The O2 XDA Atom represents a bygone era of Windows Mobile, while the Samsung Galaxy A50 embodies the modern Android experience. This comparison isn't about crowning a 'winner' in the traditional sense, but rather understanding the vast technological gulf between these devices and who might still find value in each today. We'll dissect the hardware, performance, and usability to provide a definitive assessment.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users in 2024, the Samsung Galaxy A50 is the clear choice. Its modern Android OS, significantly faster Exynos 9610 processor, and superior battery life offer a far more practical and enjoyable experience. The XDA Atom is a niche device for collectors or those specifically needing Windows Mobile.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A505U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2005, November | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, March 18 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 102 x 58 x 18.5 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 0.73 in) | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 166 g (5.86 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~148 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.7 inches, 22.6 cm2 (~38.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors (65K effective) | Super AMOLED |
| | Handwriting recognition | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Intel PXA272 416 MHz | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | - | Exynos 9610 (10 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | miniSD | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 2 MP | - |
| Triple | - | 25 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 25 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, AAC ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 1.2 | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | - | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | miniUSB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11b | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE) | - |
| Sensors | - | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Pocket Office
MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA/OGG/AMR player
WMV/MP4 player
| ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 150 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 5 h 30 min | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1530 mAh battery | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver | Black, White, Blue, Coral |
| Models | - | SM-A505F, SM-A505FN, SM-A505GN, SM-A505G, SM-A505FM, SM-A505YN, SM-A505W, SM-A505X, SM-A505U, SM-A505GT, SM-A505U1, SM-A505G, SM-A505N, SM-S506DL |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.31 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.27 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 279.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 171.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 98h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 82dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 144574 (v7)
GeekBench: 5396 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
O2 XDA Atom
- Highly repairable and modifiable
- Niche appeal for retro tech enthusiasts
- Windows Mobile OS for legacy application support
- Extremely slow processor
- Outdated display technology
- Limited app availability
- Poor camera performance
Samsung Galaxy A50
- Modern Android operating system
- Fast and responsive performance
- Excellent battery life (98h endurance)
- Capable camera system
- Affordable price point
- Plastic build quality
- 15W charging is relatively slow by today's standards
- Software updates may be limited
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A50 boasts a significantly more advanced display, measuring 551 nits in peak brightness, compared to the XDA Atom’s likely lower, and unmeasured, brightness. The A50’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a VA panel, offering deep blacks, while the XDA Atom likely uses an older TFT technology with limited viewing angles and color reproduction. The A50’s larger screen size and higher resolution contribute to a far more immersive viewing experience for modern content. The XDA Atom’s display, while functional for its time, is severely limited by today’s standards.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the A50’s camera system is far more sophisticated. While specific sensor details for the XDA Atom are unavailable, it’s safe to assume it’s a low-resolution sensor compared to the A50. The A50 benefits from modern image processing algorithms and likely features optical image stabilization (OIS) on its main sensor, resulting in sharper, more detailed photos, especially in low light. The A50’s camera is designed for social media sharing and casual photography, while the XDA Atom’s camera is likely limited to basic documentation.
Performance
The performance disparity is immense. The O2 XDA Atom’s Intel PXA272 at 416 MHz is dwarfed by the Samsung Galaxy A50’s Exynos 9610. The Exynos 9610 is an octa-core processor built on a 10nm process, featuring Cortex-A73 and A53 cores clocked at 2.3 GHz and 1.7 GHz respectively. This translates to a dramatically faster and more responsive experience for the A50, capable of handling multitasking, modern apps, and even some gaming. The XDA Atom will struggle with even basic tasks by today’s standards. The A50’s 4GB of RAM, while not high-end today, is still leagues ahead of the XDA Atom’s likely smaller RAM capacity, further enhancing multitasking capabilities.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A50’s endurance rating of 98 hours is a testament to its efficient Exynos 9610 chipset and optimized software. While the exact battery capacity isn’t specified, the 98-hour rating indicates excellent battery life for typical usage. The XDA Atom’s battery life is difficult to estimate without specific data, but given its older processor and smaller battery capacity, it will likely require daily charging with moderate use. The A50’s 15W wired charging is also significantly faster than any charging capabilities the XDA Atom likely possesses.
Buying Guide
Buy the O2 XDA Atom if you require a Windows Mobile device for legacy application compatibility, enjoy retro tech collecting, or need a highly repairable device with a simple architecture. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50 if you prioritize a modern operating system, a responsive user experience, a capable camera, and long-lasting battery life for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Exynos 9610 chip known to overheat during prolonged use?
The Exynos 9610 is a mid-range chip and can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions or demanding tasks. However, it's generally well-managed within the Galaxy A50's chassis and doesn't typically reach critical temperatures. It's not a flagship-level chip, so expect some performance reduction under sustained load.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A50 still receive software updates in 2024?
Samsung typically provides several years of software support for its devices. While the Galaxy A50 is no longer receiving major Android version updates, it likely still receives security patches. Check Samsung's official support website for the latest update information for your specific model and region.
❓ Is it possible to install modern apps on the O2 XDA Atom?
No, the O2 XDA Atom runs Windows Mobile, a discontinued operating system. Modern Android or iOS apps are not compatible. While some legacy Windows Mobile apps may still be available, the app ecosystem is extremely limited.
❓ What are the practical uses for the O2 XDA Atom in 2024?
The XDA Atom's primary uses in 2024 are for retro tech enthusiasts, collectors, or individuals who require compatibility with specific legacy Windows Mobile applications. It's not a practical daily driver for most users.
