The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Honor X5 and the Samsung Galaxy A04. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A04 edges out the Honor X5 thanks to its slightly faster processor and potentially better software support. While both are budget options, the A04 offers a marginally smoother experience, making it the slightly better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, January 24 | 2022, August 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, February 14 | Available. Released 2022, October 10 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 164.4 x 76.3 x 9.1 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio G25 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 12 (Go edition) | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/5", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Yes |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sunrise Orange, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black | Black, Green, White, Copper |
| Models | VNA-LX2, VNA-LX3 | SM-A045F, SM-A045F/DS, SM-A045M |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 70 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) |
Honor X5
- Large Display
- Potentially longer software support (region dependent)
- Competitive Price
- Slightly slower processor
- Basic camera performance
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy A04
- Slightly faster processor
- Samsung Brand Reliability
- Potentially better display quality
- Basic camera performance
- Slow charging
- Plastic build quality
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large 6.5-inch displays, likely with HD+ resolution. The Samsung Galaxy A04 might offer slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles due to Samsung's display technology, but the difference will be subtle at this price point. Expect similar brightness levels.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs are likely similar, with both phones featuring a primary camera around 13MP or higher, accompanied by depth and macro lenses. Image quality will depend heavily on software processing. Samsung's image processing is generally considered slightly better, but both will struggle in low light.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A04's Helio P35 chipset holds a slight advantage over the Honor X5's Helio G25. The P35's higher clock speeds on its performance cores should translate to slightly snappier app loading and multitasking. However, both phones will struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
Both phones are expected to have large 5000mAh batteries, offering all-day battery life for moderate users. Charging speeds are likely to be slow, around 10W or less, on both devices.
Buying Guide
The Honor X5 is a good option for users prioritizing a large display and potentially longer software support (depending on Honor's commitment). The Samsung Galaxy A04 is ideal for those seeking a bit more performance and the reliability of the Samsung brand, even in the budget segment.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A04 has a slight edge due to its slightly faster processor, but neither phone is ideal for demanding games. Both will struggle with high graphics settings.
❓ How long does the battery last on each phone?
Both phones offer all-day battery life with moderate usage thanks to their 5000mAh batteries. Expect around 8-10 hours of screen-on time.