The Huawei nova 5i and Samsung Galaxy A50s represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both devices aimed to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but they took different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which phone offers the best balance of performance, features, and value in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing slightly faster charging and a marginally more powerful processor, the Samsung Galaxy A50s emerges as the better choice. Its Exynos 9611, fabricated on a 10nm process, offers a small performance edge over the Huawei nova 5i’s Kirin 710F, and the 15W charging is a noticeable improvement over the 10W offering.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, June. Released 2019, June | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.1 x 75.9 x 8.3 mm (6.26 x 2.99 x 0.33 in) | 158.5 x 74.5 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.93 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 24 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gradient Blue, Red | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | GLK-LX1, GLK-LX2, GLK-LX3, GLK-LX1U, GLK-AL00, GLK-TL00 | SM-A507F, SM-A507FN, SM-A5070 |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.43 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 154761 (v7)
GeekBench: 5295 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 9.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 5i
- Potentially lower price point
- Huawei’s EMUI software features
- Slightly more understated camera processing
- Slower 10W charging
- Less powerful chipset (Kirin 710F)
- Potentially limited software updates
Samsung Galaxy A50s
- Faster 15W charging
- More powerful chipset (Exynos 9611)
- Samsung’s One UI software and support
- Potentially higher price
- Samsung’s software bloatware
- More saturated camera processing
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a particularly standout display. While specific panel details (like OLED vs LCD) aren't provided, both likely utilize LCD technology common in this price bracket. The focus here is on processing power, not visual fidelity. Bezels are expected to be comparable, typical of phones from this era. Color accuracy is likely similar, leaning towards the saturated tones favored by both manufacturers.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed sensor information, a direct camera comparison is difficult. However, both phones likely feature a multi-camera setup with a primary sensor and supporting lenses. The A50s likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing algorithms, which generally prioritize vibrant colors and detail enhancement. The nova 5i’s camera performance will likely be more natural, but potentially less polished. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical benefit due to the low resolution.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A50s features the Exynos 9611 (10nm), while the Huawei nova 5i uses the Kirin 710F (12nm). The 10nm fabrication process of the Exynos 9611 provides a theoretical advantage in power efficiency and thermal management. Both CPUs share the same core configuration – an octa-core setup with 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 cores – but the Exynos’s higher clock speed on the A73 cores translates to a slight performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks. This difference, while not massive, will be noticeable in app loading times and multitasking.
Battery Life
Battery capacity isn't specified, but both phones likely feature batteries in the 4000-4500 mAh range, typical for this class. The key differentiator is charging speed. The Samsung Galaxy A50s supports 15W wired charging, while the Huawei nova 5i is limited to 10W. This means the A50s will charge significantly faster, reducing downtime and offering a more convenient user experience. While a larger battery capacity is desirable, the faster charging of the A50s effectively mitigates the impact of a potentially slightly smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 5i if you prioritize a potentially lower price point and are comfortable with the limitations of a slower charging speed. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50s if you prefer a slightly more responsive user experience, faster charging, and the broader ecosystem and software support typically associated with Samsung devices. Both phones are suitable for everyday tasks, but the A50s offers a bit more headroom for demanding applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy A50s tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9611, while a step up from the Kirin 710F, isn't a powerhouse. It can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming, but the 10nm process helps mitigate this compared to older, larger-node chipsets. Expect playable frame rates, but not consistently high performance during demanding titles.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Unfortunately, the 2MP macro cameras on both the nova 5i and A50s are largely marketing features. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. They are best avoided in favor of the main camera.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A50s reliably run PUBG Mobile at 60fps?
The Galaxy A50s can run PUBG Mobile, but achieving a consistent 60fps experience depends on the graphics settings. Lowering the settings to 'Balanced' or 'Smooth' is recommended for stable frame rates. Expect some occasional frame drops during intense action.
❓ Which phone is likely to receive more software updates and security patches?
Samsung generally provides longer software support for its devices compared to Huawei, particularly given the geopolitical situation impacting Huawei’s access to Google services. The Galaxy A50s is likely to receive more frequent security updates and potentially one or two major Android version updates.
