Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The Motorola Moto E (2020) and Samsung Galaxy A03s are two popular contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A03s edges out the Moto E (2020) thanks to its slightly better display brightness, longer battery life, and faster charging. While the Moto E offers a decent Snapdragon chipset, the A03s provides a more well-rounded experience for the price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 25, 26, 30, 66, 71 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A037U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 05. Released 2020, June 10 | 2021, August 18 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.8 x 76.6 x 8.7 mm (6.29 x 3.02 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 |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~78.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM632 Snapdragon 632 (14 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 Core |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 3550 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Blue | Black, Blue, White |
| Models | XT2052DL | SM-A037F, SM-A037F/DS, SM-A037M, SM-A037G, SM-A037U, SM-S134DL, SM-A037W, SM-A037U1, SM-S135DL |
| Price | About 90 EUR | $ 65.65 / £ 82.99 / ₹ 10,800 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.36 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 122h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1718:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 103465 (v8), 101299 (v9)
GeekBench: 889 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto E (2020)
- Slightly more powerful processor
- Clean Android experience
- Generally reliable brand
- Lower display brightness
- Slower charging
- Less versatile camera
Samsung Galaxy A03s
- Brighter display
- Longer battery life
- Faster charging (15W)
- Likely better camera versatility
- Less powerful processor than Moto E (2020)
- Samsung's One UI can be bloated
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A03s boasts a measured peak brightness of 488 nits, offering a noticeably brighter viewing experience compared to the Moto E (2020), which lacks specific brightness data but is generally considered less vibrant. Both have a 1718:1 contrast ratio, indicating good black levels, but the A03s' brightness gives it an edge.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is a key differentiator. The Galaxy A03s likely has a more versatile camera setup, potentially including a depth sensor for better portrait mode. The Moto E (2020) typically has a simpler single camera setup. Specific camera specs are missing, but the A03s is expected to perform better in various lighting conditions.
Performance
The Motorola Moto E (2020) utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632, known for its efficiency. The Samsung Galaxy A03s features a Mediatek Helio P35. While the Snapdragon 632 generally offers slightly better raw performance, the Helio P35 is efficient and sufficient for everyday tasks. Real-world performance will depend on software optimization.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A03s shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 122 hours. The Moto E (2020) has a decent battery, but falls short of the A03s' longevity. The A03s also supports 15W wired charging, a faster charging speed than the Moto E (2020).
Buying Guide
The Motorola Moto E (2020) is ideal for users prioritizing a slightly more powerful processor for basic tasks and light gaming. The Samsung Galaxy A03s is a better choice for those who value a brighter display, longer battery life, and faster charging speeds, especially for media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Motorola Moto E (2020) has a slightly more powerful processor, which *might* offer a marginally better gaming experience, but both are entry-level phones and won't handle demanding games well.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides longer software update support than Motorola, although both are budget devices and updates may be limited.