The Honor 8A 2020 and Samsung Galaxy A02s represent the extreme end of the smartphone price spectrum. Both aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at a minimal cost, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offers the best value for users prioritizing affordability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy A02s is the slightly better choice. While the Honor 8A 2020 boasts a marginally faster CPU clock speed, the A02s compensates with 15W fast charging and a measured display brightness of 406 nits, offering a more complete user experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 10. Released 2020, April 15 | 2020, November 24. Released 2021, January 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 156.3 x 73.5 x 8.2 mm (6.15 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 150 g (5.29 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.09 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~79.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 506 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | 3.15 MP |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 530 h (2G) / Up to 530 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 6 h 12 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 18 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 3020 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, White, Red, Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A025F, SM-A025F/DS, SM-A025G, SM-A025G/DS, SM-A025M, SM-A025M/DS, SM-A025U, SM-A025V, SM-A025A, SM-A025U1, SM-A025AZ, SM-S124DL |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.40 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -81.4dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 114h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1765:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.8 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 90811 (v8)
GeekBench: 495 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 8A 2020
- Slightly faster CPU clock speed for basic tasks
- Potentially lower price point (depending on retailer)
- Honor's EMUI software offers customization options
- Likely slower charging speeds
- Potentially lower display brightness
- Less efficient chipset manufacturing process
Samsung Galaxy A02s
- 15W fast charging for quicker top-ups
- Brighter display for better visibility
- More efficient chipset manufacturing process
- Slightly slower CPU clock speed
- Samsung's One UI can be resource-intensive
- Potentially higher price point
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A02s features a display with a measured peak brightness of 406 nits and a 1765:1 contrast ratio, providing a more vibrant and visible viewing experience, especially outdoors. While the Honor 8A 2020’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it falls behind in brightness given the A02s’s measured output. The A02s’s contrast ratio, though nominal, suggests a decent level of black reproduction. This makes the A02s the better choice for media consumption and general usability in varying lighting conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing. Given the price point, it’s safe to assume both cameras will struggle in low-light conditions. Without further information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A02s is unlikely to significantly improve image quality, and should be considered a marketing feature rather than a substantial upgrade.
Performance
The Honor 8A 2020 utilizes the Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35, an octa-core processor with a split core configuration of 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53. The Samsung Galaxy A02s is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, an octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 processor. While the Honor 8A 2020’s CPU has a higher peak clock speed, the Snapdragon 450’s 14nm process node is more efficient than the Helio P35’s 12nm node. This means the Snapdragon 450 is likely to offer better sustained performance under load and potentially better thermal management. However, the difference in real-world performance will be minimal for everyday tasks.
Battery Life
Both the Honor 8A 2020 and Samsung Galaxy A02s achieve an endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the Samsung Galaxy A02s supports 15W wired charging, a significant advantage over the Honor 8A 2020, which likely supports a slower charging standard. This faster charging capability translates to less downtime and a more convenient user experience, making the A02s more practical for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 8A 2020 if you prioritize raw CPU performance for basic multitasking and light app usage, and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A02s if you value a brighter, more visible display, faster charging, and the Samsung brand ecosystem, even if it means a slight trade-off in peak CPU performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 450 in the Galaxy A02s struggle with multitasking compared to the Helio P35 in the Honor 8A 2020?
While the Honor 8A 2020 has a slightly higher CPU clock speed, the Snapdragon 450’s more efficient architecture and potentially better RAM management should provide a comparable multitasking experience for typical usage scenarios. Both phones are designed for basic tasks, and neither will excel at demanding applications.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy A02s with the 15W charger?
While a precise 0-100% charging time isn't available, 15W charging on the Galaxy A02s will likely take around 2-3 hours, significantly faster than the Honor 8A 2020 which likely supports a slower charging standard. This is a key advantage for users who need to quickly replenish their battery.
❓ Is the camera on either of these phones good enough for social media photos?
Both phones will be capable of taking acceptable photos for social media in good lighting conditions. However, expect limited detail and significant noise in low-light environments. Don't expect flagship-level image quality.
