As flagship smartphone prices continue to rise, finding an affordable option becomes increasingly challenging. With the recently released iPhone 17 priced around $799, many consumers are searching for a budget-friendly alternative.
Enter the Samsung A07, part of Samsung’s budget lineup. For just $100 (₦157,000), this model continues Samsung’s tradition of offering economical options alongside their more premium models. It promises to deliver impressive features without breaking the bank.
In this review, we will look at the Samsung Galaxy A07. Spoiler alert: it punches above its $100 weight in terms of battery life and build quality, though it falls short in the camera department. Is it the best budget smartphone for 2025? We will examine its design, camera, general performance, and specs. We’ll see if it’s the perfect daily driver.
What’s in the box?
The packaging of the Samsung A07 is comparable to that of other budget smartphones, featuring a minimalist design.
In the box, you get:
- The phone
- A quick start guide
- And a USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable
Design
The Samsung Galaxy A07’s design stands out for a budget smartphone, especially with the green color variant that I have, which is quite attractive. The body is crafted from polycarbonate plastic, with both the back and frame made of this material, and the back reinforced by Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). The overall feel and appearance are impressive, making the phone look robust and more premium than what you’d expect at this price point.
Most budget smartphones feel cheap, but Samsung takes it a step further with the A07. The frame looks good, and the back glass feels sturdy. There’s an illumination effect on the back, unusual for budget models.
This one features a power button that also doubles as a fingerprint sensor. The volume down and volume up buttons are on the right side and are responsive and tactile. The SIM card tray is on the left side. The phone itself is compact at 167.4 x 77.4 x 7.6 mm (6.59 x 3.05 x 0.30 in). The Type-C charging port, microphone jack, and speakers are at the bottom.
The front looks typical for a budget smartphone. The camera notch and speaker are placed at the top, with no discernible difference from the A06 or A05. The screen is chunky and large at the base, giving a budget feel.
The back of the A07 is arguably the highlight of its design, featuring a modern camera housing. It resembles recent premium devices such as the iPhone 16, with a flash positioned beside it. The use of both plastic and glass creates a design that feels more modern compared to previous budget models, such as the A06, suggesting that Samsung is closing the design gap with higher-end phones.
Performance and spec
For $100, this one sure packs a punch. The A07 features an Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) CPU, mirroring the performance of the Samsung Galaxy A14. With this power, you can expect real-world benefits: effortlessly opening WhatsApp in less than two seconds while streaming music seamlessly from Spotify in the background. Storage options are available, including 4 GB/64 GB, 4 GB/128 GB, 6 GB/128 GB, and 6 GB/256 GB. I picked the 4/128GB option.
After a quick setup, the A07 impressed me as a budget smartphone. It handled intensive apps and could run Call of Duty out of the box. Its performance with more content remains to be seen, but Samsung clearly made trade-offs in this regard.
The A07 is responsive to heavy usage. It overcomes most of the flaws of its predecessors, such as the A05 and A06, which barely handle heavy apps like Call of Duty. The Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) keeps things running smoothly with less lag.
While testing, scrolling on social media was reasonably smooth. Everything feels quite responsive when switching between multiple apps, such as Chrome, Gmail, Maps, and, surprisingly enough, playing Call of Duty on the lowest graphic settings possible for a budget smartphone, which is quite impressive.
For gaming, I was impressed. Games like PUBG, Call of Duty, and Free Fire ran smoothly on minimal graphics thanks to the Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. Such performance is rare in this price range, even compared to pricier models.
Camera
Now, most users focus on cameras as content creation continues to grow. The camera is a significant consideration when picking a smartphone. For a budget device, the camera on this one did not initially impress.
The rear camera setup on the Samsung A07 includes a 50MP and 2MP lens. Although these numbers may seem high, actual results are what matter. For comparison, the Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S10E both have 12MP cameras, and these older models are still known for producing crisp images. In practice, despite the A07’s 50MP specification, its camera performance does not reach the level of these older premium phones. The Galaxy S10E, in particular, continues to offer superior imaging capabilities compared to current budget models, including the A07. In summary, while the A07 is sufficient for casual use, such as sharing on Instagram, it doesn’t quite meet the standards required for detailed, print-quality photos.
Picking a camera is not just about specs—I rely on real-time testing. While testing, I noticed that the camera performs well for a budget phone, especially in low-light conditions. However, it’s best suited for basic needs and social media photos, not high-level content creation.
When compared to the Galaxy A06 and A05, the A07 produces more vibrant images, despite its budget status. While the 50MP camera spec is highlighted, it is essential to note that advertised specs do not always accurately reflect the actual image quality. Still, I managed to capture good landscape and animal photos, and for a $100 phone, the results are commendable compared to its direct predecessors.
This one features face tracking and can also shoot in both standard and portrait modes. Surprisingly again, this comes equipped with photography styles, which are:
- Warm
- Cool
- Frosty
- Blossom
- Faded
- Soft
- Greyscale
- Classic
This model shoots in both 12MP and 50MP, featuring Pro, Night, Food, Panorama, Slow motion, and Hyperlapse modes.
Video shooting is also impressive. Face tracking works well with moving subjects. You can shoot in both HD and FHD modes. For a budget smartphone, the camera features are plenty.
