Samsung Galaxy A02s (S124DL) Tracfone Review & Specs

 Samsung Galaxy A02s (S124DL) Review - Tracfone Smartphone 

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A02s Review

The Galaxy A02s features a 6.5" screen, an octa-core processor, and triple rear camera - all for under $100 retail price. Find the full list of features, specs, and detailed review here and let's find out if this device will be a good low cost pick for Tracfone users.

Samsung has released several new devices in the last few months with their Galaxy A12 and their new 5G capable device the Galaxy A32. We also expect to see some other higher-end phones in the near future, such as the A42 5G. Keep up with all the Latest Tracfone Smartphones to see what has been released.

The A02s brings a much larger screen size and form factor to the Samsung lineup. In fact, last year's model, the Galaxy A01, had just a 5.7" screen. Now for some users, the smaller screen and size is actually a big plus, so be aware of the size change in this device if that's something you look for.

We're already surprised by some of the features offered in the A02s, but let's get to our pro's and con's

Samsung Galaxy A02s Quick Facts:

What we Like:
Big 5,000 mAh Battery
Large 6.5" screen
Under $100 retail price
Octa-core Snapdragon processor

What we Don't Like:
Just 2 GB RAM and 32 GB Storage
No Fingerprint Sensor
Mediocre cameras

The Galaxy A02s is a low cost device and as such it has to cut corners in some ways to keep the price down. Some of these areas seem to include the storage and RAM, screen resolution, and a fingerprint sensor. But it still comes with a fairly capable Snapdragon processor and plenty of battery life.

As we get into the full list of specs and features for the A02s, keep in mind that this phone is much cheaper than most others available from Tracfone, and we will be comparing it to some other options at the end.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A02s (S124DL) Features and Specs

Below are the features followed by the technical specs

• Android 10 *with upgrade to 11 likely
• Samsung One UI 3.1
• 4G LTE 
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth 4.2
• Alarm Clock
• GPS
• MP3 Player
• Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
• SMS/MMS
• USB Charger (USB Type-C 2.0)
• Compatible with Samsung Gear Smartwatches
• Facial recognition for unlocking

Samsung Galaxy A02s Technical Specs
Size: 6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in (6.91oz)
Camera: Triple-rear camera 13+2+2 MP and 5 MP Front Camera
Screen: 6.5" HD PLS IPS display (720x1600 resolution)
Processor: 1.8 Ghz Octa-core processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 450)

Memory: 2 GB
Storage: 32 GB internal storage, supports up to 256 GB MicroSD Card
Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (non-removable) with talk time up to 34 hrs, standby 20 days

Most consumers are very familiar with the Samsung brand as they are a global manufacture and the largest consumer electronics maker (by revenue) in the world. They are based in South Korea and have a broad lineup of smartphones with their high end device, like the Samsung Galaxy S21+, a contender for one of the best phones in the world.

The Galaxy A02s  does get many of the classic design elements of Samsung phones with a familiar layout for the charging and headphone ports, a generally sleek design, and it also features Samsung's one UI changes to the stock Android OS.

Now let's get into the details with our review of the A02s.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A02s (S124DL) Review

Touchscreen

The 6.5" HD PLS IPS touchscreen on the A02s is surprisingly large for a phone in this price range and it is actually very comparable to the 6.5" screen on the much more expensive ($299) Galaxy A32 5G.

While the resolution of 720x1600 and pixel density of about 270 are not particularly impressive, the screen is bright and performs very well for any and all media activities. With a 20:9 ratio, it follows the trends of taller devices to fit the larger screen. For those who prefer a smaller form to fit in one hand, this may not be the best option.

Samsung Galaxy A02s (S124DL)

Internal Performance - Processor, RAM and Storage

Featuring the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor and Adreno 506 GPU, performance on the A02s is pretty snappy for a low-end device. The processor is a few years old at this point, but has enough performance to accomplish most tasks including some gaming.

What is disappointing to see is only 2 GB RAM which will hurt the ability to multitask or run multiple apps at once, or any resource-demanding apps or games. There are unlocked versions of the A02s that have 3 and 4 GB RAM which would ensure a smoother overall experience.

For storage, the A02s has 32GB internal storage and a micro SD card slot for up to 256 GB additional storage. 

