Motorola Moto E (2020) vs Samsung Galaxy A03s: The Ultimate Budget Battle

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.
Phones Images

🏆 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.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto E (2020) Samsung Galaxy A03s
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 25, 26, 30, 66, 711, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A037U
Launch
Announced2020, June 05. Released 2020, June 102021, August 18
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 18
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions159.8 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)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 Water-repellent coating-
Display
Resolution720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density)720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~78.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDPLS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM632 Snapdragon 632 (14 nm)Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)
GPUAdreno 506PowerVR GE8320
OSAndroid 10Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 Core
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash
Single-5 MP, f/2.2
Triple-13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single5 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm5 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity
Battery
Charging-15W wired
TypeLi-Po 3550 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight BlueBlack, Blue, White
ModelsXT2052DLSM-A037F, SM-A037F/DS, SM-A037M, SM-A037G, SM-A037U, SM-S134DL, SM-A037W, SM-A037U1, SM-S135DL
PriceAbout 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.