Samsung Galaxy A18 4G offers solid battery life but struggles with slow performance and downgraded glass

The Samsung Galaxy A18 4G is an entry-level smartphone that delivers solid battery life and a bright OLED display but struggles with slow performance and downgraded screen protection. Powered by Samsung's in-house 5nm Exynos 1610 chipset paired with only 4GB of RAM, the device frequently exhibits lag and stutters during daily use. Its 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display supports a 90Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 775 nits of automatic brightness, though its protective glass has been downgraded to Gorilla Glass 3. The phone's 5,000 mAh battery achieved an active use score of 13 hours and 9 minutes in testing, showing notable improvements in call and video playback times over its predecessor. However, its 25W wired charging is slow, taking 1 hour and 29 minutes to reach a full charge. The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens, limited to 1080p video recording at 30fps. Audio is delivered via a single bottom-firing speaker that sounds flat. Given its high launch price, older models like the Galaxy A27 or the similarly priced Galaxy A37 offer better value.

Tech4K StaffVideo report

The Samsung Galaxy A18 4G is an entry-level smartphone that delivers solid battery life and a bright OLED display but struggles with slow performance and downgraded screen protection. Powered by Samsung's in-house 5nm Exynos 1610 chipset paired with only 4GB of RAM, the device frequently exhibits lag and stutters during daily use. Its 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display supports a 90Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 775 nits of automatic brightness, though its protective glass has been downgraded to Gorilla Glass 3. The phone's 5,000 mAh battery achieved an active use score of 13 hours and 9 minutes in testing, showing notable improvements in call and video playback times over its predecessor. However, its 25W wired charging is slow, taking 1 hour and 29 minutes to reach a full charge. The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens, limited to 1080p video recording at 30fps. Audio is delivered via a single bottom-firing speaker that sounds flat. Given its high launch price, older models like the Galaxy A27 or the similarly priced Galaxy A37 offer better value.

The Samsung Galaxy A18 4G features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1080p resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The device's screen protection has been downgraded to Gorilla Glass 3, compared to the Gorilla Glass Victus+ used on the previous model.

Performance is limited by the Exynos 1610 chipset and a standard 4GB of RAM, resulting in noticeable lag and stutters. The 5,000 mAh battery provides a solid 13 hours and 9 minutes of active use, showing improvements in call and video playback times.

Wired charging is capped at 25W, requiring 1 hour and 29 minutes to fully charge the battery from empty. The camera system consists of a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens.

The phone lacks Samsung's Galaxy AI features and is limited to a maximum video recording resolution of 1080p at 30fps.

Chapter guide

Introduction and History of the A SeriesOverview of the Galaxy A18 4G and the evolution of Samsung's budget lineup.Design and Build QualityAnalysis of the plastic construction, IP64 rating, and downgraded Gorilla Glass 3.Display PerformanceTesting the 6.7-inch 90Hz OLED screen, brightness levels, and bezel size.Audio and BiometricsEvaluation of the side-mounted fingerprint reader and the single bottom-firing speaker.Hardware and PerformanceBenchmarks of the Exynos 1610 chipset, 4GB RAM limitations, and thermal management.Software and Galaxy AIOverview of One UI 9 based on Android 17 and the omission of Galaxy AI features.Battery Life and ChargingTesting the 5,000 mAh battery endurance and 25W charging speeds.Camera Specifications and InterfaceDetails on the triple rear camera setup and the camera app features.Photo and Video QualityAnalysis of daylight, low-light, selfie, and 1080p video performance.Verdict and AlternativesFinal thoughts on value and comparisons to the Galaxy A27 and A37.

Worth noting

  • The video notes that the Galaxy A18 4G suffers from slow performance, lag, and stutters, which may be exacerbated by its limited 4GB of RAM.
  • The device's screen protection has been downgraded to Gorilla Glass 3, making it less durable than the Gorilla Glass Victus+ found on its predecessor.
  • The phone completely lacks Samsung's Galaxy AI features, which are typically found on higher-tier Samsung devices.

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