The Honor 8A Prime and Samsung Galaxy A02 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. The Honor 8A Prime prioritizes processing power with a more modern chipset, while the Galaxy A02 offers a range of storage/RAM configurations and the Samsung brand recognition. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and multitasking, the Honor 8A Prime is the better choice. Its Mediatek Helio P35 chipset, with its octa-core configuration, significantly outperforms the quad-core MT6739W in the Galaxy A02. While the A02 offers more storage options, the performance deficit is too significant to ignore for most users.
| 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 | 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, March 30. Released 2020, March 30 | 2021, January 27 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 27 |
| 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 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) | 206 g (7.27 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| 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 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6739W (28 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8100 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, One UI Core 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 5 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 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, proximity | Accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 3020 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green | Black, Blue |
| Models | JAT-LX1 | SM-A022F, SM-A022F/DS, SM-A022M, SM-A022M/DS, SM-A022G, SM-A022G/DS |
| Price | About 110 EUR | € 97.46 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.65 W/kg (head) 1.71 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 32GB 2GB RAM | - | $ 149.99 |
| 32GB 3GB RAM | - | $ 129.99 |
| 64GB 3GB RAM | - | $ 199.99 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 113.00 |
Honor 8A Prime
- Significantly faster processor (Helio P35)
- More efficient 12nm manufacturing process
- Octa-core CPU for better multitasking
- Limited storage options (likely 32GB)
- Camera performance likely similar to A02
Samsung Galaxy A02
- Multiple storage/RAM configurations available
- Samsung brand recognition
- Potentially more polished software experience
- Significantly slower processor (MT6739W)
- Less efficient 28nm manufacturing process
- Quad-core CPU struggles with multitasking
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both are likely to feature LCD panels, typical for this price point. However, detailed display specs like resolution and brightness are missing. The focus here is on internal components, as display quality is unlikely to be a major differentiator. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both, maximizing screen real estate within a budget.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar, with both phones relying on basic sensors. Details on sensor size and aperture are unavailable, but given the price point, expectations should be tempered. The Galaxy A02’s available configurations include options with more storage, potentially allowing for more photos and videos to be stored, but this doesn’t equate to better image quality. The 2MP macro lens often found in this segment is unlikely to provide significant benefit on either device. Image processing will likely be the key differentiator, and Samsung’s software is generally more polished, but the underlying hardware limitations will be apparent.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor 8A Prime’s Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm) is a clear upgrade over the Samsung Galaxy A02’s Mediatek MT6739W (28nm). The P35’s octa-core CPU, split between four Cortex-A53 cores at 2.3 GHz and four at 1.8 GHz, provides significantly more processing power than the A02’s quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 setup. The 12nm manufacturing process of the P35 also contributes to better power efficiency. This translates to smoother app launches, faster web browsing, and a more enjoyable overall user experience on the Honor 8A Prime. The A02 will struggle with multitasking and more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for either device. However, the more efficient 12nm process of the Helio P35 in the Honor 8A Prime suggests it will offer comparable or potentially better battery life than the Galaxy A02, despite potentially having a similar capacity. Charging wattage is also unknown, but both are likely to utilize slow charging speeds, meaning a full charge will take several hours.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 8A Prime if you need a phone that feels responsive for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming. Its more powerful processor will handle multiple apps and demanding websites with greater ease. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A02 if you absolutely require more than 32GB of internal storage and prefer the Samsung ecosystem, understanding that you'll be sacrificing performance for that extra space. The A02 is best suited for users with very basic smartphone needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Samsung Galaxy A02 struggle with popular apps like Facebook or WhatsApp?
Yes, the Galaxy A02's MT6739W chipset is relatively weak. While it can run these apps, you may experience noticeable lag when switching between them or loading content. The Honor 8A Prime's Helio P35 will provide a much smoother experience with these and other commonly used applications.
❓ Is the extra storage on the higher-end Galaxy A02 models worth the price increase if I primarily use cloud storage?
Not necessarily. If you rely heavily on cloud storage for photos, videos, and files, the performance benefits of the Honor 8A Prime are more valuable than the extra internal storage offered by the more expensive Galaxy A02 models. The performance difference will be far more noticeable in daily use.
❓ Can either of these phones handle basic mobile games like Candy Crush or Angry Birds?
Both phones can handle simple, less demanding games like Candy Crush or Angry Birds. However, the Honor 8A Prime will provide a smoother and more consistent frame rate due to its more powerful processor. The Galaxy A02 may experience occasional stuttering or slowdowns, especially during more visually intensive moments.