The A02s should keep up with most tasks, such as browsing the web or getting on social media. But the limited RAM makes us hesitate to recommend this device for much more beyond that as it will likely start to struggle with running too many apps at once or really demanding apps. 

Camera

Triple rear camera sounds great at first but the 13 MP rear shooter with a 2 MP macro and 2 MP depth sensor aren't anything all that special. They will capture reasonably clear photos with good lighting, and you can even shoot portrait style photos. Samsung clearly had to cut some corners to keep the price low, and the cameras on the A02s appears to be one of those corners. In low light conditions the images will be much less usable. With how quickly cell phone cameras have improved, it becomes very noticeable when we see technology even from a year or two back.

The rear wide angle main camera does have auto-focus, LED flash and can shoot videos at 1080p at 30fps.

The front selfie camera is just 5 MP, and, like the rear camera, is adequate but not impressive. 

For a more powerful camera setup consumers will have to be willing to spend a bit more.

Get better pictures with our 8 Tips for Better Photos with a Smartphone.

Battery

Excellent battery life is one area the A02s excels at thanks to a 5,000 mAh battery. Expect usage time of up to 34 hours and up to 20 days on standby. With light to moderate use this phone will easily go a day or more on a full charge. And for recharging, it has 15W fast charging to fully charge in just 3 hours.

Android OS

The Samsung Galaxy A02s features Android 10 but Tracfone will likely make it upgradable to Android 11 as they have been doing that with a variety of devices. The phone also features Samsung's One UI 3.1 which has a number of small changes and upgrades. 

Make the most of your smartphone with our List of Best Android Apps.

Design

The Galaxy A02s follows the general design layout of the other devices in Samsung's budget lineup including the Galaxy A12 and A32 5G with a teardrop notch on the screen for the selfie cam and a plastic back. The device is on the larger side, and fairly heavy at almost 7 oz. 

Bezels on the front screen aren't so bad on the sides but a little noticeable on the bottom. The right side of the phone has the power and volume buttons, and the bottom is where the USB Typc-C 2.0 charger port, 3.5mm headphone jack and speaker are located.

There's nothing fancy about the overall design of the A02s, and we would have liked to see a fingerprint sensor, but at this price, it is more than adequate and functional.

Conclusion

If you do not need a lot of performance from your phone and will not be using the camera for much more than snapping photos to share on social media, then the Galaxy A02s is a very affordable phone with a huge screen and long battery life. It is a good option for those that like watching videos, browsing social media and surfing the web, but aren't planning to download very many apps or games.

At this price point it is hard to find a better option available from Tracfone. However, for those willing to spend a little more, there are several phones in the $100-$150 price range with improved performance and cameras. 

Other Options to Consider Versus the Samsung Galaxy A02s

These are some other smartphone options currently available from Tracfone that are either similarly priced, or a little more expensive but with improved features.

The Tracfone Moto E (XT2052DL) is priced about the same as the Galaxy A02s and offers fairly similar features and performance, but with an improved processor and smaller touchscreen. For those looking for a budget phone but don't want the Samsung experience, the Moto E from Tracfone may be a good option.

For those willing to spend a little more, the Moto G Play (2021) and Moto G Power (2020) are both currently available for just $119 on eBay and each offer improved performance for handling more apps and activities. The Moto G Play has the same internal storage, but increases the RAM to 3 GB and has a newer processor. It is generally a similar budget phone, but without some of the drawbacks from the Galaxy A02s. Read our Review of the Moto G Play to learn more.

The Moto G Power offers 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal storage and a much more powerful processor. This would be a good option for those looking to play games with their phone, or just have a bit more power. Take a look at our full review of the Moto G Power to learn more.

The Samsung Galaxy A12 is another option, but it is almost twice the price. It does feature 3 GB RAM, improved processor and quad rear cameras. 

There are some other low cost options from TCL and Acatel, but we generally don't suggest these devices.

Where to Buy The Samsung Galaxy A02s

The Galaxy A02s is only available from the Tracfone website at this time but we will continue to update when it becomes more widely available.

Shop the Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A02s for $69

Samsung Galaxy A02s User Manual and Devices Tutorials

Get the Samsung Galaxy A02s User Manual to learn more about the device.

View the Device tutorials to see how to do various actions on the phone.

That concludes our review of the Samsung Galaxy A02s. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

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