Galaxy A06 vs A06 5G: Which Budget Samsung Should You Buy?

For most buyers, the Galaxy A06 5G is the better choice: at £120.99 it costs £5 more than the 64GB Galaxy A06 (4G) and adds 5G, a higher-clocked processor, a smoother 90Hz screen, IP54 splash resistance and a longer update commitment (prices checked 5 October 2026). Choose the Galaxy A06 (4G) instead if you need 128GB of built-in storage (£123.99) or a Gold finish, because the A06 5G is listed only in 64GB Black.

Both are brand-new, sealed budget phones suited to a first smartphone, a back-up handset or an older relative who mainly calls, messages and video-chats. The biggest limitation is shared: Samsung's security updates end about 1.9 years (A06) or 2.4 years (A06 5G) after October 2026, and neither model is part of Samsung's UK range.

Quick decision: Galaxy A06 or Galaxy A06 5G?

• Choose the Galaxy A06 5G when: you want the most phone for about £120, your SIM plan includes 5G, or you'd like updates to run as long as possible on this budget.
• Choose the Galaxy A06 (4G) 128GB when: you keep lots of photos, videos and WhatsApp media on the phone itself, you don't want to manage a memory card, or you want Gold.
• Choose the Galaxy A06 (4G) 64GB when: the lowest price for a sealed Samsung matters most and the phone is a back-up or very light-use handset.
• Consider an alternative when: you want tap-to-pay, a sharper screen, an ultra-wide camera or updates beyond 2029. The alternatives section below runs the numbers.
• Check before buying: whether you rely on Wi-Fi Calling or 4G Calling (VoLTE) on a particular network, and whether you need two SIMs and a memory card at the same time.

Galaxy A06 vs A06 5G: the buying facts

The first table shows Samsung's published specifications. Samsung UK doesn't list either phone, so the figures come from Samsung's Levant site (A06) and its Singapore and India sites (A06 5G).

The second table shows what The Tech Gadgets lists on the Galaxy A06 (4G) product page and the Galaxy A06 5G listing.

What does the extra £5 for the Galaxy A06 5G actually buy?

The £5 buys more than 5G. Against the 64GB Galaxy A06 (4G), the A06 5G adds a newer, higher-clocked processor, a 90Hz screen, an IP54 rating, two extra Android upgrades and 5.9 months more security support on the conservative dates. You give up the Gold colour, the 128GB option and, per Samsung's specs, the dedicated memory card slot.

The price maths is simple. The Galaxy A06 5G 64GB at £120.99 minus the Galaxy A06 (4G) 64GB at £115.99 is £5.00. The Galaxy A06 (4G) 128GB at £123.99 minus its 64GB version at £115.99 is £8.00, or 12.5p for each extra gigabyte. And the A06 (4G) 128GB costs £3.00 more than the A06 5G, so the real choice at the top of this budget is “5G, 90Hz and a higher-clocked chip” against “double the storage”.

Spread over the security support left, the A06 5G is also the better-value phone. We count months from 5 October 2026 to the end date (days ÷ 30.44), using the end of the month for calculated dates: 22.9 months for the A06 (4G) and 28.8 for the A06 5G. The 64GB A06 works out at £5.07 a month (£115.99 ÷ 22.9) and the 128GB A06 at £5.41 (£123.99 ÷ 22.9). The A06 5G is £4.20 a month (£120.99 ÷ 28.8), or £2.89 over 41.8 months if Samsung Singapore's March 2030 date holds.

Is 5G worth having on a phone this cheap?

It depends on your SIM plan and where you use the phone. If your plan includes 5G and you're in a 5G area, downloads and streaming can be quicker. For calls, texts and messaging apps, 4G does the job. Many buyers will notice the A06 5G's smoother screen more than the 5G itself, so treat 5G as a bonus rather than the reason to buy.

Speed and screen: what the processor and 90Hz change day to day

The Galaxy A06 5G should feel a little quicker and smoother. Its Dimensity 6300 runs at up to 2.4GHz against the Helio G85's 2.0GHz, and its screen refreshes 90 times a second instead of 60, so scrolling looks smoother. Both screens share the same 6.7-inch HD+ resolution, so text and photos look equally sharp on each.

We haven't benchmarked either phone, so we won't put a percentage on the difference. What the published figures do tell you is the direction: higher clock speeds and a newer chip give the A06 5G more headroom as apps grow heavier over the next two or three years. Samsung itself replaced the Helio G85 with a newer chip in the following year's Galaxy A07, describing the change on its Singapore page.

