Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A03s (S134DL) Specs, Features and Review
With a 6.5" touchscreen, Android 11 and triple rear camera, the ultra-budget Tracfone A03s packs in a lot of features for the price.
Samsung smartphones are a popular option for many consumers as they typically pass along some of the features from their high-end smartphones to the cheaper ones, or at least, a version of them.
And the Galaxy A03s comes with some familiar design and software features while keeping the cost under $100.
With the low price, however, the A03s does not come with 5G network capability and there are a few other corners that had to be cut. For 5G capability, take a look at the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G. Or view all the Latest Tracfone Smartphones to keep up with what's new.
Let's get to the Galaxy A03s Pro's and Con's
Samsung Galaxy A03s Quick Facts
What we Like About the A03s
Under $100
Large Screen
Good Battery Life
What we Don't Like about the A03s
Mediocre Camera
Only 32GB internal Storage
Slow Charging Speed
The A03s comes with similar features as it's predecessor, the A02s, which was a popular low-cost option. The A03s does have some modest improvements including newer Android OS, updated processor and battery performance.
The low price and generally solid features make the A03s a very exciting device for low cost smartphone shoppers. Many of the other sub $100 devices, like the Moto G Pure, or Moto G Play, offer similar performance and features, but they don't have the Samsung UI changes, which some users prefer.
The Tracfone version of the A03s and others mentioned above are available at discounted prices for the locked version from Tracfone. Unlocked versions are also available, but generally run a little more expensive. (Learn how to Unlock your Tracfone Smartphone here.)
Samsung Galaxy A03s (S134DL) Features and Specs
Below are the features followed by the technical specs
- Android 11 (upgrade to Android 12 likely)
- 4G LTE (Verizon)
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Alarm Clock
- GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS)
- 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
- Fingerprint sensor
Size: 6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in (6.91 oz)
Camera: Triple rear camera 13+2+2MP and 5MP front camera
Screen: 6.5" HD PLS LCD display (720x1600 resolution)
Processor: Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) MediaTek Helio P35
Storage: 32 GB internal storage, supports a MicroSD Card
Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (non-removable) with talk time up to 34 hrs, standby 16 days
Many consumers are 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 S22, a contender for some of the best phones in the world.
The Galaxy A03s does get some of the classic design elements of Samsung phones with a familiar layout for the charging and headphone ports and it also features Samsung's UI changes. But a budget phone will have to cut some corners, and we will dive into that below.
Now let's get into the details with our review of the A03s.
Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A03s Review
Touchscreen
The 6.5" touchscreen on the A03s is the standard size for many smartphones these days and provides great viewing of videos or other media consumption. Screen resolution is just 720x1600 for about 270 ppi, which is on the low end, but about what we would expect at this price, and the screen ratio is 20:9.
Brightness and colors for the A03s are not as good as what you would get with devices like the Galaxy A53 or Moto G Stylus 2022, but the contrast helps the A03s render decent image on the screen.
Performance - Processor, RAM and Storage
32 GB internal storage and 3 GB RAM come with the A03s and that's about the lowest amount of each we would recommend. Any lower, and the device either won't have any room for apps, or won't be able to multitask very well.
The MediaTek Helio P35 is an octa-core processor but not the most powerful and will struggle to keep up with gaming or other resource intensive apps. Combined with the RAM and storage, the A03s will accomplish all the basic functions of a smartphone - just know that you may get some stuttering and lag.
There is a MicroSD card slot for additional storage, and it is a great place to store photos or video to free up the limited internal storage. We've not been able to verify the size card accepted, but anything 512 GB or smaller should work.
Camera
The main 13 MP shooter offers good images in proper lighting, and the 2 MP depth and 2 MP macro give some additional features, but aren't really worth using much. The front 5 MP selfie camera will also capture adequate photos, but the detail and image quality for all the photos is lacking compared with more expensive smartphones.
For video, the A03s does capture full 1080p at 30fps and it is good enough for saving and sharing with friends and family.
Most devices in this price range have cameras that can capture good photos in good light, but will struggle with anything else and the A03s falls in line. For a better camera, consider the A53.
And take a look at our Top 8 Tips for Better Cell Phone Photography.
Battery Life
One of the big features on the A03s is the large 5,000 mAh battery that delivers exceptionally long runtime. Talk time is about 30 hours and the device should last 2-3 days with low to moderate usage.
A drawback to the large battery is that it takes a long time to charge and the 'fast charging' is rather slow on the A03s.
Android OS
Android 11 offers plenty of great features and upgrades over previous versions, and the A03s is likely to get Android 12 at some point.
Samsung also offers a number of user experience changes with their One UI 3.1 core. Although some features aren't included with the A03s that come on more expensive devices.
Take a look at our Top Android Apps for Tracfone Users.
Design
The all-plastic construction on the A03s does have a textured finish is pretty solid overall. The USB Type-C 2.0 charging port, speaker, and headphone jack are all located on the bottom of the phone.
The side mounted dual fingerprint scanner and power button is a great addition to this phone and improvement over previous models.
The SIM card tray and external storage slot are on the left side of the phone.
We're pleasantly surprised to see the fingerprint sensor included with this version of the device, and the overall design is more than adequate. Plus it is nice to see some devices retaining the 3.5mm headphone jack, for now.
Conclusion
The A03s is a no-frills budget smartphone that delivers adequate performance for most users. It is a similar offering compared to other devices in this price range, like the Moto G Pure, but comes with familiar features from Samsung that some users prefer.
While it is not a significant improvement over the previous model (the Galaxy A02s) it does offer a more powerful processor, more RAM and fingerprint sensor among a few other changes.
Many users who are willing to spend a little more might find the Galaxy A13 5G much more desirable as it comes with an improved camera, more storage and better processor. Plus the A13 has 5G network capability and costs less than $100 more. Or, the newly available Samsung Galaxy A23 5G packs in even more features and performance, for just over $200.
The bottom line - for users who prefer Samsung devices and are on a very tight budget, the A03s will handle all the basic smartphone functions. Just don't expect too much from the performance or camera.
Lastly, there are unlocked versions of the A03s available (but they are a little more expensive), and you can see all the Best Unlocked Phones for Tracfone if you're interested in more options.
Best Prices on the Samsung Galaxy A03s
These are the lowest prices from around the web, but price can change quickly.Get the Samsung Galaxy A03s from QVC (with airtime bundle) - $59
Get the Samsung Galaxy A03s from Target - $49
Get the Samsung Galaxy A03s from Amazon - $59
Samsung Galaxy A03s User Manual and Device Detailed Information
View the Samsung Galaxy A03s User Manual
View the Galaxy A03s Detailed Information
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I've been using this model phone for less than a year now and, man alive, is it terrible. It's incredibly slow. It's not that I'm gaming or shopping, or anything online, and yet it can scarcely get around to opening an app. Furthermore, Samsung has given itself permission to download apps to my phone, without my permission or knowledge. I only stumble across them from time to time. Most recently - this week - it was the Chime app and something called Collector. It has done this on at least three occasions. That's completely unacceptable. I'll steer clear of Samsung from now on.
ReplyDeleteMy Samsung Galaxy Ao3s from TracFone is just tits !
ReplyDeleteThanks to this Google blog over the years & years of usefull TracFone tips.
Let those Bastards at Verizon Wireless & TracFone Wireless use their networks to squeeze billions of $ out us,...... Oh Well
Thx again TracFone Reviewer.