Samsung Galaxy A80 hands-on review: Rotating triple camera takes world-class selfies
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The Galaxy A80 is the best of Samsung's new mid-range versions, with an "all-screen" screen, no notch and a rotating camera
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The Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus may be Samsung's headlines, but they're hard to reach for the average consumer. And that's where the new Galaxy A Series phones come in. I just attended 'A Galaxy Event' in Milan and got early access to Samsung's latest range of mid-range phones, including the fascinating Galaxy A80, which has a triple camera.
Instead of a notch or built-in camera, the rear camera slides up and the entire camera rotates 180 degrees to face the user. It's a bold design decision that has the potential to spark a camera flip revolution. After testing the rotating camera for myself, I have my concerns: what if something gets stuck or the mechanism breaks?– but I don't can't deny that it's a refreshing take on the notch problem.
Read on to find out all the specs of the Samsung Galaxy A80 and find out when it's coming to the UK.
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Samsung Galaxy A80 review: Key specs, price and release date
6.7-inch Super AMOLED FHD (1080 x 2400) display
Octa-core processor (dual-core 2.2 GHz + hexa-core 1.8 GHz)
8 GB RAM
128 GB of internal storage
Rotating triple camera: 48MP, main f2.0; 8MP, f2.2 ultra-wide (128 degrees); 3D depth camera
3700mAh battery
In-screen fingerprint reader
165.2 x 76.5 x 9.3mm
Android 9.0 Pie operating system
UK price:
To confirm
UK release:
May 29, 2019
Samsung Galaxy A80 review: Design, key features and first impressions
For lack of a better term, the Galaxy A80 is Samsung's flagship mid-range phone for 2019. It has the same 6.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display as the Galaxy A70 (which was announced at the same time) but has a slight advantage in terms of internals. Of course, it also has a rotating triple camera, while the Galaxy A70 is still stuck in the age of the teardrop notch. The A80 is however a bit thicker - at 9.7mm versus the A70's 7.9mm - due to the sliding camera panel.
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Thanks to this rotating camera, the Galaxy A80 has a truly unique appearance: the 6.7-inch screen is completely devoid of notches, cameras or microphones. The microphone is integrated under the screen and the fingerprint reader The on-screen fingertips are fused to the glass. The power button is mounted on the right side and the volume controls on the left edge, while below are the speakers and USB Type-C charging port. vs.
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Both the A80 and A70 feature stunning flagship looks despite their relatively low prices, with attractive aluminum frames encased in what Samsung calls "3D glass." There are three glossy finishes: Phantom Black, Angel Gold, and Ghost White.It feels great in the hand and isn't even that slippery compared to other glass-backed flagships, although I did notice that the black model attracts oily fingerprints like a loaf of bread attracts the pigeons.
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On the internals: Samsung hasn't confirmed the exact name of the chipset, but we do know that the Galaxy A80 runs on an octa-core processor consisting of a dual-core 2.2GHz and hexa-core 1.8GHz chip .It supports 8GB of RAM so there is no doubt that it will be a speedy phone that will meet all your mobile gaming needs.There is 128GB of storage available but unlike the A70, Samsung hasn't said whether or not it will be expandable via microSD.
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The rotating triple camera is obviously the big new thing and you're no doubt eager to hear about it. The camera setup includes a 3D depth module (specs unknown), an 8-megapixel f2.2 ultra-wide module ( 128 degrees) and the main 48-megapixel f.20 snapper. the lens flip button in the Camera app, the whole camera panel slides up and the whole camera rotates on its X-axis, ready for self-portrait action high quality wide angle.
Does it look cool? Yes. Are there any issues? Definitely. It's easy to imagine the camera breaking or jamming if something manages to get lodged inside space while the device is spinning. It also hates being squeezed when the phone is on a flat surface - it kind of vibrates when it tries and fails to turn over. To be honest, it seems quite flimsy, but only time will tell whether or not the mechanism holds up after several thousand rotations.
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Samsung Galaxy A80 review: early verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A80 is certainly one of the most eye-catching and unusual mid-range smartphones of recent times and, beyond its flashy flip camera, it has the makings of a serious flagship rival. That gorgeous all-screen AMOLED display makes the A80's notched competitors look ugly and outdated, while the internals and 37,500mAh battery should make it a great all-around performer.
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Pricing has yet to be confirmed for the Galaxy A80, or any of the new Samsung Galaxy A Series phones, but you can expect it to fall somewhere around the £400-£500 range once that it will land in the UK on May 29, 2019.
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