Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (S156VL) Tracfone Review

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (S156VL) Review, Specs and Features

The latest in a very popular line of budget Samsung smartphones, the Galaxy A15 5G is newly available from Tracfone for 2024 and comes with a 6.5" Super AMOLED screen, updated octa-core processor, and Android 14.

Along with the A15, we expect Tracfone to release the Galaxy A25 5G, which offers several similar features, and some upgrades with a higher price, sometime in the near future.

There will surly be a variety of new phones coming from Tracfone in 2024, and you can keep up in our Latest List of Tracfone Smartphones.

Let's start with the best/worst features on the A15.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Pros and Cons

What we Like:
-Full HD Super AMOLED touchscreen
-Android 14
-5G and NFC
-Improved processor
-128GB storage
-25W fast charging

What we Don't Like:
-Only 4GB RAM
-No dust or water resistance
-No screen protection technology

There are several great features and upgrades coming to the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, including a Super AMOLED screen with fast refresh rate, increased internal storage, and new processor compared to the previous model.

The A15 also comes with the latest Android OS at this time, and both 5G network compatibility and NFC for making payments with your phone. Plus, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack for those still using a wired set.

We do not get an upgrade in RAM, which is just 4GB, and the same included in the previous model. 

Below is the full list of features and technical specs for the A15 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (S156VL) Features and Specs

Below are the features followed by the technical specs

• Android 14
• Samsung One UI 6 
• 5G (Verizon)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Alarm Clock
• GPS
• MP3 Player
• 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
• Side-mounted Fingerprint sensor

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Technical Specs
Size: 6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in (7.05 oz)
Camera: Triple rear camera 50+5+2MP and 13MP front camera
Screen: 6.5" HD Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits display (1080x2340 resolution)
Processor: Octa-core Mediatek Dimensity 6100+

Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 128 GB internal storage, supports up to 1 TB MicroSD Card
Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (non-removable) with 25W fast charging

Most 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 S24, a contender for some of the best phones in the world.

Samsung phones are well known for their quality, something that can't always be said for some of the other brands Tracfone offers. Samsung also offers several years of OS updates and security fixes, another benefit some other brands don't include.

The Galaxy A15 5G does get some of the updated design elements of Samsung phones with a familiar layout for the charging port, beautiful screen, 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 A15.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Review

Touchscreen

The 6.5" touchscreen on the A15 5G has a resolution of 1080x2340 and 90hz fast refresh rate. Even more exciting than the full HD screen is the Super AMOLED technology that gives the screen more saturated colors, better brightness in sunlight, and deeper blacks. 

This screen is a significant upgrade for the A15 over the previous model, and is an example of high-end features slowly getting passed down to Samsung's budget phones. 

The screen has 393 ppi density, which gives it good contrast and detail, and a relatively common 19.5:9 screen ratio. It also features 84.5 percent screen to body ratio, which indicates smaller bezels compared to many budget phones. Samsung has created a device with excellent media viewing potential at a very reasonable price point and it is a significant upgrade over the previous model.

Performance - Processor, Storage and RAM

Samsung includes 128GB internal storage, 4GB RAM, and a new, MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor for the internal specs on the A15 5G. 

While some versions of the A15 5G include more RAM, the Tracfone version has just 4GB which is adequate but not ideal, and will limit the phones ability to multitask and run more resource intensive apps or games. 

This is the same amount of RAM as the previous model, but the A15 5G gets double the internal storage, with 128GB, plus additional external storage with a Micro SD card slot.

The MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ is an octa-core processor with 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55. It offers good efficiency with enough performance for some gaming and is a solid improvement over the processor in the previous model. 

There is no avoiding the fact that the A15 is a budget phone and the performance isn't as good as a more expensive device, but it is still quite capable for the price, and an improvement over the last model.

Camera

The Galaxy A15 5G offers a similar setup to the previous model when it comes to the rear camera with a 50MP main, 5MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensor. Images are actually pretty good, with nice details and colors, but start to struggle in low light. There is a night shooting mode, which offers some improvements.

The front facing camera is a 13MP sensor, and very similar to the camera in the previous model. It offers adequate images.

Both the front and rear sensors shoot full HD video at 30fps and it is more than good enough for social media and sharing with friends.  Just don't expect too much from it or try to shoot a cinematic movie. We are a little surprised the A15 5G doesn't get 4K video recording, but at this price point, Samsung probably couldn't fit that feature.

