With multiple makers of smartphones launching expensive high-end 5G smartphones this year, it was a matter of time before more reasonably priced 5G handsets emerge. Samsung is among the first companies to introduce a 5G-enabled smartphone that promises not to break the bank. In addition to faster networks support, the Samsung A90 offers a bunch of first-class features, including an advanced SoC as well as premium imaging capabilities.

Equipped with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display featuring a 2400×1080 resolution and a raindrop selfie camera module, the Galaxy A90 5G is based on Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 855 SoC accompanied by 6 or 8 GB of LPDDRX as well as 128 GB of NAND flash storage (expandable using a microSD card). Just like other Qualcomm-based 5G smartphones, the Galaxy A90 5G uses Qualcomm’s X50 modem. This is the same SoC and modem that power Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G handset, so from performance and connectivity perspectives, the Galaxy A90 5G promises to behave just like the range-topping model.

Imaging capabilities of the Galaxy A90 5G include a 48 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a 5 MP depth sensor. Meanwhile, a 32 MP module is used for selfies.

One of the interesting selling points of the Galaxy A90 5G is support for Samsung’s DeX platform that enables desktop-like experience on Android-based devices (e.g., open up multiple windows, re-size windows, drag and drop content, etc.) when they connected to a PC display or a TV. Of course, proper DeX experience will require an external keyboard and mouse.

Other notable features of Samsung’s Galaxy A90 5G are a 4,500 mAh battery, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, a USB 2.0 Type-C port for data and charging, stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support for USB-C headsets, a fingerprint reader, and facial recognition.

Samsung's Galaxy A90 5G & S10 5G
  Galaxy A90 5G Galaxy S10 5G
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 
1x Kryo 485 (Cortex-A76) @ 2.84GHz
3x Kryo 485 (Cortex-A76) @ 2.42GHz
4x Kryo 485 (Cortex-A55) @ 1.80GHz

Adreno 640
Display 6.4-inch
2400 x 1080 (19:9)
(flat edges)
6.7-inch
3040 x 1440 (19:9)
(curved edges)
SAMOLED SAMOLED
HDR10+
1200 nits peak brightness
Gorilla Glass 6
Dimensions 164.8 x 76.4 x 8.4 mm
206 grams
162.6 x 77.1 x 7.94 mm
198 grams
RAM 6 or 8 GB 8 GB
NAND 128 GB 256 GB or 512 GB
+ microSD -
Battery 4500 mAh (17.32Wh)
Primary Front Camera

32 MP f/2.0

10MP f/1.9
4K video recording
Secondary Front Camera - hQVGA
Time-of-flight
3D sensor
Primary Rear Camera 48 MP 0.8µm PDAF
f/2.0, 26mm, 1/2"
77° Regular Angle
12MP 1.4µm Dual Pixel PDAF
Tri-stack CMOS Sensor (Embedded DRAM),
4K60, 1080p240, 720p960 high-speed recording

Adjustable aperture f/1.5 or f/2.4,
OIS, auto HDR, LED flash

Secondary Rear Camera 8 MP wide angle
f/2.2, 12mm, 1.12µm
123° Wide Angle
16MP 1.0µm f/2.2
Third
Rear Camera
5 MP depth sensor, f/2.2 45° / Telephoto lens 2x zoom
12MP 1.0µm f/2.4,
OIS
Fourth
Rear Camera
- hQVGA
Time-of-flight
3D sensor
4G Modem Snapdragon X24 LTE (Snapdragon Integrated)
2G / 3G / 4G LTE (Category 20/13)
DL 2000 Mbps (7x20MHz CA, 256-QAM),
 UL 316 Mbps (2x20MHz CA, 64-QAM)
5G Modem Snapdragon X50
5G NR (mmWave & sub-6 GHz, TDD)
DL 5Gbps (8x CA, 2x2 MIMO)
SIM Size NanoSIM (?) NanoSIM
Dual NanoSIM/Hybrid SIM/microSD (Certain models)
Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, BT 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Galileo/BDS 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2x2 MU-MIMO,
BT 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Galileo/BDS
Connectivity USB Type-C USB Type-C
3.5 mm headset
Special Features Under-screen optical fingerprint sensor Under-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass heart-rate sensor, iris scanner, face unlock,
fast charging (Qualcomm QC 2.0, Adaptive Fast Charging, USB-PD),
wireless charging & reverse charging (WPC & PMA),
IP68 water resistance
Launch OS Android 9.0 with Samsung OneUI
Launch Prices 6 GB + 128 GB: ?
8 GB + 128 GB: ?
8 GB + 256 GB: $1299
8 GB + 512 GB: $1399

Samsung’s Galaxy A90 5G will be released in black and white in South Korea on September 4. Exact price is unknown, but one of the rumours suggests that it will be below $1000. The launch in other countries will likely follow shortly as operators will certainly be interested in starting sales of a reasonably priced 5G handset in time for the holiday season.

Related Reading:

Source: Samsung

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  • quiksilvr - Wednesday, September 4, 2019 - link

    An A series Samsung with the latest Qualcomm specs being released the same month as the Note series? They are not messing around are they?
  • Alistair - Wednesday, September 4, 2019 - link

    Should be $750.
  • Alistair - Wednesday, September 4, 2019 - link

    I mean, last year they had basically the same phone except for the CPU upgrade for $450, will they really charge more than $300 more just for the change in chipset?
  • WPX00 - Tuesday, September 10, 2019 - link

    remember oneplus commenting that a straight 4g to 5g conversion is about $150 to 200 even when the 4g is already 855. Add in the glass back and better camera, and it easily comes to 300.
  • Gemuk - Thursday, September 5, 2019 - link

    Utterly ridiculous how the 6GB RAM version has a microSD slot but the 8GB version doesn't. How do you justify that?
  • igavus - Thursday, September 5, 2019 - link

    And no 3.5mm headphone jack like the S10 5G? Stupid, utterly stupid.
  • s.yu - Monday, September 9, 2019 - link

    There should still be flagships with the 3.5mm jack next year, which could hold out for 2-3 years, by then there might be some actual flagship solutions (se846, ue reference grade) on the BT side.

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