Neither phone is built for demanding games or heavy multitasking; both have 4GB of RAM on the 64GB versions listed here. For WhatsApp, calls, maps, YouTube, a banking app and a browser, both are adequate. The 720 x 1600 resolution on a 6.7-inch panel is less crisp than the FHD+ screens on phones such as the Galaxy A16, which matters more if you read a lot on the phone than if you mainly make calls.

How long will each phone get updates from October 2026?

Plan on 22.9 months for the Galaxy A06 (4G) and 28.8 months for the Galaxy A06 5G, counted from 5 October 2026 to the end of August 2028 and February 2029. Samsung promises four years of security updates for both, counted from launches in August 2024 and February 2025. The A06 5G also gets four Android upgrades against the A06's two, and Samsung Singapore lists a later end date of 31 March 2030.

The two A06 5G dates don't line up: four years from a February 2025 launch is about February 2029, yet Samsung Singapore's spec says 31 March 2030. We base our advice on the earlier date. For the A06 (4G), Samsung's Levant page gives no end date at all, so August 2028 is our calculation from the launch month.

The A06's two Android upgrades take it from Android 14 to Android 16 and no further, while the A06 5G starts on Android 15 and is promised four more versions. Because these are not Samsung UK-range models, the dates above come from Samsung's regional websites, not samsung.com/uk.

How much storage does a basic phone really need?

For calls, messages, a handful of apps and a moderate photo habit, 64GB plus a memory card is workable. If you keep years of photos and WhatsApp videos on the phone, never delete anything, or want to avoid managing a card, the 128GB Galaxy A06 (4G) is the safer choice, and it's the only 128GB option across these two listings.

Samsung UK's own storage guide gives rough sizes: about 5MB for an average photo, 40MB to 1GB for an app, and about 100MB for each minute of Full HD video. As estimates, 1,000 photos take about 5GB, ten minutes of Full HD video about 1GB, and 30 apps anywhere from 1.2GB to 30GB depending on which ones. Samsung also says 64GB is enough for most casual users.

The advertised 64GB isn't all free space: Android, Samsung's software and future updates take a share before you install anything. The quickest way to size your next phone is to check your current one. Open its storage page in settings and note how much is used. If you're already using more than about half of 64GB, a 64GB phone will feel tight within a year or two, and the £8 step to 128GB is worth paying.

Media usually fills a phone faster than apps: chat apps that save every group photo and video, video recording, and downloaded music. Those are exactly the files a microSD card can hold. Apps install to internal storage, so a card helps with media rather than with installing more apps.

The memory card catch: two SIMs or one

Samsung's specification for the Galaxy A06 5G lists a hybrid slot, so a microSD card uses the space of the second SIM. That's fine if you use one SIM. If you run a personal and a work number, you'd have to choose between the second SIM and the card. Samsung's Levant specification for the Galaxy A06 (4G) lists a dedicated slot for two SIMs plus a card, but The Tech Gadgets' listing describes the slot as “nano-SIM + nano-SIM (or microSD)”. If you need both SIMs and a card at once, confirm the tray layout with the team before ordering.

Both phones can take a large card: up to 1TB on the A06 and 1.5TB on the A06 5G, per Samsung. A card is an extra purchase, so price one before deciding whether the A06 5G plus a card beats the A06 128GB on its own.

Battery, cameras and build: closer than the names suggest

Both phones have a 5,000mAh battery (typical), 25W wired charging and no wireless charging. Samsung doesn't publish battery-life figures for either in the sources we checked, so we won't claim one lasts longer. Samsung's sources say the A06's charger is sold separately, and both listings describe the box contents only as the manufacturer's standard contents, so expect to use a USB-C charger you already own and check the box when it arrives.

The cameras are identical on paper: a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with a 2MP depth sensor, and an 8MP selfie camera. Neither has an ultra-wide lens for group shots or landscapes, so the camera is not a reason to pick one over the other. Size is practically identical too, at 167.3 x 77.3 x 8.0mm, with a side fingerprint sensor and a 3.5mm headphone jack on both, which is handy for wired earphones.

The one build difference is protection. Samsung rates the A06 5G at IP54, meaning it is protected against dust and splashing water, not submersion; it states no rating for the A06 (4G) and describes the 5G model's rating as an upgrade. On a sealed new phone the rating describes the design, but it isn't a licence to get the phone wet, and liquid damage is excluded from the warranty either way.

