Quibranza : ‘Entry phones’ aren’t like they used to

I REMEMBER my first “entry phone” into the world of touch screen devices. Of course, how one describes an “entry phone” is highly subjective. But for the sake of discussion, let’s talk about the phones which parents gift their kid with, when graduating fresh out of elementary school.

I recently got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy A20. Selling on the market for about P9,950, I believe this may pass as one’s “entry phone” in “hyper-technologized-yet-searching-for-a-clear-direction 2019.” I currently use the Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus, so it was a little annoying how the glossy black finish on the plastic frame (Samsung calls it “Glastic”—looks like glass but is actually plastic) of the A20 can pretty much give my iPhone a run for its money.

Post Nokia and pre-Apple, there was a time when I found myself using a Samsung Galaxy Fame. It was a very small unit that featured a 5-megapixel rear camera. It gave me access to social media, and was decent enough to play “Flappy Bird” and “Hill Climb Racing” on. Now, I have the Samsung A20 in front of me, and I just can’t help but envy all the kids who will be getting this unit as their own introductory devices into the world of slick mobile phones.

On paper, the specs are pretty good: 6.4-inch screen, Super AMOLED; Octa-core Exynos 7884 processor; 3GB RAM; 32GB storage; dual rear cameras 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel; 5-megapixel front camera; Fingerprint sensor; and a 4,000mAh battery.

Also, the A20 had some “toys” my current phone didn’t.

I was in Japan recently and admired a companion’s Ultra Wide Angle feature on her Samsung S10. It made framing photos so much easier. That said, I was happy to learn the A20 had the same feature. Of course, we can’t compare the quality of the photos on both devices. The S10 is priced at around P50,000.

There’s also the tech to enable “facial recognition.” Although personally, I’m not a big fan of unlocking a device without lifting a finger. Have we all turned that lazy, really? (Thus, “hyper-technologized-yet-searching-for-a-clear-direction 2019”). How about we talk about the “infinity display”? Though a beast in its own right, I’m still staring at the bezels on my iPhone while watching a series on Netflix.

But you know what I really miss on my iPhone that the A20 has? The 3.5 mm audio port. I believe that with Apple removing the 3.5mm audio port on its newer phones, I have listened to less music (or have enabled English captions on shows more these days)—just because it’s really a hassle having to think of bringing a dongle with you wherever you go. Sometimes, these entry phones just give a nod to the best of simpler times.

To be honest though, it’s apples and oranges comparing the performance of an entry phone with a top-tier phone. Swiping through the panels on the screen, opening the apps, and taking photos while on the run (especially when you’re on a vacation shooting photos left and right like I recently did in Japan), may prove a little challenging on just about any entry phone. But for the price, and the perks that come along with it, the Samsung A20 is a super solid piece.

And yes. You’re more than ready to rock “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang” or “Wizards Unite” on the A20. The juice on that 4,000mAh battery is no joke.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph