Even a year ago, Samsung’s mid-market portfolio didn’t look very sorted. That’s changed and how. Samsung hasn’t just kept the devices coming but has put more thought into each device as it aims to corner every micro-niche in the process. The A50S is an enhanced version of the Samsung Galaxy A50; Samsung hasn’t waited too long to unleash this upgrade. Samsung would like us to believe that the A50S is more than just a notional upgrade. Is it?
We’ll say this, the A50S is one of the best looking smartphones under Rs 25,000, with a design that borders on chic. Samsung opts for an interesting prism texture with slight contrasts and it looks terrific in the Prism Crush Violet variant (that we reviewed). At a touch under 170 gm it feels good in your hands and despite its 6.4-inch display, it’s certainly not unwieldy. We were impressed with the display on its predecessor; the A50S doesn’t tweak it. It’s the same 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels / 19.5:9 ratio / 403 PPI) with a more than acceptable screen: body ratio that’s almost 85%. Colours are vibrant, even under sunlight and this is a great display for HD Content. The in-display fingerprint sensor wasn’t as responsive as we’d have liked, requiring a long press more often than not.
One of the key changes is the processor. At its heart is an Exynos 9811 processor that teams up with 4GB or 6GB of RAM depending on the variant you pick. We tested the 6GB/128GB variant and it notched up a higher score (150876) than its predecessor in our AnTuTu benchmark test. Samsung adds a game booster mode that impacts heavy duty gaming. Both hardware variants come with expandable memory (up to 512GB).
Lowlight photography is soon becoming a buzz word across price points. A few months ago, Google brought its Night Sight mode to its sub Rs 40,000 Google 3a duo of smartphones. Samsung is talking up the Night mode on the A50S. The A50S makes major changes to the triple rear cam and the selfie cam. This one’s equipped with a 48MP primary lens that combines with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 5MP depth sensor. The Selfie cam goes to 32MP from the 25MP shooter on the A50. There’s a marked improvement in camera performance but the A50S doesn’t quite ace the lowlight even with the Night Mode turned on. It’s not just images, videos benefit from the new Super Steady mode.
The 4000 mAh battery is unchanged and won’t let you down. We comfortably managed a whole day with extensive camera use and about an hour of video playback. The Samsung Galaxy A50S is a solid upgrade that makes key improvements in camera performance. The design aesthetics get a refresh too as Samsung manages the balance between style and performance, making this a compelling option if you’re in the market for a Sub Rs 25,000 smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy A50S comes in two variants 4GB/128 GB (Rs 22,999) / 6GB/128GB (Rs 24,999) – and three colours – Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White and Prism Crush VioletSamsung Galaxy A50S
