The HTC Desire 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The A9, released in 2018, offered a large display and solid battery life, while the Desire 20 Pro, a later entrant, aimed to provide a modern experience with a newer chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device offers the best value today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and consistent performance, the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is the better choice. Its 88-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses what the Desire 20 Pro can offer, and the slightly faster CPU provides a smoother experience despite the older manufacturing process.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 16. Released 2020, July 18 | 2018, October. Released 2018, November |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162 x 77 x 9.4 mm (6.38 x 3.03 x 0.37 in) | 162.5 x 77 x 7.8 mm (6.40 x 3.03 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2220 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~80.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 64GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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 | 24 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm, PDAF
10 MP f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.9", 1.0µm, AF, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (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 |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| 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 |
|---|
| Games | Yes | - |
| Java | Yes | - |
| Messaging | SMS | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
Samsung Pay |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC3 | 18W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 570 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 40 min | - |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 3800 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Smoky Black, Pretty Blue, Crystal Green | Caviar Black, Lemonade Blue, Bubblegum Pink |
| Models | - | SM-A920F, SM-A9200, SM-A920N, SM-A920X |
| Price | About 660 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.27 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.56 W/kg (head) | 0.35 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 88h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.220 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 77dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 140500 (v7)
GeekBench: 5763 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC Desire 20 Pro
- More recent chipset (Snapdragon 665)
- Potentially better software support
- Smaller manufacturing process (11nm)
- Lower battery endurance
- Limited detailed specifications
- Slower charging speed (15W)
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)
- Exceptional battery life (88h endurance)
- Faster charging (18W)
- Proven performance with Snapdragon 660
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 660)
- Larger manufacturing process (14nm)
- Potentially limited software updates
Display Comparison
Both devices share a contrast ratio of Infinite (nominal) and 4.220 in sunlight, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, detailed display specifications like resolution and panel type are missing for the Desire 20 Pro. The A9’s large display was a key selling point, and while the Desire 20 Pro likely offers a comparable size, the A9’s proven sunlight readability is a definite advantage. Without knowing the Desire 20 Pro’s panel technology, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without information on sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing algorithms, a direct comparison is challenging. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the Desire 20 Pro is unlikely to significantly impact image quality, as these sensors often lack detail and dynamic range. The A9’s camera system, while also lacking detailed specs, benefited from Samsung’s established image processing pipeline, potentially offering more consistent results.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) utilizes the Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm), featuring an octa-core CPU clocked at 4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver. The HTC Desire 20 Pro employs the Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) with a similar core configuration but slightly lower peak clock speeds of 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver. While the Snapdragon 665 benefits from a smaller 11nm process, potentially offering better efficiency, the A9’s higher CPU clock speeds likely translate to a slight performance edge in demanding tasks. The 14nm process of the SDM660 is older, but the higher clock speeds compensate.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) boasts an impressive endurance rating of 88 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The Desire 20 Pro’s battery capacity and charging speed (15W wired, QC3) are less impressive compared to the A9’s 18W charging. The A9’s larger battery and optimized power management clearly provide a significant advantage in real-world usage, making it ideal for users who prioritize all-day battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Desire 20 Pro if you need a phone with a more recent software base and are comfortable with potentially shorter battery life. It's a good option for users who frequently switch phones and prioritize the latest Android features. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) if you prefer a phone that can reliably last a full day (and beyond) on a single charge, and value a proven track record of battery performance over the newest chipset.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 665 in the Desire 20 Pro noticeably faster than the Snapdragon 660 in the Galaxy A9 (2018) for gaming?
While the Snapdragon 665 has a more efficient manufacturing process, the Snapdragon 660’s higher clock speeds likely result in similar gaming performance. Both chipsets are capable of handling most mobile games at medium settings, but demanding titles may require lower graphics settings on both devices. The A9’s thermal management might be slightly better due to its larger chassis.
❓ How much does the charging speed difference (15W vs 18W) impact the overall user experience on these phones?
The 3W difference in charging speed isn't massive, but it does translate to a slightly faster 0-100% charge time on the Galaxy A9 (2018). However, the A9’s larger battery means it will still take a considerable amount of time to fully charge, even with the faster charging. The Desire 20 Pro’s 15W charging is adequate but won’t provide the same quick top-up as the A9.
❓ Given the age of the Galaxy A9 (2018), are software updates still available?
Software update support for the Galaxy A9 (2018) is likely limited. Samsung typically provides several years of updates, but it has likely reached the end of its major Android version support. The Desire 20 Pro, being a newer device, should receive updates for a longer period, though HTC’s update track record isn’t as consistent as Samsung’s.
