The Meizu Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy A70 represent a fascinating intersection in the mid-range smartphone market. Both devices leverage the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset, promising similar performance, but diverge in areas like charging technology and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which phone delivers the most compelling package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing convenience and slightly better longevity, the Samsung Galaxy A70 emerges as the winner. Its 25W fast charging significantly reduces downtime compared to the Meizu Note 9’s 18W, and the identical battery endurance rating means you won't sacrifice all-day usability.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - SM-A705YN/DS |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A705FN/DS |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, March. Released 2019, March | 2019, March 26. Released 2019, May 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 153.1 x 74.4 x 8.7 mm (6.03 x 2.93 x 0.34 in) | 164.3 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2244 pixels, 18.7:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 96.4 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 612 | Adreno 612 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Flyme 7.2 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | - | 32 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| 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, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| 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 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Starlight Blue | Coral, Blue, Black, White |
| Models | - | SM-A705F, SM-A705FN, SM-A705GM, SM-A705MN, SM-A7050, SM-A705W, SM-A705YN, SM-A705X, SM-A705U |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 90 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.33 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.35 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 103h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 81dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 167750 (v7)
GeekBench: 6584 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Meizu Note 9
- Potentially lower price point
- Identical Snapdragon 675 performance
- Comparable battery endurance
- Slower 18W charging
- Less established brand reputation
- Limited software support (potentially)
Samsung Galaxy A70
- Faster 25W charging
- Samsung’s One UI software experience
- Wider brand recognition and support
- Potentially higher price
- Identical Snapdragon 675 performance
- Similar battery endurance to Note 9
Display Comparison
Both devices share a 'Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)' specification, suggesting they utilize AMOLED panels, common in this price bracket. However, specific details like peak brightness, color gamut coverage, and refresh rates are missing. Given Samsung’s display expertise, the A70 likely benefits from superior color calibration and potentially higher peak brightness, translating to better visibility in direct sunlight. The lack of detailed display specs makes a definitive judgment difficult, but Samsung typically excels in this area.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing algorithms. The absence of these details makes a meaningful camera comparison impossible. It’s reasonable to assume Samsung’s image processing will lean towards more saturated and vibrant colors, a characteristic of their camera software. Without knowing the megapixel counts or sensor sizes, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance or dynamic range capabilities. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device is unlikely to significantly impact image quality.
Performance
The core performance is identical: both the Meizu Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy A70 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) with an Octa-core CPU configuration (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver). This means similar performance in everyday tasks, app loading, and moderate gaming. Thermal management will likely be comparable, though Samsung’s larger chassis in the A70 *could* offer slightly better heat dissipation, potentially mitigating throttling during extended, demanding sessions. RAM configurations are not specified, but this will be a key differentiator in multitasking performance.
Battery Life
Both the Meizu Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy A70 boast an 'Endurance rating 103h', indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the critical difference lies in charging speed. The Samsung Galaxy A70 supports 25W wired charging, while the Meizu Note 9 is limited to 18W. This 7W difference translates to significantly faster charging times for the A70, reducing the time spent tethered to a wall outlet. While both offer all-day battery life, the A70’s faster charging provides a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu Note 9 if you prioritize a potentially lower price point and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. It’s a solid choice for users who aren’t heavily reliant on quick top-ups. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A70 if you value faster charging, a potentially more refined software experience (typical of Samsung’s One UI), and a brand with wider support and service availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will I notice a significant difference in charging time between the Meizu Note 9 and the Samsung Galaxy A70?
Yes, the 25W charging on the Galaxy A70 will noticeably reduce charging times compared to the 18W charging on the Note 9. Expect a faster 0-100% charge on the A70, making it more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
❓ Given both phones have the same Snapdragon 675, will gaming performance be identical?
While the core processing power is the same, sustained gaming performance could differ slightly. The Samsung Galaxy A70’s larger chassis *may* provide better thermal dissipation, potentially leading to less performance throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, this difference is likely to be minimal.
❓ How does Samsung’s One UI compare to Meizu’s Flyme OS in terms of software updates and features?
Samsung’s One UI generally receives more frequent software updates and security patches compared to Meizu’s Flyme OS. One UI also offers a wider range of features and customization options, though Flyme OS has its own unique aesthetic and features. Samsung’s longer software support lifecycle is a significant advantage.
