Samsung Galaxy A A03s Black 32GB

The Galaxy A03s has a great battery and a terrible processor. Performance is dead last in our database, but the 5000mAh cell keeps it alive all day. At $76 it's a decent backup phone; at $129 it's a rip-off.

This is where things get rough. The MediaTek Helio P35 with 3GB of RAM sits at the 0th percentile in our database, which is our polite way of saying it's dead last. Apps open slowly, multitasking is a chore, and gaming is basically a slideshow at 17.5 out of 100. The 32GB of eMMC 5.1 storage doesn't help either, though at least you can add a microSD card. For calls, texts, and light browsing, it'll get there eventually. Just don't be in a hurry.

Stacked against the competition, the A03s gets lapped. The Motorola Moto G PB1M0006US offers a much smoother experience for not much more money, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Motorola Razr Ultra 2025, Google Pixel 10 Pro, iPhone 17, and OnePlus 15 are in a completely different universe. Even the no-name FNCOCO I26 U and GAMAKOO G25 Ultra manage better performance scores. The A03s wins on battery size and brand recognition, but that's about where the wins stop.

Pricing is all over the place right now. We're seeing listings from $76 to $129 across five Newegg vendors, which is a $53 spread for essentially the same phone. At the low end, it's a decent backup or first phone for a kid. At $129, you're getting fleeced. The best deal we found is the refurbished 32GB model at $76, and even then, you're paying for battery life and not much else.

The Samsung Galaxy A03s is a budget phone that knows exactly what it is. A big 6.5-inch screen, a 5000mAh battery, and a price tag that won't make you wince. But the Helio P35 chip inside is ancient, and it shows every time you tap an app.

Skip this if you play mobile games, edit photos, or juggle more than two apps at once. The 0th percentile performance score means even basic multitasking feels like wading through mud. If you need a phone for work or school with actual app usage, spend a bit more on a Moto G or a used Pixel.

Buy this if you need a cheap phone that makes calls, sends texts, and lasts all day on a charge. It's fine for a backup device, a kid's first phone, or someone who just wants a simple Android handset. Anyone who plans to use apps regularly should save up for something with a Snapdragon or at least a newer MediaTek chip.