The HTC Wildfire E1 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A02s represent the absolute bottom end of the smartphone market. Both aim to deliver basic smartphone functionality at the lowest possible price point, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which offers the best value for users prioritizing affordability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A02s is the better choice. While both phones offer similar battery endurance, the A02s’ octa-core Snapdragon 450 provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Wildfire E1 Lite’s quad-core Helio A20, making it more responsive for everyday tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 24. Released 2020, September 24 | 2020, November 24. Released 2021, January 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 147.9 x 71.4 x 8.9 mm (5.82 x 2.81 x 0.35 in) | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 160 g (5.64 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~295 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~72.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6761D Helio A20 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 506 |
| OS | Android 10 (Go edition) | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | - | 3.15 MP |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 530 h (2G) / Up to 530 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 6 h 12 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 18 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, White, Red, Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A025F, SM-A025F/DS, SM-A025G, SM-A025G/DS, SM-A025M, SM-A025M/DS, SM-A025U, SM-A025V, SM-A025A, SM-A025U1, SM-A025AZ, SM-S124DL |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.40 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -81.4dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 114h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1765:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.8 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 90811 (v8)
GeekBench: 495 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC Wildfire E1 lite
- Potentially lower price point
- Compact and lightweight design (likely)
- Acceptable battery endurance
- Significantly slower performance
- Less responsive user interface
- Likely lower display brightness
Samsung Galaxy A02s
- Faster and more responsive performance
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Faster charging (15W)
- May be slightly more expensive
- Similar battery endurance to the E1 Lite
- Camera quality likely limited
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A02s boasts a measured peak brightness of 406 nits, a significant advantage over the likely lower, unmeasured brightness of the Wildfire E1 Lite. Both share a 1765:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color reproduction quality. However, the A02s’ higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors in direct sunlight. Neither phone is expected to have particularly accurate color calibration, but the A02s’ brighter panel offers a more pleasant viewing experience overall.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but details are sparse. Given the price point, image quality will be limited on both. It’s safe to assume both rely on basic sensors and image processing. The absence of specific sensor details suggests neither phone will excel in low-light photography. Focusing on the chipset, the Snapdragon 450’s image signal processor (ISP) is likely more capable than the Helio A20’s, potentially resulting in slightly better image processing and noise reduction on the A02s. Any macro or depth sensors are likely to be of very low resolution and offer minimal benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A02s utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, an octa-core processor built on a 14nm process. This contrasts with the HTC Wildfire E1 Lite’s MediaTek Helio A20, a quad-core chip fabricated on a 12nm node. While the clock speeds are identical at 1.8 GHz, the Snapdragon 450’s eight cores provide a substantial advantage in multi-tasking and app responsiveness. The 14nm process, while older, doesn’t necessarily translate to worse efficiency given the core count difference. Users will experience noticeably faster app loading times and smoother scrolling on the A02s.
Battery Life
Both the HTC Wildfire E1 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A02s achieve an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. The A02s, however, supports 15W wired charging, while the Wildfire E1 Lite’s charging speed is unknown but likely slower. This means the A02s can be topped up more quickly, reducing downtime. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite the more powerful processor, the Snapdragon 450 doesn’t significantly impact battery drain.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Wildfire E1 Lite if you absolutely need the lowest possible price and are willing to accept significantly slower performance. It’s suitable for very basic communication – calls, texts, and light WhatsApp use. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A02s if you prioritize a smoother user experience, even for simple tasks, and want a phone capable of handling slightly more demanding applications without significant lag. The A02s is the better all-rounder for most first-time smartphone buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Samsung Galaxy A02s struggle with popular apps like Facebook or WhatsApp?
While the Snapdragon 450 isn't a powerhouse, it's sufficient for running apps like Facebook and WhatsApp smoothly. You might experience some slowdown with multiple apps open simultaneously, but for typical social media usage, it should be adequate. The Wildfire E1 Lite will likely struggle more with these apps.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the Galaxy A02s a significant advantage?
Yes, it is. While not fast charging in the modern sense, 15W charging will significantly reduce the time it takes to fully charge the A02s compared to the likely slower charging speed of the Wildfire E1 Lite. This is particularly useful for users who rely heavily on their phone throughout the day.
❓ Can either of these phones handle basic mobile gaming?
Basic 2D games will be playable on both devices, but don't expect a smooth experience with more demanding 3D titles. The Snapdragon 450 in the A02s will offer a slightly better gaming experience, but frame rates will likely be low and graphics settings will need to be reduced.
