The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Honor X7a and Samsung Galaxy A23 5G are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at an affordable price, but which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G takes the crown thanks to its superior chipset, 5G connectivity, and generally better overall performance. While the Honor X7a offers a decent experience, the A23 5G provides a more future-proof and smoother 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, January 04 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, January 06 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 167.5 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.59 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765H Helio G37 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS
5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA
8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired
5W reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5330 or 6000 mAh (market/region dependent) | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Silver, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | RKY-LX1, RKY-LX2, RKY-LX3 | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 120 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 138h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.9 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 318821 (v9)
GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor X7a
- Large Display
- Long Battery Life
- Affordable Price
- Reverse Wired Charging
- Weaker Processor
- No 5G
- Less Powerful Camera
- Potentially Lower Display Brightness
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- 5G Connectivity
- Faster Processor
- Better Camera
- Brighter Display
- Samsung Brand Reputation
- Slightly Higher Price
- Battery life may be slightly less than X7a in specific scenarios
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G boasts a brighter display (508 nits vs. likely lower on the X7a) and a slightly better contrast ratio, resulting in more vibrant colors and deeper blacks. While both offer a large screen, the A23 5G's display quality is noticeably superior. Both likely use IPS LCD panels.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A23 5G is expected to have a more versatile and higher-quality camera system. Samsung's image processing is generally considered better, and the A23 5G likely has a higher resolution main sensor. Details on the X7a's camera are scarce, suggesting a less impressive setup.
Performance
Here, the Galaxy A23 5G shines. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset (6nm) is significantly more powerful and efficient than the Honor X7a's Helio G37 (12nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A23 5G. The A23 5G also supports 5G, a feature absent in the X7a.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive battery life, with an endurance rating of 138 hours. However, the A23 5G's more efficient chipset might give it a slight edge in real-world usage, especially with 5G enabled.
Buying Guide
The Honor X7a is a good choice for users prioritizing a large display and extended battery life on a very tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is ideal for those seeking 5G connectivity, better performance, and a more polished overall experience, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor X7a good for gaming?
The Honor X7a can handle basic games, but demanding titles will likely suffer from lag and reduced frame rates due to its less powerful processor.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G support 5G?
Yes, the Galaxy A23 5G supports 5G connectivity, offering faster download and upload speeds where available.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides longer software update support than Honor, making the Galaxy A23 5G a more future-proof choice.