The Huawei P Smart S and Samsung Galaxy A31 represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dives deep into their specifications, performance, and features to determine which device offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing display brightness and slightly faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy A31 edges out the Huawei P Smart S. However, the P Smart S offers a potentially more efficient CPU architecture, making it a viable alternative for those focused on sustained performance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A315F |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 26, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A315F |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 09. Released 2020, June 09 | 2020, March 24. Released 2020, April 27 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 157.4 x 73.2 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.88 x 0.31 in) | 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm (6.27 x 2.88 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~418 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 95.8 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0 | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| 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 (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Breathing Crystal, Midnight Black | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Red, Prism Crush White |
| Models | - | SM-A315F, SM-A315F/DS, SM-A315G/DS, SM-A315G, SM-A315N |
| Price | About 260 EUR | £ 139.00 / € 138.27 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.49 W/kg (head) 1.68 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 124h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.9 LUFS (Below average) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 151815 (v8)
GeekBench: 5096 (v4.4), 1216 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei P Smart S
- Potentially more powerful CPU architecture with more Cortex-A73 cores.
- May offer a more efficient CPU leading to better sustained performance.
- Competitive price point within the budget segment.
- Slower 10W charging.
- Limited display information suggests a potentially inferior screen.
- Huawei ecosystem limitations and potential software update concerns.
Samsung Galaxy A31
- Brighter 635 nit display for better outdoor visibility.
- Faster 15W wired charging.
- Established Samsung brand and software support.
- Helio P65 chipset may offer slightly less peak CPU performance.
- Potential for bloatware in Samsung’s One UI.
- Image processing may not appeal to all users.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A31 boasts a significant advantage in display quality with a measured peak brightness of 635 nits, making it considerably more usable outdoors and in bright environments. While the P Smart S’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it falls short of this figure given its market positioning. The A31’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical IPS panel, offering decent color reproduction, but the P Smart S’s panel characteristics remain unknown. The lack of information on the P Smart S’s display makes a definitive comparison difficult, but the A31’s brightness is a clear win.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer ‘Photo / Video’ capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a meaningful comparison is impossible. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A31 is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit. The image processing style of both brands differs significantly; Huawei typically emphasizes vibrant colors, while Samsung aims for more natural tones. Without sample images or detailed specs, it’s difficult to determine which device captures superior photos.
Performance
Both the Huawei P Smart S and Samsung Galaxy A31 utilize 12nm process technology, but their chipset architectures differ. The P Smart S’s Kirin 710F features four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz, paired with four Cortex-A53 cores. This configuration suggests a stronger focus on peak performance for demanding tasks. The Galaxy A31’s Helio P65 employs two Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores. While the A75 cores are newer, the P Smart S has more of the higher-performing A73 cores. In real-world usage, this translates to potentially snappier app launches and smoother multitasking on the P Smart S, though the difference may not be dramatic. The Helio P65’s efficiency gains on the A55 cores could contribute to slightly better sustained performance under load.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei P Smart S and Samsung Galaxy A31 achieve an endurance rating of 124 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Galaxy A31 supports 15W wired charging, while the P Smart S is limited to 10W. This means the A31 will recharge significantly faster, reducing downtime. While both offer similar overall battery capacity, the faster charging speed of the A31 provides a tangible convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei P Smart S if you prioritize a potentially smoother experience with everyday tasks due to its Cortex-A73 cores and are comfortable with the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A31 if you value a brighter, more visible display in outdoor conditions and prefer the wider availability and established software support of the Samsung brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 710F in the Huawei P Smart S struggle with demanding games like PUBG?
While the Kirin 710F is capable of running PUBG, it's likely to require lower graphics settings for a smooth experience. The Helio P65 in the Galaxy A31 will likely perform similarly, but both chips are designed for casual gaming rather than high-end titles at maximum settings.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the Samsung Galaxy A31 a significant improvement over the 10W charging on the Huawei P Smart S?
Yes, the 15W charging on the Galaxy A31 will noticeably reduce charging times. Expect a faster top-up, especially when starting from a low battery percentage. The P Smart S’s 10W charging is adequate, but slower.
❓ How does Huawei's software ecosystem affect the P Smart S compared to Samsung's?
The Huawei P Smart S lacks full Google Mobile Services (GMS) due to US sanctions. This means no pre-installed Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, or the Play Store. Users rely on Huawei's AppGallery and workarounds to access popular apps, which can be less convenient.
❓ Is the battery life truly comparable between the two phones, given the different chipsets?
Despite the different chipsets, both phones achieve the same 124-hour endurance rating. This suggests that Huawei and Samsung have optimized their software and hardware to achieve similar battery performance under typical usage scenarios. However, real-world battery life will vary based on individual usage patterns.
