If there’s one aspect of smartphone design that’s become trickier over the last couple of years, it’s the rear camera. The placement of the rear lenses in a smartphone has become one of the key design decisions, it’s what sets a device apart in a cluttered market. One of the standout (literally) rear cams we saw this year was the Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra, with its bold design that flaunts the rear cam. While that’s a given for pricey, premium flagships, it’s always good to see a good design aesthetic in more affordable devices. It’s the one reason Samsung’s new Galaxy A32 has our attention.
The A32 becomes the second A Series device to debut in India in 2021, it comes hot on the heels of the A12.. You’re likely to gravitate towards the rear cam as soon as you unbox the A32. There’s no bump or cluster, it’s just the camera lenses placed symmetrically in a beautiful minimalist design that borders on Scandinavian chic. Samsung’s colour palette for this device (that includes gorgeous shades of Violet and blue, all shades have the ‘Awesome’ prefix), adds to this appeal.
Samsung calls it ‘soft edge’ design. We like the glossy back that plays up these colours. But like any glossy surface, this one does have a predilection for smudges and fingerprints. We wish Samsung had bundled a silicon back case in the box, but this is a device you’re more likely to flaunt without a case. The other welcome design element is the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack, it proves that the extra slot doesn’t always hurt the aesthetics of a smartphone. Samsung keeps the heft under 190 gm, this device feels really good in your hand despite a large 6.4-inch screen.
The A32 features a 90Hz refresh rate on the 6.4-inch Infinity-U, Super AMOLED display. The display opts for a teardrop notch design. It’s quite immersive with gorgeous colours, although we are not huge fans of the teardrop design. The device packs over 400 pixels per inch (1080 x 2400 pixels) and comes with a 20:9 aspect ratio, that makes it particularly handy for those Netflix binge sessions. A 5000 mAh battery ensures you’re covered for extra screen time. Samsung bundles a 15W charger in the box.
This device features a solid all-round rear cam that combines 4 lenses including a 64MP primary lens. We were impressed with the macro shots (on the 5MP lens) as well as the ultra- wide shots in optimum light. The device holds its own against its rivals in the lowlight photography stakes too. A 20MP selfie cam completes the camera set up. The A32 is propelled by an Octa-Core MediaTek Helio G80 processor and 6GB of RAM (in addition to 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB). It’s enough firepower for average users, the device managed a respectable 1242 (multi-core) score in our GeekBench test. It’s certainly not the fastest in class though.
The Samsung Galaxy A32 scores with its form factor and design sensibilities. The quad rear cam is quite versatile too. If you’re a heavy duty gamer there are other options in the mix. This is a great device for those who are seeking a stylish option. It’s also a smartphone that strikes a balance between form and function; it’s kitted with a 6.4-inch display and a robust 5000 mAh battery yet feels light in your hand.
The Samsung Galaxy A32 comes in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, and Awesome Violet and costs Rs 21,999/-