Shoot better photos with our list of camera phone photo tips.

Battery Performance

A 5,000 mAh battery comes with the A15 5G which is a very common size and offers a long life with over 40 hours talk time, and up to 16 days on standby. 

The power-efficient processor and screen both help to extend the battery life and we are also happy to see 25W fast charging, which is better than many budget phones offer.

Android OS and Software Experience

Samsung includes the latest Android version on the Galaxy A15 5G at the time of release, along with their custom software additions. 

Android 14 was released at the end of 2023, and offers many exciting features such as improved battery performance, more customization, better font scaling, and a variety of enhanced security features. The latest Android experience not only brings features, but also better overall security. Samsung also includes software updates for up to 4 years, which is one of the best update policies from any phone manufacturer.

One UI 6 is a user interface designed by Samsung to make using their phones easier and more visually appealing. Samsung fans will likely be very familiar with the various time-saving and quick customization features included. The latest version, One UI 6, has a large list of features which can be viewed on the Samsung website.

Grab the best apps for Tracfone users in our full list.

Design

The Galaxy A15 5G follows relatively close to the basic exterior design of Samsung's high-end Galaxy S24 with a similar button layout, back panel look and camera lens layout. The A15 uses cheaper, plastic materials on the side and back, but it doesn't fell too cheap. There is no dust or water protection, and we don't see any mention of Gorilla Glass protection on the front screen. 

On the side of the device is the dual fingerprint reader and power button, along with the volume rocker.

A headphone jack is included on the A15 5G, a feature becoming more and more rare. And there is also NFC, which allows the phone to act as a credit card and scan at checkout using various virtual wallet apps. NFC is a great feature, and one we don't see at this price point very often, but is becoming increasingly noticeable when it is missing.

The size of this device is on the larger end, but it still fits well in the hand for most. For those that might have small pockets, or prefer a smaller form, there are better options out there.

The A15 5G has noticeably smaller bezels on the front compared to the A14 5G, and is just a little smaller, but otherwise the two phones are pretty similar in design and weight.

In general, the design is quite nice, especially for the price, and it looks like a much more expensive smartphone with the sleek lines.

Conclusion

Samsung has upgraded their popular budget phone from last year with a new touschreen, increased storage, updated processor and the latest Android OS experience. And while there are a few features they left out, like increasing the RAM or adding water resistance, the Galaxy A15 5G offers a lot for a budget friendly phone.

Tracfone is also releasing the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G sometime soon, which will feature a number of similar features, along with an improved processor and more RAM, with a higher price tag.

The Bottom Line
The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G builds on the popular budget line and offers some significant upgrades over previous models including an impressive Super AMOLED screen, improved processor, and more internal storage. While this device is not the best choice for gaming or serious phone photography, it is quite capable for most everyday smartphone tasks. With a retail price of $169 from Tracfone, this phone does have some competition from less expensive deices, but we also expect discounts and airtime bundles sometime in the future.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G from last year was a capable phone despite using an older processor and offering limited storage and RAM. The updated A15 5G brings more storage, and a new processor with some nice speed improvements but the same 4GB RAM.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade on the A15 5G is the Super AMOLED screen which we have not seen on a phone at this price point and gives rich, vibrant colors and good brightness.

The A15 5G is a nice upgrade over the A14, but with Samsung's excellent software update policy, it might be worth waiting a year or two for those that currently have the A14 5G.

Motor G Power 5G 2023 vs Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Motorola's top contender from last year was the Moto G Power 5G 2023, and it offered a lot of great features at a very friendly price from Tracfone. 

Compared to the A15 5G, the Power has the same RAM and storage, similar camera setup, and a comparable processor, but the A15 5G offers a better touchscreen, NFC, and significantly better Android update policy. 

The Power does have a lower retail price at just $119 from Tracfone, but we expect the Galaxy A15 5G to be discounted sometime in the near future.

Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G from Tracfone

Get the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G w/ airtime bundle from HSN - $119 (limited time deal)

Get the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G w/ airtime bundle from HSN - $129 (limited time deal)

Get the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G on the Tracfone website - $169

Get the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G on the Walmart website - $169

We will update with more buying options as they become available.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G User Manual

Get the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G User Manual to learn more about the device and how to setup your phone.

That concludes our review of the Galaxy A15 5G. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

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