Samsung Galaxy A32 5G review

5G at a very nice price

Samsung has made 5G capability available at the lower end of the Samsung A series with the release of the Samsung Galaxy A32. That's great news for phone buyers on a budget.
April 2021 | 5 minute read

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Buy outright or pay off your phone interest-free, over 12 or 24 months on a mobile plan.

Specs at a glance

Let’s have a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G to see how its cameras, screen, storage and other specs stack up.

 
  • Display: 6.5 inch display with 90Hz refresh rate  
  • Storage: 128GB storage and 4GB RAM
  • Rear cameras: 48MP (Main), 2MP (Depth), 8MP (UltraWide), 5MP (Macro)
  • Front camera: 13MP
  • Battery: 5000mAh battery lasts up to 48 hours**
  • 5G: Seriously fast 5G
  • Processor: Mediatek MT 6853
  • Width: 76.1mm 
  • Height: 164.2mm
  • Thickness: 9.1mm

A crisp and clear display

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has a 6.5 inch display, which is slightly bigger than last year’s Samsung Galaxy A31. However where the Samsung Galaxy A31 featured an AMOLED display, the new Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has a TFT LCD display. 

This could be seen as a bit of a trade-off in order to include 5G at this level of the Samsung A series. But it's not a big deal. 

The good news is that the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G screen is clear and crisp, with a resolution of 2400 x 1080. And the 90HZ refresh rate means it’s a pretty smooth operator. 

Sharp shots from the 48MP camera

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G uses the same 48MP main camera as the Samsung Galaxy A31. In daylight settings it takes great shots with fully saturated colours and broad dynamic range.  

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G gives a reasonable performance in low-light situations by reducing shadows in order to minimise visual ‘noise’. It also features a dedicated Night Mode that can help improve detail when shooting in low light.

Also on the rear camera set up is an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro lens and a 2MP depth lens. An LED flash helps capture more light and create better shots.  Meanwhile, the front selfie camera is 13MP.

True, it’s not a pro-quality camera array. But it’s a fairly decent set up for everyday use. And very good for a lower-priced phone with 5G.  

The rear camera on the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G can record 4K video at 30 frames per second. 

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G also has a single speaker on the bottom, that provides good, clear sound for gaming or streaming videos.

Plenty of battery life

Like many of today’s lower and mid-range phones, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has a 5,000mAh battery. Even running the display in 90HZ refresh mode, the Galaxy A32 5G can potentially last for up to 16 hours of web browsing.

Of course the exact battery life that you get will depend on your particular use conditions.

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G supports 15W fast charging and comes with a charger that will take the phone from flat to full in around 2 hours 20 minutes. 

Storage space for photos and files

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G comes with a very generous of 128GB storage built in. That’s plenty of space for your photos, your apps and files.

And it’s a lot of storage when you consider the affordable price of the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. Until recently it was the sort of storage size you’d expect from higher-end and flagship smartphones.

But if that’s not enough, no problem. You can expand the storage on the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G to a massive 1TB using an SD card.

Simple styling and classy colours

This year there's a whole new look across the Samsung A series. The glossy finish and fancy gradient effect from the previous models are gone and in their place Samsung has gone for a minimal design aesthetic.

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has a smooth matte finish which makes the phone easier to hold and less likely to show finger smudges. There’s a choice of simple block colours, namely Awesome Black and Awesome Violet.

The clean lines and uncluttered design make for an upmarket look.

Samsung Galaxy A31 versus Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

The biggest difference between the Galaxy A32 5G and the Galaxy A31 is the inclusion of 5G technology. Here’s a closer comparison.

  • Processor speed: The Galaxy A32 5G offers fast processing and 4GB of RAM, similar to the Galaxy A31.
  • Design: This one is purely a matter of taste. The Galaxy A32 5G features simple matt colours. There’s no flashy gradient effect like the A31. You’ll notice the difference if you’re into clean, simple design.
  • Camera: The main camera at the back of the Galaxy A32 5G is the same 48MP as the Galaxy A31. The front camera on the Galaxy A32 5G is 13MP compared the higher resolution 20MP on the Galaxy A31. You’ll notice if you’re really into selfies. If not, it’s a small sacrifice to get 5G at a low price.
  • Charging: The Galaxy A32 5G has 15W fast charging, the same as the Galaxy A31.
  • Display: The Galaxy A32 5G features 6.5-inch display compared to the 6.4-inch display on the Galaxy A31. It’s marginally bigger but the difference is probably too small to notice.

 

5G makes all the difference

The inclusion of the 5G capability in the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a real breakthrough in terms of  making 5G accessible to more and more people. While the Galaxy A32 5G isn't an absolute entry-level phone, its price certainly puts it in the very affordable range.

We're delighted to be able to sell the Galaxy A32 5G here at Telstra. Because it means more Australians can enjoy the Telstra 5G network, which is rolling out in selected areas. You’ll just need a 5G compatible Telstra mobile plan.

So what difference does 5G make to your life as a phone user?

Firstly, you can download movies, music, audiobooks and apps fast on Telstra 5G. Uploads are more efficient on 5G too. It’s great if you want to send files.

Secondly, the increased capacity of the 5G network gives you faster data speeds and better performance, especially in crowded areas.

And finally, 5G has minimal latency. So you’ll see less lag when you’re gaming.  It all adds up to a smoother, more enjoyable experience of the phone.

Is the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G right for me?

If you'd like to enjoy the benefits of 5G without paying big dollars for a phone, then you should definitely consider the Galaxy A32 5G.

Telstra is selling the Galaxy A32 5G for $480. For that you get a budget phone with:

  • 90HZ Infinity V display
  • 5G capability
  • 128GB storage
  • 48MP camera

It's a pretty solid performer at a very affordable price. If you want 5G capability but don't need the highest-end performance in other areas, the Galaxy A32 5G could suit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the Galaxy A32  5G is not water resistant.

No, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G takes a single SIM. The SIM card size is nano SIM.

If you buy the Galaxy A32 5G before April 23, you can redeem free Galaxy Buds RRP $319 from Samsung.

Redeem by May 21. Limit 5 per customer. Redemption criteria apply.

You’ll need a 5G-ready mobile or data plan to connect to Telstra 5G. You’ll also need to be in an area that has 5G coverage.

See Telstra mobile plans.