The LG Q70 and Samsung Galaxy A32 represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, they diverge significantly in their core hardware. This comparison dissects the differences between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675-powered Q70 and the MediaTek Helio G80-equipped A32, focusing on performance, display, and battery life to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a slightly more refined chipset architecture, the LG Q70 emerges as the better choice. While the Samsung Galaxy A32 boasts a brighter display, the Snapdragon 675’s efficiency and proven track record offer a smoother overall experience, especially for multitasking and moderate gaming.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 66 - Verizon | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, September 28. Released 2019, October | 2021, February 25 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, February 25 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.1 x 76.8 x 8.3 mm (6.38 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.26 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 612 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, LG UX 9 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual or Triple | 32 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF
13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens
or
32 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 32-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | 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, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC3 | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Mirror Black | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, Awesome Violet |
| Models | LM-Q730N, LMQ620WA, LM-Q620WA, LM-Q620VAB, LMQ620VAB, LM-Q730 | SM-A325F, SM-A325F/DS, SM-A325M, SM-A325N |
| Price | About 320 EUR | € 124.99 / £ 89.38 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.45 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.3 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 286666 (v8)
GeekBench: 1277 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Q70
- More efficient Snapdragon 675 chipset
- Potentially smoother multitasking
- Proven chipset architecture
- Likely lower peak display brightness
- Limited information on camera specs
Samsung Galaxy A32
- Significantly brighter display (814 nits)
- Samsung’s One UI software
- Good battery endurance (119h rating)
- Less efficient Helio G80 chipset
- Potential for thermal throttling under load
- 2MP macro camera is likely of limited use
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A32 immediately stands out with its measured peak brightness of 814 nits, significantly exceeding what’s typically found in this price bracket. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While the LG Q70’s display specifications aren’t publicly available, it likely falls short of this brightness level. The A32’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical LCD panel, but the high brightness is its key advantage. Both devices likely utilize LCD panels, and neither is expected to offer high refresh rates or advanced features like LTPO.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature ‘Photo / Video’ capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market segment suggests both will rely on primary sensors around the 12-48MP range. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A32 is a common, but often underwhelming, feature in this price range. Image processing will likely differ significantly, with Samsung’s software typically prioritizing vibrant colors and boosted contrast, while LG’s approach is often more natural. Without detailed specs, it’s safe to assume camera performance will be comparable, with software optimization playing a larger role than hardware.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG Q70’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 (11nm) utilizes a 2+6 core configuration – two Kryo 460 Gold cores clocked at 2.0 GHz for performance, and six Kryo 460 Silver cores at 1.7 GHz for efficiency. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy A32’s MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm), which employs a 2+6 configuration of Cortex-A75 (2.0 GHz) and Cortex-A55 (1.8 GHz) cores. The Snapdragon 675’s 11nm process node generally offers better power efficiency than the Helio G80’s 12nm node, potentially leading to longer battery life under sustained load. While both CPUs have similar peak clock speeds, the Snapdragon’s Kryo cores are architecturally more advanced, offering a slight edge in single-core performance. The GPU performance is also likely to favor the Snapdragon 675.
Battery Life
Both the LG Q70 and Samsung Galaxy A32 share a 15W wired charging capability. The Galaxy A32 boasts an endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating respectable battery life. However, this rating is a composite score and doesn’t reveal the battery capacity. The Snapdragon 675’s superior power efficiency, as discussed earlier, could potentially offset any capacity difference, resulting in similar real-world battery performance. A full 0-100% charge on both devices will likely take around 2-3 hours given the 15W charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Q70 if you need a phone that handles everyday tasks and light gaming with consistent performance, and value a chipset known for its efficiency. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A32 if you prioritize a brighter display for outdoor visibility and are less concerned with raw processing power, or if Samsung's One UI is a key preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G80 in the Galaxy A32 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G80 is a capable chipset, but its 12nm process node is less efficient than the Snapdragon 675’s 11nm node. This means the A32 is more likely to experience thermal throttling during extended gaming, potentially leading to reduced frame rates and performance dips. While not a deal-breaker, users prioritizing long gaming sessions should be aware of this potential limitation.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung Galaxy A32 actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras found in this price range offer limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can capture close-up shots, the quality is often significantly inferior to photos taken with the main sensor. It's more of a marketing feature than a genuinely useful addition.
❓ Will the LG Q70 handle popular games like PUBG Mobile smoothly?
The Snapdragon 675 is capable of running PUBG Mobile at medium settings with a stable frame rate. While it won’t deliver the highest graphical fidelity, the Q70 should provide a playable and enjoyable gaming experience. The more efficient chipset will also help maintain consistent performance over longer sessions.
