Samsung Galaxy A80 review

Samsung's pop-up novelty phone

Reviews
By Tom Bedford
published
Samsung Galaxy A50
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(Image: © Future)

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Verdict

There’s no one major issue with the Samsung Galaxy A80, and we really wanted to love it for its unique pop-up camera section, but it’s hard to stay positive in the face of a tide of minor issues.

Between the unreliable fingerprint sensor, music playback problems, data dropping, slow performance, fragile camera section and weak loudspeakers, the Galaxy A80 is generally just irritating to use.

The beautiful screen, premium design and great gaming performance isn’t enough to make up for the weight of minor issues that you’re going to face when using the Galaxy A80.

That’s not to say the smartphone is broken, per se, and in many ways it runs just as well as any other device. But there are so many handsets that don’t have this many irritating problems, so there’s not as much reason to pick the A80.

It would be easy to overlook these problems if the Galaxy A80 was affordable, but at its current price tag, you’re going to be paying a mid-range cost for a smartphone that doesn’t run as well as many budget devices.

Image credit: TechRadar

Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future)

Who’s it for?

Samsung is pitching the Galaxy A80 as a phone that’s great for younger audiences, but with its bulky size and mid-tier camera, it’s not actually useful for people with small hands. Instead, it’s probably more interesting for people who love a good party trick, and won’t get bored of the pop-up camera’s novelty.

Should I buy it?

For now, the Samsung Galaxy A80’s price seems a little high for its mid-tier specs, but wait a little while and sales may bring the cost down to more reasonable levels.

Competition

Google Pixel 3a

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Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future)

The current champion of the mid-range market is the Google Pixel 3a, a specced-down version of the Google Pixel 3. It’s got an impressive camera, dainty body, and reasonable chipset – and you’re not going to be paying as much for it as the Galaxy A80.

Read our in-depth Google Pixel 3a review

Huawei P30

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Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future)

If you’re willing to pay a tiny bit more than the Galaxy A80 for premium-feeling device (in terms of both hardware and software) the Huawei P30 is what you’re looking for. Just be warned, until the Huawei ban is over, it might not be worth the extra cost.

Read our in-depth Huawei P30 review

Samsung Galaxy A50

Image credit: TechRadar

Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future)

If you’ve got your heart set on a Samsung phone, pick another from the Galaxy A range, like the Galaxy A50. It’s got a three-camera rear setup, fairly impressive specs for its relatively low price, and a nice basic design that you won’t break  too easily.

Read our Samsung Galaxy A50 review

Tom Bedford
Tom Bedford
Contributor

Tom Bedford was deputy phones editor on TechRadar until late 2022, having worked his way up from staff writer. Though he specialized in phones and tablets, he also took on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK and now works for the entertainment site What To Watch.


He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist. He also currently works in film as a screenwriter, director and producer.