Samsung Galaxy A25

The Samsung Galaxy A25 is the budget Samsung that punches above its price thanks to one thing most rivals skip at this level: a proper Super AMOLED screen. At $399, down from a $599 recommended retail price (RRP), it is the cheapest phone on our list, and it backs that up with a level of long-term support that shames the competition.

It runs a 6.5-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a MediaTek Helio G99 chip, 128GB of storage and a 5000mAh battery. The standout is software support: Samsung promises four years of operating system updates and five years of security patches, the best in the budget class by a distance. There is no official water-resistance rating, so this is the one to keep away from the rain.

What the RefDat test lab found

The AMOLED screen is the reason to buy it, with deep blacks and bright, punchy colour that budget phones with cheaper panels cannot match. Battery life is excellent, easily a full day and often more. The Helio G99 is a modest but honest chip: smooth for messaging, browsing, video and social media, but it will show its limits in demanding games. The 50-megapixel camera is fine in daylight and unremarkable indoors, which is exactly what you expect here. Charging is slow at 15 watts.

What owners actually report

Owners on Whirlpool and OzBargain rate it as a standout budget buy, with the screen and the long update commitment the two most-praised features. The recurring watch-outs are the slow 15-watt charging, the modest processor under gaming load, and the lack of a water-resistance rating. For the price, owners are realistic and happy.

Who should skip it? If you game seriously or want fast charging and water resistance, spend up to an A55 or a Pixel 8a. As a cheap, good-looking phone that will keep getting updates for years, the A25 is excellent value.

You will find it unlocked at JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks, with plans through Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. OzBargain regularly stacks carrier and sale discounts on top.

Australian Consumer Law (ACL): a phone at $399 should reasonably last 3 to 4 years, with the consumer guarantees realistically covering 2 to 3, beyond the standard 1-year warranty. If the battery degrades abnormally, the charging port fails or the screen faults without abuse in that window, you have a claim. Lodge it with your retailer or carrier.

Bottom line: a budget phone with a flagship-class screen and the longest update support in its class. Highly recommended on value. Step up if you want fast charging, water resistance or gaming grunt. RefDat score 4.1 out of 5.