When it comes to outfitting your workforce with mobile devices, it’s tempting to look at the latest flagship smartphones with the fastest processors, sharpest screens, and maximum storage. But inevitably, cost becomes a factor. IT decision makers have to consider which options are most affordable while meeting employees’ needs.
Today’s midrange smartphones, like Samsung’s Galaxy A Series, offer great performance, a long-lasting battery, and bright, high-resolution screens. So your team can do everything from keeping up with nonstop communications and accessing business apps to scanning barcodes and capturing crisp photos on the go — all without needing a charge mid-shift.
But how do you know which affordable smartphone is best for you and your business? As you search for the right fit, look out for these five must-have features that will have the greatest impact on your team’s productivity, while staying within budget.
1. Speed and storage capacity
Processing speed can make the difference between a happy employee and a frustrated one. With today’s midrange business smartphones, you don’t have to sacrifice speed for price. But you will need a smartphone that has the processing power to run all your business-critical apps. With enough RAM, your employees’ mobile devices can allow them to multitask more efficiently on the go. As a starting point, 3GB RAM is often enough to get the job done when people are primarily using just one or two apps. But for smoother multitasking, look for 4GB onboard RAM or more.
You should also consider your devices’ storage capacity. When an employee needs to capture a photo or download a file before a client meeting, they shouldn’t have to worry that their phone’s internal storage is full. Repeatedly clearing storage space saps time and productivity. Avoid this sacrifice by giving your team members the tools they need to get the job done without a hitch.
If you think you might need more storage in the future, make sure your smartphone has expandable storage with a microSD card.
Samsung’s Galaxy A14 5G and A23 5G, for example, include 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Then there’s Galaxy A54 5G, which boasts 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Galaxy A14 5G, A23 5G, and A54 5G all support expandable storage via a microSD card slot.
2. An expansive display
If your team reviews technical documents or inputs data on their smartphone, they need a screen that’s large enough to clearly show those details without having to squint or hold the device 3 inches from their face. With a larger display, your team can work more comfortably, input data faster and even show information on the screen to clients. If you need to view content outdoors, the bright display of Galaxy A54 5G is easy on the eyes while it brilliantly showcases everything you need to see.
You used to have to spend significantly more to get a phone with a display larger than 6 inches, but today there are many mid-tier options that offer plenty of screen real estate.
Samsung’s Galaxy A14 5G, for example, gives workers a large, 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display — providing a clear, edge-to-edge view of all their work. With an even more vibrant screen, Galaxy A23 5G offers an edge-to-edge 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, perfect for viewing business apps and documents. Then there’s Galaxy A54 5G’s 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, which features a switchable refresh rate — also up to 120Hz — giving you smooth-flowing motion as you scroll and view graphics.
3. A versatile camera
Many enterprise teams rely on smartphones to quickly capture and share images and video, and this is much more effective with a versatile multi-lens camera system. With an ultra-wide lens, for instance, your team can capture meeting notes or project areas in their entirety and share snapshots with their colleagues before the meeting is even over.
With crisper photos and videos, remote colleagues can see a more detailed view of everything they’re collaborating on, whether it’s a project site or an event space. Greater visibility will help your team coordinate complex tasks from a distance, so business keeps running smoothly regardless of where everyone’s working from. A versatile camera can also help create imagery for use in social media.
Galaxy A23 5G and Galaxy A54 5G are standouts in this respect in that both feature a four-lens rear camera system. Galaxy A23 5G includes a 50MP main lens, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP depth lens and 13MP front lens. This means you can capture stunning images and also scan barcodes and documents.
On Galaxy A54 5G, a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization is complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP depth and 22MP front. When you need to jump on a video call, Galaxy A54’s 32MP selfie camera has you looking sharp. It’s also perfect for business owners or team members who create content for social media and more — crisp, professional images are only a click away.
4. Built-in security
Every business depends on reliable data security. You’ll want to choose a device with built-in mobile security you can trust.
Whatever smartphone you choose, it should fully integrate with a robust mobile device management (MDM) solution so your IT team can easily configure your devices, access mobile security controls, apply device security policies and update software across your fleet. A defense-grade security platform like Samsung Knox — which is built into Samsung devices from the chip up — will keep your critical data protected as your business continues to grow.
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Biometric authentication is another key security feature to consider. With the fingerprint scanners on Galaxy A14 5G, A23 5G, and A54 5G, unlocking your device is extra secure and easy. On Galaxy A14 5G and A23 5G, the fingerprint sensor is incorporated into the power key on the right side of the device, while Galaxy A54 5G utilizes Samsung’s embedded optical fingerprint-on-display technology for a convenient unlock with your thumb as you hold the device. You don’t have to sacrifice convenience and productivity for security. What’s more, you don’t have to stretch your budget to protect your business.
5. Maximum mobility with 5G
Your business needs to stay connected even when team members are working remotely. All A Series devices mentioned feature core connectivity essentials, including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual bands (2.4GHz + 5GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as support for 4G LTE.
Samsung has been a leader in introducing high-speed, low-latency 5G capability to its midrange lineup. As their names suggest, Galaxy A14 5G, A23 5G, and A54 5G all feature high-speed 5G cellular modems. For businesses wanting to take advantage of Verizon’s mmWave network, the A54 5G UW also supports that high-end spectrum.
With the A Series’ robust performance and lightning-fast 5G on some models, you have the freedom to explore unlimited professional possibilities. Access your work in the cloud and stream video from your office or on the go.
If you don’t need a cellular connection, you can opt to go unlocked, allowing your employees’ smartphones to only connect over Wi-Fi rather than cellular data. This can bring significant cost savings, while still letting you take full advantage of your mobile apps and workflows. All of these options can help you lower your total cost of ownership (TCO) while avoiding vendor lock-in, so you can enjoy maximum budget flexibility.
With so many affordable business smartphones to choose from, it can be tricky to figure out which one best suits your needs. By focusing on speed, storage, display size, camera quality, security and flexibility, you can quickly filter out which smartphones won’t fit the bill. Once you’ve picked the right midrange smartphone for your fleet, you can be confident you’ve made a smart technology investment for your business.
Choosing a new business smartphone is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a huge investment. See whether Galaxy A Series smartphones could help you get it all done, at no extra cost. And if you’re looking to outfit a small to medium-sized business, get expert advice on planning your smartphone deployment with this free guide.
