Samsung Galaxy A15 4G vs Galaxy A15 5G: which one to buy?

Samsung may be known for its flagship phones and foldables, but the company continues to offer plenty of more affordable options.

Among them is the Galaxy A15 series, which offers many of Samsung’s core features at an affordable price.

However, there are two different versions to choose from: the Galaxy A15 and the Galaxy A15 5G. As the name suggests, only the latter supports 5G, but there are a few other notable differences. Here’s how to determine what’s right for you.

Differences between Galaxy A15 4G and Galaxy A15 5G

From the outset, it should be noted that the Galaxy A15 5G and the Galaxy A15 4G are very similar. There are differences, which we will discuss later, but they are quite marginal.

However, starting with the design, they both follow the brand’s established design aesthetic, closely resembling the flagship Galaxy S24 series and their more refined sibling, the A25 5G, particularly in terms of materials and dimensions . Both phones measure 160.1 x 76.8 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 inches) and weigh 200 g (7.05 oz).

Construction features a plastic chassis and back, with a glass panel on the front for display. Notably, there is no mention of Gorilla Glass or similar reinforced materials in the specifications.

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The subtle indentation on the right side (known as the “Key Island”) controls power and volume, with the former doubling as a fingerprint sensor on both phones.

The back panel tends to attract dust easily, making it difficult to maintain its appearance without a case, which is not included in the box. Notably, both phones also don’t have a waterproof rating, so caution is advised when you’re near a sink or in the rain.

Color options include “Blue Black”, “Blue”, and “Yellow” for both phones. However, the Galaxy A15 5G sports a matte finish, which the A15 4G opts for a more reflective look.

Martyn Casserly

The Galaxy A15 5G and A15 4G feature impressive displays, with vibrant colors and sufficient brightness even in direct sunlight, reaching a maximum of 800 nits of brightness.

They both feature Full HD+ resolution for crisp visuals, complemented by a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. However, occasional stuttering may occur on image-heavy pages due to processing power limitations.

Both phones offer an 84.3% screen-to-body ratio, with minimal interruptions from the bezels – just a small chin and a teardrop notch.

In terms of audio, both phones stream sound through a single bottom speaker, capable of impressive volume levels and clear spoken content. However, music can suffer from distortion at maximum volume, sometimes tending to sound tinny or shrill.

There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on both phones, but you may prefer to connect Bluetooth headphones.

Front panel of the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

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Both the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and A15 4G offer budget-friendly performance, although each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

The Galaxy A15 5G uses the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ (with built-in 5G connectivity), while the A15 4G is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G99 processor. Both processors handle everyday tasks well, but they can suffer from slowdowns and lags due to their low 4GB of RAM. High-end gaming is also a challenge on both phones.

In the Geekbench 5 multi-core test, the Galaxy A15 5G scored 1907 points, while the Galaxy A15 4G scored 1890 points. Although the difference is small, in terms of raw performance, the version with 5G leads the way.

In terms of storage, both phones offer 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB via a microSD slot. Connectivity options are similar, with dual Nano SIM, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS and NFC available on both models. The main difference is in cellular connectivity, with the A15 5G offering 5G capability while the A15 4G is limited to 4G/LTE.

Overall, both phones offer smooth performance for everyday use and essential tasks, making them reliable choices for budget-conscious users.

Interface shot for Samsung Galaxy A15 review

Martyn Casserly

Both the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and A15 4G offer decent camera performance considering their prices, with a 50MP primary wide lens as the highlight. However, neither device has optical image stabilization, which can lead to blurry photos and videos.

Both cameras offer satisfying autofocus and produce pleasing photos in appropriate lighting conditions, with well-balanced and naturalistic color palettes.

The prime lens tends to overexpose images and can sometimes struggle with contrast, causing elements to be overexposed. The slight shutter lag can also be frustrating when capturing moving subjects.

The additional lenses, a 5MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens, feel more like checkboxes than valuable additions on both devices, often resulting in blurry and washed-out images after inspection further. Users should be careful when using these lenses or software-based night mode, as results can be hit or miss.

Both phones’ 13MP front cameras produce flattering selfies suitable for sharing on social media, although with some limitations in terms of vibrancy.

Video recording on both devices tops out at 1080p/30fps, with acceptable focus and light balance, but with occasional frame drops and limited low-light performance.

Overall, even though the Galaxy A15 5G and A15 4G offer versatile camera setups, the main camera emerges as the more reliable option for everyday use, while the additional lenses fail to provide much consistent results.

Close-up of the rear camera of the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

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Both the Galaxy A15 5G and A15 4G feature a 5,000mAh battery, ensuring extended use without the need for recharging.

The Galaxy A15 5G demonstrated impressive longevity, lasting just 15 hours in the PCMark battery test and easily surviving a typical day of use. Despite potential battery drain from features like 90Hz mode and intensive tasks, battery life can still extend into a second day for most users. However, it lacks a bundled charger, although it does support up to 25W charging, providing a decent 55% recharge in half an hour.

The A15 4G can sometimes stretch to two days, lasting 15 hours and 15 minutes in the PCMark test. It also supports 25W charging, but only reaches 44% after half an hour. Neither phone supports wireless charging.

Charging test for the Samsung Galaxy A15

Martyn Casserly

The Galaxy A15 5G and A15 4G run on Samsung’s One UI 6 on top of Android 14, but lack features like an always-on display and DeX mode due to their non-productivity.

Additionally, although they offer simple navigation and customization options, advanced AI features are also lacking.

Both come with pre-installed Samsung and Google apps, although you have the option to delete most of them. Samsung also supports phones with three years of Android operating system updates.