Blackview A50 vs. Apple iPhone 11: A Clash of Titans (and Budgets)

The smartphone market offers a dizzying array of choices, from ultra-premium flagships to budget-friendly options. Today, we're pitting two very different devices against each other: the Blackview A50, a budget contender, and the Apple iPhone 11, a proven powerhouse. Can the A50 even compete?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 11 unequivocally wins in almost every category – performance, camera quality, and overall user experience. However, the Blackview A50 offers incredible value for its price, making it a viable option for users on a tight budget who prioritize affordability over premium features.

PHONES
Phone Names Blackview A50 Apple iPhone 11
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223
Launch
Announced2022, March 042019, September 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, MarchAvailable. Released 2019, September 20
Body
Build-Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)
Dimensions156.4 x 72.9 x 8.9 mm (6.16 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight156 g (5.50 oz)194 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~286 ppi density)828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.01 inches, 88.7 cm2 (~77.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDLiquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUQuad-core (1x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 3x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
ChipsetUnisoc Tiger T310 (12 nm)Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPUPowerVR GE8300Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal64GB 3GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 eMMCNVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"
FeaturesLED flashDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)-
Triple13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF other unspecified cameras-
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
VideoYes4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/acWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximityFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Type4280 mAhLi-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, Blue, GradientBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White
Models-A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1
PriceAbout 120 EUR$ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM-$ 359.95
256GB 4GB RAM-$ 469.99
64GB 4GB RAM-$ 292.79
RENEWED-£ 214.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Blackview A50

  • Extremely affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Lightweight design

  • Weak performance
  • Basic camera
  • Low-resolution display
  • Limited software support

Apple iPhone 11

  • Powerful performance (A13 Bionic)
  • Excellent camera system
  • High-quality display
  • Long-term software support
  • Fast charging (PD2.0)

  • High price
  • Older model (though still relevant)
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 11 boasts a significantly superior display with a higher brightness (644 nits vs. likely lower on the A50) and excellent color accuracy. While the A50's display is functional, it lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the iPhone 11's Retina display. The contrast ratio of 1505:1 on the iPhone 11 is also a major advantage.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 11's camera system is a standout feature, offering excellent image quality, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. The A50's camera is adequate for casual snapshots, but lacks the detail, color accuracy, and low-light performance of the iPhone 11.

Performance

The A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 is in a different league compared to the Unisoc Tiger T310 in the A50. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the iPhone 11. The A50 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with an endurance rating of 94 hours. However, the iPhone 11 benefits from faster charging speeds with PD2.0 support, allowing for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Blackview A50? Users seeking a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light social media use, with a very limited budget. Who should buy the Apple iPhone 11? Anyone wanting a reliable, powerful smartphone with a great camera, long-term software support, and a premium user experience, and is willing to pay a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Blackview A50 good for gaming?
The Blackview A50's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and potential lag.
❓ How long will the iPhone 11 receive software updates?
Apple typically provides software updates for its iPhones for 5-7 years. The iPhone 11 is expected to receive updates for several more years.
❓ Can the Blackview A50 expand its storage?
The Blackview A50 may support microSD card expansion, but this information is not explicitly stated in the provided specs. The iPhone 11 does not offer expandable storage.