Front camera
The selfie camera is impressive, featuring a single 8MP sensor that offers the same features as the rear camera. It supports portrait, normal, and multi-subject modes. Face smoothing, tone, jawline, and eye edits are included.
Display
The A07’s display features a 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD, similar to the A06, and doesn’t offer an upgrade. It maintains the typical characteristics of a low-cost display, with HD resolution. However, I noticed a lack of pixel density; most images and videos resemble older budget models. The large display, with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 262 pixels per inch (ppi) density, is serviceable for the price but not remarkable. Brightness is adequate, even under sunlight.
While it doesn’t match the quality or saturation of expensive models, the image quality is satisfactory at this price point. Brightness and contrast hold up well during gaming, though colors aren’t particularly vivid. Despite that, visibility remains good in sunlight, making the A07’s display meet the expectations for a $100 smartphone.
For a budget smartphone, the image quality is good enough. Brightness and contrast are decent while gaming. The colors aren’t especially vivid, yet visibility remains good in sunlight. For $100, the A07’s display matches expectations.
Battery life
The A series lineup, despite being a budget line, has always been known for its impressive battery capabilities, and the A07 did not fall short in this regard.
The A07 features a 5000mAh battery and 25W wired fast charging, which is a notable strength in this price range. That’s a key consideration for budget buyers.
Testing the A07’s battery impressed me. I got a day and a half of light usage or a full day with heavier use, including gaming. Two hours of Call of Duty drained the battery as expected, yet four hours of continuous play were notable for this category.
On standby, I got over 4 days connected to Wi-Fi. With mobile data on, battery drain was minimal during typical use. It doesn’t overheat when charging.
In a nutshell, the Samsung A07 battery performed well and could match the capabilities of higher-end Samsung devices. Although there’s a downside to this one — this phone doesn’t support wireless charging, but that’s typical for a budget smartphone under $100.
Call, mic, and media playback
Calls on the Samsung A07 were crystal clear, and the microphones performed excellently. I did not have situations where the individual on the other end could not hear me. Even in noisy environments, it was nothing short of perfect.
Media playback was smooth, with no lag when scrolling or watching videos. While image and color quality aren’t premium, the experience is pleasant for a budget phone.
Brief spec sheet
- IPX54 water and dust resistance: protects it from water splashes, sweat, and rain. Not suitable for swimming or deep-water dives.
- Storage options: 4/64GB, 4/128GB, 6/128GB, 6/256GB.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: fitted like its predecessors, the A05 and A06. Needs calibration and is not as easy as rear-mounted sensors.
- Dual SIM slot with microSD support.
- 50MP camera: rear 50MP with modes, front 8MP camera, portrait & normal modes.
- 5000mAh battery: perfect for full-day use and gaming.
- 6.7-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate.
Full spec sheet:
| Feature | Details |
| Launch Price | $100 (₦157,000 in Nigeria) |
| Body | Polycarbonate (plastic) with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) back |
| Dimensions | 167.4 x 77.4 x 7.6 mm (6.59 x 3.05 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| SIM | Dual SIM slot + microSD support |
| Display | 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD, 20:9 aspect ratio, 262 ppi, 90Hz refresh rate |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G99 (6 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Memory Options | 4/64GB, 4/128GB, 6/128GB, 6/256GB |
| Main Camera | 50MP + 2MP dual setup, modes: Pro, Night, Food, Panorama, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse |
| Camera Features | Face tracking, 12MP & 50MP shooting modes, photography styles (Warm, Cool, Frosty, Blossom, Faded, Soft, Greyscale, Classic) |
| Video | HD & FHD recording |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP with portrait, multi-subject shooting, face smoothing, tone/jawline/eye edit |
| Battery | 5000mAh with 25W wired fast charging |
| Charging | USB Type-C, no wireless charging |
| Audio | Bottom speaker + mic, clear call quality |
| Biometrics | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor |
| Resistance | IPX54 water & dust resistance (splashes, sweat, rain only) |
| Colors | Green |
Price
This one costs around $100 (₦157,000 in Nigeria) — perfect for anyone on a budget, although the price may vary depending on the memory type you choose and location.
Pros
- A solid build for a budget phone — it doesn’t feel cheap.
- Big 6.7-inch screen with smooth 90Hz refresh rate
- Handles gaming like PUBG, COD, and Free Fire (on low settings)
- A 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging is impressive at this price.
- Dual SIM + microSD card support (a big plus for budget users)
- Modern camera housing design is remarkably similar to that of premium models.
- The front and rear cameras feature multiple shooting modes, which is a rare feature for this price.
Cons
- Display is only HD+ (not sharp, low pixel density)
- Cameras sound big on paper (50MP), but actual results are average.
- No wireless charging (expected for budget, but still a downside)
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensors require proper calibration to function smoothly.
- The build is plastic-heavy, despite Samsung’s efforts to improve it.
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A07?
For $100, this is one of the best budget smartphones available on the market. Specs and performance are suitable for daily use, and the design exceeds typical budget expectations. With its 50MP camera, it offers excellent value.
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy A07 delivers excellent value for daily use. If your priority is a reliable, budget-friendly smartphone, this model deserves your serious consideration.
Before making your decision, consider what features matter most to you. Is it the battery life, camera quality, or affordability that tops your list? Reflecting on your personal priorities can guide you to the right purchase.