Samsung Galaxy A11 review: A solid starter smartphone

You don’t have to interrupt the financial institution on your first-ever smartphone. In truth, Samsung will give you a strong mix of One UI, a headphone jack, and three rear cameras for lower than $200. It sounds fairly good in follow, however let’s see what actuality holds. That is our Samsung Galaxy A11 evaluate.

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• Samsung Galaxy A11 (2GB RAM, 32GB): $169 / £139 / €160
• Samsung Galaxy A11 (3GB RAM, 32GB): $179 / £235

The Galaxy A11 is one in all Samsung’s most reasonably priced smartphones, and it changed the Galaxy A10E in early 2020. It comes with restricted storage choices — 32GB or 64GB — however you may select from a couple of traditional Samsung finishes, together with blue, white, and black. The Samsung Galaxy A11 we examined arrived working Android 10 with One UI 2.1 on high. It has since acquired Samsung’s One UI 3.1 replace in Might 2021 and is now working Android 11.

As for the internals, Samsung tapped Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 processor, as much as 3GB of RAM, and a wholesome 4,000mAh battery. Samsung’s 6.4-inch HD Plus show ties all of it collectively, and there’s even a headphone jack on the high of the telephone. You additionally get a bottom-firing mono speaker for a bit extra audio flexibility.

The Samsung Galaxy A11 comes with a USB-C charger within the field, in addition to a white pair of wired earbuds and a SIM ejector device. Not unhealthy total for a telephone at this worth.

Samsung’s Galaxy A11 suits into the same worth vary because the OnePlus Nord N100 and Motorola Moto E. In the event you’re dead-set on Samsung, the newer Galaxy A12 can be price a glance. Though the Galaxy A12 could pack the newest tech, it’s not as extensively obtainable as its older sibling fairly but.

It’s robust to go improper with Samsung’s One UI interface. In truth, the power to do absolutely anything with one hand makes the Galaxy A11’s 6.4-inch show really feel far more comfy. There’s little to no bloatware on the unlocked Samsung Galaxy A11, however carrier-based units could have some undesirable extras.

My Samsung Galaxy A11 additionally arrived working on Android 10 however acquired its Android 11 replace in mid-Might. It wasn’t Samsung’s quickest replace ever, however the newest model of Android with One UI 3.0 on high actually offers a little bit of a lift. The amount controls are bigger than ever, and the notifications clear up properly.

Samsung went the additional mile with safety choices on the Galaxy A11, providing each a rear-mounted fingerprint reader and face unlock choices, although the latter is software-based, so rather less safe. Whereas public masks mandates are nonetheless in place, it’s good to have unlocking choices after I’m at house. Ought to both of these strategies fail, you may all the time flip to a PIN unlock or sample technique as an alternative.

See additionally: The perfect telephones with a headphone jack

The Galaxy A11 retains a traditional characteristic that almost all Samsung flagships have ditched: the headphone jack. We couldn’t get by means of this part with out displaying it no less than a bit bit of affection. You get a pair of wired earbuds packaged with the telephone, too. They’re not probably the most comfy for lengthy listening classes, however they’re a very good beater pair that you simply gained’t have to fret about.

After all, when you’re contemplating a budget-friendly smartphone, you is likely to be nervous a couple of barely weaker digicam. I actually had my very own reservations, however the main 13MP shooter left me impressed. Granted, you may nonetheless take some stinkers, but it surely ought to work properly for you, given the correct lighting. You may take a look at some examples later on this evaluate.

The ultimate boon for the Samsung Galaxy A11 is its battery life. The 4,000mAh cell is loads massive, particularly contemplating that you simply don’t have 5G drain to fret about. I discovered the telephone often lasting a full day or extra bouncing between apps and movies.

What’s not so good?

Despite the fact that the primary 13MP lens impressed, the others didn’t. Whether or not it was a selfie or an ultra-wide shot, there was all the time one thing lacking. I discovered that the 5MP ultra-wide samples usually got here again grainy, and any zoom (digital solely) resulted in an instantaneous lack of element and constancy. On the selfie aspect, photographs usually appeared as if I had fingerprints on the digicam — even when I had simply wiped it down. I often managed an honest selfie, although the background noise is way extra noticeable indoors, and there’s a whole lot of skin-smoothing occurring.

I additionally discovered it arduous to get previous the shiny plastic building. Not as a result of it was plastic, however relatively as a result of the Galaxy A11 proved to be a magnet for fingerprints and dust. I choose a clear telephone, so I discovered myself continuously itching to wipe down the again panel. The plastic doesn’t really feel too unhealthy in hand, however a matte end might have gone a good distance.

Sadly, Samsung stuffed the Galaxy A11 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 processor. Whereas this might have been simply positive in years previous, the Snapdragon 450 launched again in 2017 and is beginning to present its age. I seen occasional lag if I attempted to leap between apps in a rush, and downloading video games like Pokémon Go took longer than anticipated. I’m unsure whether or not that is because of the processor itself or the 2GB of RAM, however Samsung most likely might have remedied it with some boosted specs.

Whereas I famous the Galaxy A11’s strong battery life above, the charging efficiency is lower than stellar. You will get 15W speeds with the included charger, however you’ll must be prepared to sit down by an outlet for fairly some time — simply an hour and a half when you’re ranging from zero. There’s no wi-fi charging choice, however that’s not a shock given the value.

Samsung Galaxy A11 digicam samples

The Samsung Galaxy A11 is a textbook budget-friendly telephone. It packs modest specs and cuts some corners, however it could nonetheless shock you. It scores factors on battery life, a headphone jack, and the primary 13MP digicam. But the Galaxy A11 misses with an growing old processor, weak help cameras, and a fingerprint-hungry end.

See additionally: The perfect finances telephones you may presently purchase

Samsung’s Galaxy A11 falls consistent with the OnePlus Nord N100 and Motorola Moto E by way of pricing, and it’s greatest suited to somebody with little smartphone expertise. You can too take a look at the successor in Samsung’s Galaxy A12. Nonetheless, the older system is extra in style amongst MVNOs, so you may most likely discover an reasonably priced plan to match your reasonably priced telephone.