The Lenovo S90 Sisley and Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos were popular mid-range Android phones. Both offered appealing designs and features for their time, but significant differences exist under the hood. This comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which was the better choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos emerges as the clear winner. Its superior processor, slightly better display in sunlight, and significantly longer battery life provide a more compelling overall experience, despite both being older devices.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - S90-a | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A700YD, A700H |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 41 - S90-u | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A700YD |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | LTE (unspecified) - S90-a | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, November. Released 2014, November | 2015, January. Released 2015, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 146 x 71.7 x 6.9 mm (5.75 x 2.82 x 0.27 in) | 151 x 76.2 x 6.3 mm (5.94 x 3.00 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 129 g (4.55 oz) | 141 g (4.97 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~65.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 306 | Adreno 405 |
| OS | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (A700YD) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 54 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 17 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White/silver, gray, pink, soft orange, blue | Pearl White, Midnight Black, Champagne Gold |
| Models | S90-A | SM-A7000, SM-A7009, SM-A700H, SM-A700YD |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.39 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -95.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 54h
|
Endurance rating 83h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.892 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.679 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 64dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 73dB
|
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 513Basemark X: 1909 |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 813Basemark X: 4802 |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -95.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 54h | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.892 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.679 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB | Voice 64dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 73dB |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 513Basemark X: 1909 | Basemark OS II 2.0: 813Basemark X: 4802 |
Lenovo S90 Sisley
- Excellent battery standby time
- Slim and lightweight design
- Affordable price (when new)
- Lower performance
- Less vibrant display
- Older software support
- Limited camera capabilities
Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos
- Better performance
- Longer battery life
- Brighter display (sunlight readability)
- More modern design (for its time)
- Potentially higher price (when new)
- Older software support
Display Comparison
Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks. While both claim an 'infinite' contrast ratio (a marketing term), the Galaxy A7 Duos boasts a slightly better sunlight readability score of 3.679 compared to the S90's 2.892, suggesting better visibility outdoors. The A7's display is also likely to be slightly larger, a common feature of the A7 series.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is difficult to definitively assess without detailed testing data. However, the Galaxy A7 Duos generally had a reputation for slightly better image quality, particularly in low light, due to its more advanced processor and potentially better image processing algorithms. Both phones likely offered standard camera features for their time, including HDR and panorama modes.
Performance
The Galaxy A7 Duos holds a significant advantage here. Its Octa-core Snapdragon 615 chipset, with a combination of faster and slower cores, offers considerably more processing power than the S90's Quad-core Snapdragon 410. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive user experience. The A7's CPU clock speeds are also higher.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A7 Duos dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 83 hours compared to the S90's 54 hours. This difference is substantial and makes the A7 a much better choice for users who need a phone that can last through a full day or more on a single charge.
Buying Guide
The Lenovo S90 Sisley might appeal to someone seeking a very basic, budget-friendly phone with a focus on long standby time. The Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos is better suited for users who prioritize performance, a brighter display, and extended usage between charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still worth buying?
Given their age, finding these phones new is unlikely. Used, they might be very affordable, but consider the lack of software updates and potential security vulnerabilities. Newer budget phones offer significantly better value.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software updates anymore. Both are running older versions of Android, which poses security risks. It's strongly recommended to avoid using these phones for sensitive tasks.
