Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The HTC Wildfire E3 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A30s are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A30s is the clear winner. While the HTC Wildfire E3 Lite is incredibly budget-friendly, the A30s boasts a significantly better chipset, camera, and faster charging, making it a more well-rounded and future-proof choice despite a slightly higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, April 10 | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 10 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 76.5 x 9.2 mm (6.49 x 3.01 x 0.36 in) | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.8 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Exynos 7904 (14 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Mali-G71 MP2 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 13 MP, AF |
| Triple | - | 25 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0 | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | - | SM-A307F, SM-A307FN, SM-A307G, SM-A307GN, SM-A307GT |
| Price | - | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.43 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 194.02 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 269.99 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 120.00 |
HTC Wildfire E3 lite
- Extremely affordable
- Compact size
- Decent for basic tasks
- Weak performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy A30s
- Better performance
- Vibrant AMOLED display
- Versatile camera system
- Longer battery life
- Faster charging
- Slightly more expensive
- Design may be considered dated
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A30s features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2340 resolution, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Wildfire E3 Lite likely has a smaller, lower-resolution LCD display, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. The A30s' AMOLED screen is a significant advantage.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A30s typically features a versatile triple-camera setup (48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP depth sensor) capable of capturing detailed photos. The Wildfire E3 Lite likely has a simpler, lower-resolution camera system, resulting in inferior image quality, especially in low light.
Performance
The Exynos 7904 in the Galaxy A30s is considerably more powerful than the Unisoc SC9863A in the Wildfire E3 Lite. The A30s' Cortex-A73 cores provide a noticeable performance boost for multitasking and demanding apps. Expect the Wildfire E3 Lite to struggle with heavier tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones offer decent battery life, but the Galaxy A30s' 5000mAh battery provides more headroom and potentially longer usage times. The A30s also supports 15W fast charging, while the Wildfire E3 Lite is limited to 10W.
Buying Guide
The HTC Wildfire E3 Lite is ideal for users on an extremely tight budget who primarily need a phone for basic calling, texting, and light social media use. The Samsung Galaxy A30s is a better choice for those who want a smoother experience, a better camera, and longer battery life, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Wildfire E3 Lite good for gaming?
No, the Wildfire E3 Lite's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle very basic games, but expect low frame rates and lag.
❓ How much storage do the phones offer?
The HTC Wildfire E3 Lite typically comes with 32GB of storage, expandable via microSD. The Samsung Galaxy A30s is available in 64GB or 128GB configurations, also expandable via microSD.