The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the BLU C5L Max and the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is the clear winner. While the BLU C5L Max offers a budget-friendly price, the A32 5G's superior chipset, 5G connectivity, better display, and more refined camera experience make it the smarter choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 28, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/75 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A326U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December. Released 2021, December | 2021, January 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.5 x 76.5 x 10.5 mm (6.28 x 3.01 x 0.41 in) | 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 174 g (6.14 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~188 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~68.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT LCD, 60Hz (International), 90Hz (SM-A326U, SM-326DL only) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9832 (28 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T820 MP1 | Mali-G57 MC3 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 5 MP | - |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 2000 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, Red, Green, Bronze | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, Awesome Violet |
| Models | - | SM-A326B, SM-A326B/DS, SM-A326BR/DS, SM-A326BR, SM-A326U, SM-A326W, SM-A326U1, SM-A326K, SCG08, SM-S326DL |
| Price | - | € 111.89 / $ 78.64 / £ 77.53 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.33 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 123h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1470:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.5 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 226561 (v8)
GeekBench: 1673 (v5.1) |
BLU C5L Max
- Extremely affordable
- Decent battery life
- Basic functionality
- Weak performance
- Low-resolution display
- Limited camera capabilities
- Outdated chipset
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
- 5G connectivity
- Powerful chipset
- Excellent display
- Good camera
- Reputable brand
- 15W charging is relatively slow
- Plastic build quality
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G boasts a significantly better display. Its 497 nits of brightness and 1470:1 contrast ratio offer vibrant colors and excellent visibility, even in sunlight. The BLU C5L Max likely has a lower resolution and less impressive color accuracy, resulting in a less enjoyable viewing experience. The A32 5G's display is a noticeable upgrade.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A32 5G's camera system is expected to be considerably better. Samsung's image processing is generally superior, and the A32 5G likely has better sensors and features. The BLU C5L Max's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots but won't compete with the A32 5G's image quality.
Performance
Performance is where the Galaxy A32 5G truly shines. The Mediatek Dimensity 720 chipset, built on a 7nm process, is far more powerful than the BLU C5L Max's Unisoc SC9832 (28nm). The A32 5G's octa-core CPU provides smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience. The C5L Max will likely struggle with demanding apps and games.
Battery Life
Both phones share an impressive endurance rating of 123h, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Galaxy A32 5G's more efficient chipset may contribute to slightly better real-world battery performance, especially under load.
Buying Guide
The BLU C5L Max is best suited for users on an extremely tight budget who primarily need a basic phone for calls, texts, and light app usage. The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is ideal for those seeking a more modern smartphone experience with 5G connectivity, a better display, and a more capable camera, without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BLU C5L Max worth buying?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and only need basic smartphone functionality. Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G offers significantly better value.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G support 5G?
Yes, as the name suggests, the Galaxy A32 5G supports 5G connectivity, offering faster download and upload speeds where available.
