The HTC Desire 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The A7, released in 2018, prioritized battery life and a solid overall experience, while the Desire 20 Pro, arriving later, aimed to offer a more modern chipset at a competitive price. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and consistent performance, the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) is the better choice. Its 93-hour endurance rating significantly outweighs the Desire 20 Pro’s newer, but less efficient, Snapdragon 665. However, the Desire 20 Pro offers a more recent chipset which may provide slightly better software support.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A750F/DS, A750FN/DS |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - A750F/DS, A750FN/DS |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - A750G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 16. Released 2020, July 18 | 2018, September 20. Released 2018, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162 x 77 x 9.4 mm (6.38 x 3.03 x 0.37 in) | 159.8 x 76.8 x 7.5 mm (6.29 x 3.02 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2220 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 91.4 cm2 (~74.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Exynos 7885 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G71 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 entries | - |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 24 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 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 |
|---|
| Games | Yes | - |
| Java | Yes | - |
| Messaging | SMS | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
Samsung Pay |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC3 | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 570 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 40 min | - |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Smoky Black, Pretty Blue, Crystal Green | Black, blue, gold, pink |
| Models | - | SM-A750F, SM-A750FN, SM-A750G, SM-A750GN, SM-A750C, SM-A750X, SM-A750N |
| Price | About 660 EUR | About 310 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.56 W/kg (head) | 0.34 W/kg (head) 1.43 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 93h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.324 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 79dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 123883 (v7)
GeekBench: 4446 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 5.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC Desire 20 Pro
- More modern Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Potential for better software support
- Potentially more power efficient chipset (11nm)
- Unknown battery capacity
- Slower 15W charging
- Missing display specifications
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018)
- Exceptional 93-hour battery life
- Super AMOLED display (likely)
- Proven reliability and performance
- Older Exynos 7885 chipset
- 14nm process may lead to higher power consumption
- Software updates may be limited
Display Comparison
Both devices share a contrast ratio of Infinite (nominal) and 4.324 in sunlight, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, detailed display specifications like resolution and panel type are missing for the Desire 20 Pro. The A7’s Super AMOLED panel, common for Samsung’s mid-range offerings, likely delivers more vibrant colors and deeper blacks than what the Desire 20 Pro’s LCD panel likely offers. Without specific nit brightness data for the Desire 20 Pro, it’s difficult to assess its peak brightness capabilities compared to the A7.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison difficult. It’s likely the Galaxy A7 (2018) benefited from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms, potentially delivering more consistent results. The Desire 20 Pro’s camera performance will heavily rely on software optimization given the Snapdragon 665’s ISP capabilities. Without further data, it’s safe to assume neither phone will compete with flagship camera systems.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) utilizes the Exynos 7885, a 14nm octa-core processor with a dual-cluster configuration (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53). The HTC Desire 20 Pro features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm), also an octa-core processor (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver). The Snapdragon 665’s 11nm process should theoretically offer better power efficiency than the Exynos 7885’s 14nm node, but real-world performance is impacted by software optimization and thermal management. The A7’s Cortex-A73 cores have a higher clock speed, potentially providing a slight edge in single-core tasks, while the Snapdragon 665’s Kryo cores are optimized for sustained performance.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) boasts an impressive endurance rating of 93 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The Desire 20 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 15W charging with Quick Charge 3.0 support is slower than what many competitors offer today. The A7’s superior endurance means users can expect to go a full day, or even longer, on a single charge, while the Desire 20 Pro may require more frequent top-ups, despite the Quick Charge support.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Desire 20 Pro if you need a phone with a more modern chipset for potential future software updates and slightly improved app responsiveness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) if you prioritize exceptional battery life and a proven track record of reliability, even if it means sacrificing the latest processor technology. The A7 is ideal for users who heavily rely on their phone throughout the day without frequent access to charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 7885 in the Galaxy A7 (2018) suffer from significant throttling under sustained load?
While the Exynos 7885 isn't a flagship processor, reports suggest it can experience some throttling during prolonged gaming sessions or demanding tasks. However, its thermal design is generally adequate for typical usage, and the throttling isn't usually severe enough to render the phone unusable. The 14nm process contributes to heat generation, but Samsung's software optimizations help mitigate this.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either of these phones 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 as a marketing feature rather than a genuinely useful photographic tool. Expect soft, grainy results when attempting macro photography with either device.
❓ Can the Snapdragon 665 in the Desire 20 Pro handle popular games like PUBG Mobile at acceptable frame rates?
The Snapdragon 665 can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to achieve consistently smooth frame rates. Expect some occasional stuttering, especially during intense firefights. It's not a gaming powerhouse, but it's capable of providing a playable experience.
❓ How does the software support compare between the Desire 20 Pro and the Galaxy A7 (2018)?
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) has likely reached the end of its major software update cycle. The Desire 20 Pro, being a newer device, may receive one or two more Android version updates, depending on HTC's commitment. However, HTC's software update track record is less consistent than Samsung's.
