Samsung Galaxy F07 Review: I Gave My Mom This Rs 31,999 Phone – Here’s What Happened

Two weeks of real-world testing with someone who just wants a phone that works.

Why I Bought This Phone (And Why You Might Too)

My mom’s old phone died, and she needed something cheap. When I saw the Samsung Galaxy F07 for Rs 31,999 ($112), I thought “perfect budget option.”

Gave it to her two weeks ago. Been watching how she uses it. Here’s the brutally honest truth about this budget Samsung.

The Screen: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

The 6.7-inch display looked impressive when I unboxed it. Mom was excited about the size for reading WhatsApp messages.

Then reality hit.

That 720p resolution looks fuzzy once you notice it. Text isn’t sharp. Photos look okay but not great. The 90Hz refresh makes scrolling smoother than her old phone, so she’s happy enough.

Real situation: She watches Pakistani dramas on YouTube. Outdoor scenes look washed out, but she doesn’t complain. If you’re upgrading from a really old phone, you probably won’t care either.

Camera: Works in Daylight, Struggles Otherwise

The 50MP main camera takes decent photos when the sun’s out. Took some pictures at a family lunch, and they looked fine for WhatsApp and Facebook.

But here’s where it gets frustrating.

Indoor photos? Grainy mess. Evening pictures? Forget it. That 2MP depth sensor does basically nothing useful. Portrait mode blurs random stuff and keeps the wrong things sharp.

Mom’s experience: She takes photos of food to send to relatives. In good restaurant lighting, fine. At home with normal lights? She’s started turning on all the lights first.

The 8MP selfie camera is whatever. Video calls work. That’s about it.

Performance: Slow Down, Speedy

The Mediatek Helio G99 with 4GB RAM handles basic stuff. WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube – all fine.

But multitasking? Nope.

Mom had YouTube playing, got a WhatsApp video call, and the whole phone just… stuttered. Apps reload constantly because 4GB RAM in 2025 is tight.

Gaming? I tried PUBG Mobile for laughs. Low settings, still laggy. My nephew tried it once and went back to his own phone.

For someone who just browses and messages, it’s acceptable. Barely.

Battery: The Only Real Win Here

This 5000mAh battery is why the phone makes sense.

Mom charges it every other day. Sometimes stretches to three days with light use. Coming from a phone that died by lunch, she’s thrilled.

25W charging isn’t fast by flagship standards, but it’s decent. Full charge in about 90 minutes.

Build: Plastic and Proud of It

At 184g, it’s light. The Green color looks… interesting. Mom calls it “hospital green.”

Plastic back feels cheap but practical. She’s already dropped it twice (on carpet, thankfully). No damage. Won’t shatter like glass phones.

That 7.6mm thickness makes it feel fragile in hand though. Got her a case immediately.

The side fingerprint sensor works fine. Not fancy, but reliable.

Storage: Thank God for MicroSD

64GB storage filled up fast. WhatsApp media, photos, some apps – gone in a week.

Threw in a cheap 128GB microSD card. Problem solved. Without expandable storage, this phone would be unusable.

The Software Surprise

Android 15 with One UI 7 is the phone’s saving grace. Getting 6 years of updates on a Rs 31,999 phone? That’s actually impressive.

The interface is clean and easy for someone not tech-savvy. Mom figured it out in a day.

What Works (Barely)

• Battery lasts forever for light users
• Software updates for 6 years is generous
• MicroSD slot saves your life
• Has a headphone jack (she uses wired earbuds)
• Light enough to not tire your hand

What Doesn’t Work

• Screen resolution looks dated
• Camera is only okay in perfect light
• 4GB RAM struggles with multitasking
• Performance lags with any heavy use
• Feels cheap (because it is)

Who Should Actually Buy This?

Get It If:

• You need the cheapest Samsung possible
• It’s for parents/grandparents doing basics
• Battery life matters most
• You’re buying a backup/spare phone

Skip It If:

• You care about camera quality
• You use more than 3 apps at once
• You watch videos often
• You can save up 10k more for better options

My Brutally Honest Take: 5/10

The Galaxy F07 does the bare minimum at Rs 31,999. It’s not a bad phone – it’s just a very basic phone with Samsung’s name on it.

For my mom? Perfect. She texts, calls, watches occasional videos. Battery lasts forever. She’s happy.

For anyone under 40? You’ll hate it. The low resolution, weak performance, and mediocre camera will drive you crazy.

Real advice: If this is truly all you can afford, fine. It works. But if you can stretch your budget to Rs 40-45k, do it. You’ll thank yourself later.

The F07 isn’t aspirational. It’s not exciting. It’s cheap transportation from A to B. Nothing more.

Bottom line: Good enough for basic users. Frustrating for everyone else. The 6 years of updates are the only reason to consider it over cheaper Chinese alternatives.

If you’re buying this for yourself and you know how good phones can be, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. If you’re buying for someone who just needs calls, texts, and WhatsApp, it’ll work fine.

Using the F07? Got questions about specific day-to-day stuff? Ask – I’m watching my mom use this thing daily.