Samsung Galaxy A18 4G review

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Introduction

Let's be frank: the Galaxy A18 4G isn't the kind of phone that will dominate headlines. But as a budget-friendly Samsung, it could easily be the device you pick up on a carrier contract for yourself or a less-demanding family member. Galaxy S flagships may grab the spotlight, but it's the affordable A-series phones that do much of the heavy lifting in Samsung's lineup.

The Galaxy A18 4G is a textbook example of Samsung covering the basics and sprinkling in a few carefully chosen extras without inflating the price tag. At first glance, little seems to have changed at the lower end of the Galaxy A family, particularly among the cheaper 4G-only models. Still, the switch from the MediaTek Helio G99 to Samsung's own Exynos 1610 might be more interesting than it initially appears.

Samsung Galaxy A18 4G specs at a glance:

• Body: 164.4x77.9x7.7mm, 196g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame; IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes).
• Display: 6.70" Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 1080x2340px resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 385ppi.
• Chipset: Exynos 1610.
• Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
• OS/Software: Android 17, up to 6 major OS updates, One UI 9.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 5 MP, f/2.2, 1/5.0", 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP.
• Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 5000mAh; 25W wired, 50% in 30 min.
• Connectivity: LTE; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.3; NFC.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); Virtual proximity sensing.

It's worth clarifying that this is the 4G model of the Galaxy A18, which recently made a quiet debut in Europe. The Galaxy A18 5G has yet to arrive, but it is expected shortly, possibly with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. Some reports suggest that chipset supply constraints could explain its later arrival, though Samsung technically didn't have a launch date announced.

Regardless, the A18 4G is here, and Samsung hasn't made any major changes to its tried-and-tested budget formula. A few details do stand out compared to last year's Galaxy A17 4G. The construction is still mostly plastic, but the A18 4G now has an upgraded IP64 ingress protection rating. That improvement concerns dust protection alone, though, so keep your expectations in check.

The switch to Samsung's new Exynos 1610 chipset, currently exclusive to the Galaxy A18 4G, is another change worth a closer look.

Otherwise, it's familiar territory: a 6.7-inch Samsung-made Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and the old teardrop camera notch. The capacitive fingerprint reader sits inside the power button on a raised section of the frame, a familiar feature of Samsung's A-series design language. There are fairly thick display bezels and a particularly prominent chin, along with the usual vertical triple-camera island. You technically get three cameras, though how much credit to give the 2MP macro is debatable.

A 5,000mAh battery with Samsung's basic 25W fast charging rounds out the core hardware, alongside a decent selection of connectivity options and expandable storage. It all comes topped off with One UI 9 based on Android 17 and a promise of up to six major OS updates. At this price, the software and long-term support are a compelling part of the package.

Unboxing

The Galaxy A18 4G ships in a rather flimsy two-piece cardboard box. The packaging is entirely plastic-free, including on the outside, where you get the usual pair of Samsung factory seal stickers instead of shrink wrap. A cardboard cradle keeps the phone snugly in place, though we would have liked a slightly thicker piece of cardboard over the display. Still, the packaging seems to do its job - our unit arrived perfectly intact.

Continuing the eco-friendly theme, the box states that it is printed with soy ink. We usually see monochrome printing on such packaging, but Samsung has gone a step further with a color illustration that even matches the color of the phone inside.

The accessory bundle consists of a white USB Type-C to Type-C cable rated for 3A, without an e-marker chip, and a SIM ejector tool. That's your lot, and pretty much what we've come to expect these days.