Looking for a fantastic smartphone without breaking the bank? The Blackview A90 and Samsung Galaxy A50 are both contenders in the budget arena, offering compelling features at attractive price points. But which one truly delivers the best experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A50 wins overall, offering a superior display, more established brand reputation, and slightly better performance. However, the Blackview A90 presents a strong value proposition for those prioritizing affordability and a large screen, though it lacks the polish of Samsung.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A505U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 04 | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, March 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 166.3 x 77.6 x 8.8 mm (6.55 x 3.06 x 0.35 in) | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 166 g (5.86 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~77.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm) | Exynos 9610 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF
other unspecified cameras | 25 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 25 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 4280 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Orange, Purple | Black, White, Blue, Coral |
| Models | - | SM-A505F, SM-A505FN, SM-A505GN, SM-A505G, SM-A505FM, SM-A505YN, SM-A505W, SM-A505X, SM-A505U, SM-A505GT, SM-A505U1, SM-A505G, SM-A505N, SM-S506DL |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.31 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.27 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 279.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 171.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 98h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 82dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 144574 (v7)
GeekBench: 5396 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Blackview A90
- Affordable price
- Large display
- Decent battery life
- Less powerful chipset
- Lower display quality
- Less refined software
- Charging speed is slow
Samsung Galaxy A50
- Brighter and better display
- More powerful chipset
- Reputable brand
- Faster charging
- Better camera performance (expected)
- Higher price
- Can be slightly bulky
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A50 boasts a significantly brighter display (551 nits) compared to the Blackview A90, offering better visibility in sunlight. While the A50's contrast ratio is nominally infinite, the actual visual experience is noticeably richer and more vibrant. The A90's display is adequate but lacks the same level of quality.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo/Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A50 is expected to have a more refined camera system with better image processing and potentially more features. Blackview phones often prioritize hardware specs over software optimization, so the A50 likely delivers superior image quality and more consistent results.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A50's Exynos 9610 chipset, built on a 10nm process, generally outperforms the Blackview A90's MT6771 Helio P60 (12nm). While both have octa-core CPUs, the A50's slightly faster cores and more efficient manufacturing process translate to smoother multitasking and app loading. Gaming performance will also be better on the A50.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive battery life, with the Galaxy A50 achieving an endurance rating of 98h. The Blackview A90's battery capacity is likely comparable, suggesting similar real-world usage times. However, the A50's more efficient chipset may contribute to slightly better longevity.
Buying Guide
The Blackview A90 is ideal for budget-conscious users who want a large display and don't mind a less refined software experience. The Samsung Galaxy A50 is a better choice for those who value a reliable brand, a vibrant display, and a more polished user experience, even at a slightly higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Blackview A90 a good phone for gaming?
While the Blackview A90 can handle some casual games, its chipset isn't ideal for demanding titles. The Samsung Galaxy A50 offers a better gaming experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung is known for providing more consistent software updates and longer support periods compared to Blackview.
❓ What is the difference in price between the two phones?
The Samsung Galaxy A50 typically costs between $171.00 and $279.99, while the Blackview A90 is generally more affordable, often found for under $200.
