The Blackview A52 and Ulefone Note 8P represent the ultra-budget end of the Android spectrum. Both aim to deliver smartphone functionality at the lowest possible price, but they take different approaches to achieving this. The key differentiator lies in their chipsets: the Unisoc SC9863A1 in the A52 versus the older Mediatek MT6737 in the Note 8P. This comparison will dissect these differences to determine which phone offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and future-proofing, the Blackview A52 is the better choice. Its Unisoc SC9863A1, built on a more modern 22nm process, offers a significant architectural advantage over the Ulefone Note 8P’s 28nm Mediatek MT6737, translating to smoother multitasking and a more fluid user experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, November 22 | 2020, June 08. Released 2020, June 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 25 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 62 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.44 x 0.36 in) | 141.7 x 66.5 x 12 mm (5.58 x 2.62 x 0.47 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 183.6 g (6.49 oz) | 153 g (5.40 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 442 x 960 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~192 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~100.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 74.1 cm2 (~78.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A1 (22 nm) | Mediatek MT6737 (28 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8322 | Mali-T720MP1 |
| OS | Android 12, Doke OS G0 3.0 | Android 10 (Go edition) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP
other unspecified camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, AF
2 MP |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Unspecified | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | 5180 mAh | Li-Ion 2700 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Polar Night, Vitality Green, Ice Blue | Black, Amber Sunrise, Midnight Green |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 70 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.11 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) |
Blackview A52
- More modern and efficient chipset (Unisoc SC9863A1)
- Octa-core CPU for better multitasking
- Potentially longer battery life due to 22nm process
- Brand recognition is lower than Ulefone
- Camera performance likely still limited by budget constraints
Ulefone Note 8P
- Potentially lower price point
- Established brand (Ulefone)
- Simple and straightforward user experience
- Outdated chipset (Mediatek MT6737)
- Quad-core CPU limits multitasking
- Less efficient 28nm process leads to shorter battery life
Display Comparison
Neither device is expected to boast a high-end display. Given the price point, both likely utilize IPS LCD panels. However, display specifications beyond panel type are unavailable. The focus here is on the chipset's ability to drive the display efficiently. The newer architecture of the SC9863A1 *may* translate to slightly better power management when rendering the UI, but this is speculative without further display details.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are limited. Both phones likely feature basic camera setups geared towards casual photography. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a meaningful comparison. However, the slightly better processing power of the SC9863A1 in the A52 *could* result in marginally faster image processing and slightly improved image quality, but this is heavily dependent on software optimization. Expect both phones to struggle in low-light conditions.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Blackview A52’s Unisoc SC9863A1 is an octa-core processor with a split core configuration (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55). This contrasts sharply with the Ulefone Note 8P’s Mediatek MT6737, a quad-core processor utilizing older Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.3 GHz. The Cortex-A55 cores in the A52 are more efficient and offer improved performance per clock cycle compared to the A53. Furthermore, the octa-core configuration allows for better multitasking. The 22nm fabrication process of the SC9863A1 is also more efficient than the MT6737’s 28nm process, leading to lower power consumption and potentially less thermal throttling. This means the A52 will likely handle sustained loads, like prolonged web browsing, more gracefully.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for either device. However, given the less efficient chipset in the Ulefone Note 8P, it will likely require more frequent charging compared to the Blackview A52. The 28nm process of the MT6737 consumes more power, even during idle states. While charging wattage is unknown, the A52’s more efficient chipset will translate to longer battery life in real-world usage, even with a similar battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Blackview A52 if you need a phone for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light app usage, and value a slightly more responsive experience. Buy the Ulefone Note 8P if your primary need is a very basic smartphone for calls and texts, and you are on an extremely tight budget where every dollar counts. The Note 8P represents a minimal viable product.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Ulefone Note 8P struggle with modern apps like Facebook or WhatsApp?
The Mediatek MT6737 is an older chipset and may exhibit noticeable lag when running resource-intensive apps like Facebook or WhatsApp, especially with multiple apps open simultaneously. The limited processing power and RAM (spec not provided, but likely minimal) will impact the overall user experience.
❓ Is the Blackview A52 suitable for playing mobile games?
The Blackview A52 is not a gaming phone. While it can handle very basic 2D games, demanding 3D titles will likely be unplayable or experience significant frame rate drops. The Unisoc SC9863A1 is not designed for gaming.
❓ How much storage does each phone offer, and is it expandable?
Storage capacity is not specified in the provided data. However, given the budget nature of these phones, expect limited internal storage (likely 16GB or 32GB). It's highly probable that both devices will support microSD card expansion, but this needs to be verified.
❓ What version of Android do these phones run?
The Android version is not specified. However, given the age of the Mediatek MT6737, the Ulefone Note 8P is likely running an older version of Android (potentially Android 8 or 9) with limited update support. The Blackview A52 may run a more recent version, but updates are still unlikely to be frequent.
