The Infinix Note 7 Lite 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. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value for your money, focusing on performance, display, and battery life.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing slightly better performance for everyday tasks, the Infinix Note 7 Lite emerges as the winner. Its Helio G70 chipset, while not a massive leap, offers a marginal advantage over the Galaxy A31’s Helio P65. However, the A31’s brighter display and slightly faster charging are notable strengths.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A315F |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A315F |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 06. Released 2020, July | 2020, March 24. Released 2020, April 27 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.4 x 76.8 x 8.8 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.35 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 | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CB Helio G70 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EEMC2 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 10, XOS 6.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lenses | 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 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 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 | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Violet, Space Gray | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Red, Prism Crush White |
| Models | X656 | SM-A315F, SM-A315F/DS, SM-A315G/DS, SM-A315G, SM-A315N |
| Price | About 130 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) |
Infinix Note 7 Lite
- Slightly better performance with Helio G70
- More affordable price point (typically)
- Potentially better gaming experience
- Less bright display
- Slower 10W charging
Samsung Galaxy A31
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Faster 15W charging
- Samsung brand recognition and ecosystem
- Slightly lower performance with Helio P65
- Often more expensive than the Infinix Note 7 Lite
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A31 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 635 nits, compared to the Infinix Note 7 Lite’s unspecified brightness. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility, where the A31 will remain readable in direct sunlight. While both utilize LCD panels, the A31’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks, though this is typical marketing hyperbole for LCDs. The Note 7 Lite’s display specifications are less detailed, making a direct comparison of color accuracy difficult, but it’s likely to be less vibrant than the A31.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on sensor size, aperture, or image processing algorithms, a definitive camera comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both phones will struggle in low-light conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical benefit due to the low resolution and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS). Image quality will likely depend more on software processing than raw hardware.
Performance
Both devices are powered by Mediatek Helio chips featuring the same CPU core configuration: a dual-core Cortex-A75 setup for performance and a hexa-core Cortex-A55 cluster for efficiency. However, the Infinix Note 7 Lite utilizes the Helio G70, built on a 12nm process, while the Galaxy A31 uses the older Helio P65, also on a 12nm process. The G70’s slightly higher clock speeds and optimized architecture provide a marginal performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. Neither chipset is a powerhouse, but the G70 offers a smoother experience for multitasking and less demanding games. Both phones likely share similar RAM configurations, impacting overall responsiveness.
Battery Life
Both the Infinix Note 7 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A31 achieve an endurance rating of 124 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage. However, the charging speeds differ. The Galaxy A31 supports 15W wired charging, while the Note 7 Lite is limited to 10W. This means the A31 will recharge from 0-100% faster, a significant convenience factor. While both have comparable battery capacity, the faster charging of the A31 provides a practical advantage for users who frequently need to top up their devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Infinix Note 7 Lite if you need a phone that can handle light gaming and multitasking with a bit more fluidity, and you're comfortable with a less vibrant display. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A31 if you prioritize a brighter, more visible screen for outdoor use and appreciate the Samsung brand ecosystem, even if it means a slight performance compromise.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio P65 in the Galaxy A31 struggle with demanding apps or games?
The Helio P65 is a capable chipset for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming. However, it will likely exhibit slowdowns and frame drops in graphically intensive games or when running multiple demanding applications simultaneously. The Note 7 Lite’s Helio G70 offers a slight improvement, but neither phone is designed for hardcore gaming.
❓ Is the 10W charging on the Infinix Note 7 Lite noticeably slow compared to the Galaxy A31’s 15W?
Yes, the difference in charging speed is noticeable. 10W charging will take significantly longer to fully recharge the battery, especially from a low percentage. The Galaxy A31’s 15W charging provides a more convenient and quicker top-up experience, reducing downtime.
❓ How does the display quality of the Galaxy A31 compare to more modern AMOLED panels?
The Galaxy A31 utilizes an LCD panel, which inherently lacks the vibrant colors, deep blacks, and energy efficiency of AMOLED displays. While the 635 nits of brightness is good for an LCD, it won't match the contrast and viewing angles of an AMOLED screen. Expect washed-out colors and limited contrast compared to newer Samsung phones with AMOLED technology.
