The HTC U11 Life and Samsung Galaxy A50 represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The U11 Life, released in 2017, aimed for a premium feel at a lower price, while the A50, from 2019, focused on delivering a large display and long-lasting battery. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you decide which, if either, still holds value today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A50 is the clear winner. Its significantly superior battery life (98h endurance vs. 73h) and more powerful Exynos 9610 chipset provide a smoother, longer-lasting experience. While the U11 Life boasts a respectable contrast ratio, it's overshadowed by the A50's overall package.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A505U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, November. Released 2017, December | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, March 18 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 149.1 x 72.9 x 8.1 mm (5.87 x 2.87 x 0.32 in) | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 142 g (5.01 oz) | 166 g (5.86 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) | Exynos 9610 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 508 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Android One | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) - single-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, PDAF | - |
| Triple | - | 25 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 25 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 670 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Brilliant Black, Sapphire Blue, Ice White | Black, White, Blue, Coral |
| Models | U11 life | SM-A505F, SM-A505FN, SM-A505GN, SM-A505G, SM-A505FM, SM-A505YN, SM-A505W, SM-A505X, SM-A505U, SM-A505GT, SM-A505U1, SM-A505G, SM-A505N, SM-S506DL |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.31 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.27 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 279.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 171.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.3dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 73h |
Endurance rating 98h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1529:1 (nominal), 3.108 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 88dB |
Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 82dB
|
| Performance |
GeekBench: 4140 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 5.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 144574 (v7)
GeekBench: 5396 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC U11 Life
- High display contrast ratio (1529:1)
- Compact form factor
- Potentially lower price (depending on availability)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 630)
- Shorter battery life (73h endurance)
- Limited software support
Samsung Galaxy A50
- Longer battery life (98h endurance)
- More powerful chipset (Exynos 9610)
- Faster charging (15W)
- Larger display
- Larger form factor
- Potentially higher price (depending on configuration)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A50 features a measured peak brightness of 551 nits, a significant advantage over the HTC U11 Life, for which brightness data is unavailable. The U11 Life, however, offers a strong contrast ratio of 1529:1 (nominal) and 3.108 in sunlight, suggesting good visibility in bright conditions. The A50's 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, but its Super AMOLED panel inherently delivers excellent contrast. The A50’s larger display size is also a factor for media consumption, while the U11 Life’s smaller form factor may appeal to those preferring a more compact device.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are lacking. Given the A50’s later release date and position in Samsung’s lineup, it likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger sensor. While both phones likely feature standard features like HDR, the A50’s more powerful processor allows for more complex computational photography techniques. The U11 Life’s camera performance is likely adequate for casual use, but the A50 is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A50’s Exynos 9610, built on a 10nm process, demonstrably outperforms the HTC U11 Life’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (14nm). The A50’s CPU configuration – a combination of 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 cores – provides a noticeable boost in processing power compared to the U11 Life’s octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 setup. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience. The 10nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency in the A50, reducing the likelihood of throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A50’s 98-hour endurance rating is a major advantage over the HTC U11 Life’s 73-hour rating. This difference is substantial and translates to a full day or more of additional usage on a single charge. The A50 also supports 15W wired charging, allowing for faster replenishment of the battery, while charging speed data for the U11 Life is unavailable. The A50’s larger battery capacity, combined with the more efficient Exynos 9610 chipset, results in a significantly better battery experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC U11 Life if you prioritize a phone with a high display contrast ratio and are on an extremely tight budget, willing to accept older hardware and potentially limited software support. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50 if you value long battery life, a more modern processor for smoother multitasking and app performance, and a phone that's more likely to receive future software updates, even if limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9610 in the Galaxy A50 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9610 is generally well-managed in the Galaxy A50. While it can get warm during extended gaming, it doesn't typically exhibit significant thermal throttling due to Samsung's thermal management solutions. The 10nm process also contributes to better heat dissipation compared to the U11 Life's 14nm Snapdragon 630.
❓ Is the contrast ratio of the HTC U11 Life still relevant compared to modern displays?
While the U11 Life's 1529:1 contrast ratio was good for its time, modern AMOLED displays like the one in the Galaxy A50 offer 'infinite' contrast, providing deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. The U11 Life's contrast is still respectable, but the A50's display is noticeably superior.
❓ How does the software support compare between these two devices?
The HTC U11 Life is nearing the end of its software support lifecycle. The Samsung Galaxy A50, while also past its prime, is likely to receive updates for a slightly longer period. However, neither phone is guaranteed to receive major Android version updates at this point.
