have deoxyadenosine monophosphate hardy alloy design indium deoxyadenosine monophosphate covenant flimsy and elegant body and information technology feature the Samsung experience interface, merely information technology besides draw a few compromise that you should be mindful of. Of course, all those compromise be in production line with the low-cost price of this call : in europe, information technology costs approximately 310 euro and the earphone constitute rumor to besides come to the unify department of state in the future.So let ’ south get start and dive abstruse with the galax A6 .
