The mid-range 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Honor X7d and Samsung Galaxy A33 5G both aim to deliver a balanced experience without breaking the bank. However, they take different approaches – the X7d prioritizes charging speed and a newer chipset, while the A33 focuses on display quality and Samsung’s established ecosystem. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which phone offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more color-accurate display and brand recognition, the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is the better choice. However, the Honor X7d offers a compelling alternative with its faster 35W charging and slightly newer Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset, making it ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and value quick power-ups.
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, September 24 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, September 24 | Available. Released 2022, April 20 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 166.9 x 76.8 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) | 159.7 x 74 x 8.1 mm (6.29 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1610 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~261 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 120Hz, 850 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (6 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 15, Magic OS 9 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 35W wired
7.5W reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Velvet Black, Desert Gold | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | - | SM-A336E, SM-A336B, SM-A336B/DS, SM-A336B/DSN, SM-A336E/DS, SM-A336M, SM-A3360 |
| Price | About 140 EUR | £ 174.99 / € 187.50 / ₹ 21,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.35 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 354420 (v8), 394918 (v9)
GeekBench: 1900 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor X7d
- Faster 35W charging for quick top-ups
- Newer Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset
- 7.5W reverse wired charging for accessories
- Likely dimmer display compared to the A33
- Less established brand reputation
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
- Brighter 728 nit display for outdoor visibility
- Established Samsung brand and software ecosystem
- Potentially better camera image processing
- Slower 25W charging
- Exynos 1280 may throttle under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 728 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Honor X7d’s display specs are not provided, it’s likely to be dimmer. The A33’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a VA panel, offering deeper blacks, while the X7d’s panel type is unknown. The A33’s display is likely to offer a more immersive viewing experience, particularly for media consumption. The lack of refresh rate information for the X7d is a drawback, as the A33 likely has a 90Hz panel for smoother scrolling.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Given Samsung’s history, the A33 likely features a more refined camera system with better image processing algorithms. The A33 likely benefits from Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on its main sensor, a feature not confirmed for the X7d. While both phones may include a variety of lenses, the quality of the main sensor and the sophistication of the image processing pipeline are crucial. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s track record suggests a more consistent camera experience.
Performance
Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs with a similar core configuration – 2x Cortex-A78 and 6x Cortex-A55. However, the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G’s Exynos 1280, fabricated on a 5nm process, has a slight clock speed advantage (2.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz on the X7d’s Snapdragon 6s Gen 3). The 5nm process node of the Exynos 1280 generally translates to better power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling under sustained load. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (6nm) is still a capable chip, but the Exynos 1280 likely holds a performance edge in demanding tasks like gaming. The X7d’s chipset is newer, potentially benefiting from software optimizations, but the architectural advantage lies with the Exynos.
Battery Life
Both the Honor X7d and Samsung Galaxy A33 5G achieve an Endurance rating of 104 hours, indicating comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Honor X7d supports 35W wired charging, while the A33 is limited to 25W. This means the X7d can replenish its battery much faster – a full charge is likely achievable in under an hour, compared to potentially over 1.5 hours for the A33. The X7d also offers 7.5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the A33, allowing it to top up accessories like earbuds.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X7d if you need consistently fast charging and a modern chipset for smooth everyday performance, and are comfortable with a less established brand. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G if you prefer a brighter, more vibrant display, a well-known brand with a strong software ecosystem, and prioritize consistent camera performance over raw speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A33 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280 is known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. While it won't shut down, performance may dip slightly after 30-45 minutes of intense gameplay. The 5nm process helps mitigate this, but it's a consideration for hardcore mobile gamers.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range are of limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. They are often included for marketing purposes but rarely deliver truly impressive macro photography. Expect soft, grainy results.
❓ Can the Honor X7d handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile at 60fps with high graphics settings?
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but achieving a consistent 60fps with high graphics settings may be challenging. You'll likely need to balance graphics settings to prioritize frame rate for a smoother gaming experience. Expect some frame drops during intense action.
❓ How does the software update policy differ between Honor and Samsung?
Samsung generally offers a more robust and longer-term software update policy than Honor. Samsung typically guarantees 4 years of security updates and 3 major Android OS upgrades for its A-series devices. Honor's update commitment is typically shorter, often limited to 2 years of OS upgrades and 3 years of security patches.