Why Samsung UK doesn't list either phone

The Galaxy A06 and Galaxy A06 5G are brand new and sealed, sold unlocked for UK networks by The Tech Gadgets. Samsung doesn't list either model on its UK website, and neither appears in Samsung UK's current Galaxy A range or UK newsroom. Samsung launched the A06 in markets such as Vietnam, South Africa and the Gulf, and the A06 5G in India, Singapore and South-East Asia. The units The Tech Gadgets sells are international stock, not UK stock.

In practice that affects three things. First, warranty: rely on the 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets that the product page and returns policy list, not on Samsung UK's manufacturer warranty or service. Second, calling features: UK 3G has been switched off, so voice calls normally use 4G Calling (VoLTE), and support for VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling on phones built for other markets can vary by network. If you rely on either on a specific network, ask The Tech Gadgets team before ordering. Third, the model code and box printing may differ from UK units: the listings don't state the code, so check it under Settings, then About phone, when the phone arrives.

Both phones are SIM-free and unlocked, so any UK SIM goes in. Our guide to what unlocked and SIM-free mean on UK networks explains the basics, including checking 5G on your plan.

Who should skip both, and what to buy instead

Skip both if you want contactless payments (NFC isn't listed on Samsung's specs for either), take a lot of photos (no ultra-wide, HD+ screen), play demanding games, or want security updates well beyond 2029. The figures below compare each alternative with the A06 5G at £120.99 or the A06 at £115.99 (all prices checked 5 October 2026).

• Galaxy A07 (4G), Brand New 64GB, £128.99: £128.99 − £120.99 = £8.00 more than the A06 5G, but 4G only. It keeps the A06 5G's 90Hz screen, IP54 rating and 5,000mAh battery, swaps the Dimensity 6300 for a Helio G99, and is slimmer and lighter (7.6mm and 184g against 8.0mm and 191g). The real gain is support: six Android upgrades and security updates to 31 August 2031 on Samsung Singapore's page, 58.8 months from 5 October 2026. That's £2.19 a month (£128.99 ÷ 58.8) against £4.20 for the A06 5G. It's also not a Samsung UK-range model, so the same calling and warranty notes apply. See the brand-new Galaxy A07.
• Galaxy A07 5G, Brand New 64GB, £133.99: £133.99 − £120.99 = £13.00 more than the A06 5G. It keeps 5G and adds a 120Hz screen, a 6,000mAh battery, six Android upgrades and updates to 31 January 2032 (63.9 months). Same non-UK-range caveat.
• Galaxy A16 5G, Refurbished Very Good 128GB, £128.99: £128.99 − £120.99 = £8.00 more than the A06 5G, for double the storage, a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screen, a 5MP ultra-wide camera, a 13MP selfie camera, NFC and updates to 31 October 2030 (48.9 months). It's a model Samsung sold in the UK, but the refurbished units are international stock, so the same calling and warranty notes apply. The trade-offs: it's pre-owned with visible marks on a Very Good body, battery health is at least 85% at dispatch rather than new, there's no headphone jack and no plug in the box. The refurbished Galaxy A16 5G listing shows every grade.
• Galaxy A16 4G, Refurbished Very Good 128GB, £100.99: £115.99 − £100.99 = £15.00 less than the 64GB A06, with an AMOLED screen, NFC, an ultra-wide camera and support to about October 2030 (Samsung UK's page says 31 August 2031). For a buyer who doesn't insist on sealed new, it undercuts both A06 models.

Spending more is justified when the phone will be someone's main handset for three years or more: the A07 family and the A16 5G cost £8 to £13 more than the A06 5G and add between 20.1 months (A16 5G) and 35.1 months (A07 5G) of remaining support. It isn't justified for a drawer back-up or a phone that will be replaced within two years. For the wider picture on new budget A-series versus refurbished Galaxy S flagships, see our cheap Samsung guide.

What to check when your Galaxy A06 arrives

Look for an intact seal on the retail box before opening it, and check the contents against what you expected. Once it's on, confirm the model and code under Settings, then About phone, and run any pending software update. Put your SIM in and make a test call, send a text and check mobile data, ideally in a spot where you'd normally use the phone. If you plan to use a memory card, fit it and confirm both SIMs still show if you rely on two.

Do these checks promptly. The 30-day change-of-mind return applies only if the phone is unused and complete, and a phone you've set up is no longer unused. Your 14-day right to cancel still lets you open the box to inspect it, though the refund can be reduced if it has been handled more than needed to check it.

Buying the A06 or A06 5G from The Tech Gadgets

The product page and returns policy list a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets, starting on delivery and covering faults that develop in normal use (not accidental or liquid damage). The warranty policy lists battery defects and reduced capacity as exclusions; a faulty battery within 30 days is still covered by your Consumer Rights Act right to reject. Change-of-mind returns run for 30 days if the phone is unused and complete (you pay return postage), alongside your 14-day right to cancel. The returns policy sets out how to start a return or claim.

Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester; that's dispatch, not delivery. Standard delivery then takes 1–3 working days and is free on orders of £50 or more, which covers both phones, or Special Delivery for the next working day is £9.99. The delivery and dispatch details cover bank holidays and late parcels.

Galaxy A06 vs A06 5G: buyer questions

Does the Samsung Galaxy A06 have 5G?

No. The Galaxy A06 is a 4G LTE phone. The Galaxy A06 5G is a separate model, launched about six months later, with a different processor (MediaTek Dimensity 6300 instead of the Helio G85), a 90Hz screen instead of 60Hz, and an IP54 rating. A software update or a different SIM can't add 5G to the 4G model, so if you want 5G now or later, buy the A06 5G.

How much is the Galaxy A06 at The Tech Gadgets?

On 5 October 2026 the brand-new Galaxy A06 (4G) was listed from £115.99 for 64GB and £123.99 for 128GB, in Black or Gold. The Galaxy A06 5G was £120.99 for 64GB in Black. Standard delivery is free because both are over £50. Prices can change, so check the product page for the current figure before you order.

Can I use two SIMs and a memory card at the same time?

On the Galaxy A06 5G, no: Samsung lists a hybrid slot, so the microSD card takes the place of the second SIM. On the Galaxy A06 (4G), Samsung's specification lists a dedicated card slot alongside two SIMs, but The Tech Gadgets' listing describes a shared slot. If two numbers plus a card is a must, ask the team to confirm the tray layout before you buy. Neither phone supports eSIM.

Do the A06 and A06 5G support contactless payments?

NFC, which tap-to-pay needs, isn't listed on Samsung's specifications for either phone, and secondary spec databases say neither has it. Don't buy either expecting to pay with your phone at a till. If that matters, the refurbished Galaxy A16 4G and A16 5G list NFC on Samsung UK's specifications and cost from £100.99 and £128.99 respectively in Very Good condition.

Is a charger included in the box?

Samsung's sources for the Galaxy A06 say its 25W charger is sold separately, and The Tech Gadgets' listings describe the contents only as the manufacturer's standard contents for both phones. Plan on using a USB-C charger you already have. If you don't own one, budget for it, and check what's in the box when the phone arrives.

Is the Galaxy A06 5G waterproof?

No phone in this price range is waterproof. Samsung rates the A06 5G at IP54, which means protection against dust and splashes, such as rain on the screen, but not submersion. The Galaxy A06 (4G) has no stated rating. Liquid damage is excluded from the 12-month warranty on both, so keep either phone away from baths, pools and sinks.

Which is better for an older relative?

Both suit someone who mostly calls, messages and video-chats: the 6.7-inch screens are large, the batteries are 5,000mAh and both keep a headphone jack. We'd lean to the A06 5G for its smoother screen and longer support, unless your relative's network relies on Wi-Fi Calling indoors, in which case check compatibility with the team first. If they want contactless payments, choose a Galaxy A16 instead.

What happens when Samsung's security updates stop?

The phone keeps working and your apps don't disappear, but Samsung stops sending security patches. That leaves newly found vulnerabilities unfixed, which matters most on a main phone used for banking and email. For the A06 (4G) that point is around August 2028, and for the A06 5G around February 2029 on the conservative count. A back-up phone can sensibly be used for longer than a main one.

Verdict: buy the Galaxy A06 5G unless storage comes first

The Galaxy A06 5G is the better buy for most people. For £5.00 more than the 64GB Galaxy A06 (£120.99 − £115.99), it brings 5G, a higher-clocked processor, a 90Hz screen, IP54 protection, two extra Android upgrades and 5.9 more months of security support, and it works out cheaper per month of support (£4.20 against £5.07). Choose the Galaxy A06 (4G) 128GB at £123.99 if you store lots of media on the phone and don't want a memory card, or if you need two SIMs plus a card (once the team confirms the tray layout). Choose the 64GB A06 at £115.99 only for a back-up or very light-use phone.

Look elsewhere if the phone must last beyond 2029, take good photos or pay at the till. For £8 more than the A06 5G, a brand-new Galaxy A07 adds 30.0 months of remaining support if you can live without 5G, and a refurbished Galaxy A16 5G adds 20.1 months while keeping 5G and bringing NFC and a sharper AMOLED screen. You can compare all of them among the Samsung Galaxy phones in stock.