The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Lava Blaze 2 and the Samsung Galaxy M04. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Lava Blaze 2 edges out the Samsung Galaxy M04 thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset and faster charging. While the Samsung offers the reliability of the Samsung brand, the Blaze 2 provides a noticeable performance boost for a similar price, making it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, April 10 | 2022, December 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 18 | Available. Released 2022, December 16 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 76.1 x 8.6 mm (6.50 x 3.00 x 0.34 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 | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12, One UI Core 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), AF
2 MP | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glass Blue, Glass Black, Glass Orange | Sea Glass Green, Shadow Blue |
| Models | LZX409 | SM-M045F, SM-M045F/DS |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.38 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.29 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) |
Lava Blaze 2
- More powerful chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Slightly better color accuracy (potentially)
- Competitive price
- Less established brand
- Camera software might be less refined
- Build quality might be slightly lower
Samsung Galaxy M04
- Samsung brand reliability
- Refined One UI software
- Potentially better camera software optimization
- Widely available
- Less powerful chipset
- Slower 15W charging
- Similar display quality to Blaze 2
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
Both phones feature similar 6.5-inch HD+ displays. Expect decent viewing angles and adequate brightness for everyday use, but don't expect vibrant colors or high resolution. The Blaze 2 might have slightly better color accuracy, but it's a marginal difference.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy M04 likely has a more refined camera software experience due to Samsung's optimization. Both phones likely feature a primary camera around 13MP, with additional macro and depth sensors. Image quality will be decent in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance will be a challenge on both.
Performance
The Lava Blaze 2's Unisoc Tiger T616 chipset holds a slight advantage over the Samsung Galaxy M04's Helio P35. The Cortex-A75 cores in the Blaze 2 offer better peak performance, resulting in smoother multitasking and slightly faster app loading times. Gaming performance will be adequate on both, but don't expect high frame rates on demanding titles.
Battery Life
Both phones are expected to have a 5000mAh battery, offering all-day battery life for moderate users. However, the Lava Blaze 2's 18W fast charging provides a significant advantage over the Samsung Galaxy M04's 15W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Lava Blaze 2 is ideal for users prioritizing performance and faster charging on a tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy M04 is a good option for those who value brand recognition and a more streamlined, though less powerful, experience, especially if Samsung's One UI is a draw.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Lava Blaze 2 is slightly better for gaming due to its more powerful chipset, although neither phone is a gaming powerhouse.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy M04 worth the extra cost?
It depends. If you heavily value the Samsung brand and One UI, then it might be. Otherwise, the Lava Blaze 2 offers better performance for a similar price.
❓ What is the expected battery life on each phone?
Both phones should offer all-day battery life with moderate usage, thanks to their 5000mAh batteries.
