The Oppo A11s and Samsung Galaxy A30s represent compelling options in the sub-$200 smartphone market. While both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price, they diverge significantly in their core hardware. The A11s leverages Qualcomm's Snapdragon 460, while the A30s opts for Samsung's in-house Exynos 7904. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Oppo A11s emerges as the slightly better choice. Its newer Snapdragon 460 chipset, built on a more efficient 11nm process, provides a subtle but noticeable performance edge and potentially better thermal management. While the A30s offers storage options at competitive prices, the A11s' modern chipset gives it a slight advantage.
| 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, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 27 | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 27 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.8 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) | Exynos 7904 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G71 MP2 |
| OS | Android 10, ColorOS 7.2 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 13 MP, AF |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 25 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, White | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | - | SM-A307F, SM-A307FN, SM-A307G, SM-A307GN, SM-A307GT |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.43 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 194.02 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 269.99 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 120.00 |
Oppo A11s
- More efficient Snapdragon 460 chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Potentially better thermal management
- Limited storage options
- Less established brand recognition than Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A30s
- Available with 128GB storage
- Samsung's brand reputation
- Competitive pricing for storage variants
- Less efficient Exynos 7904 chipset
- Slower 15W charging
Display Comparison
Neither Oppo nor Samsung provide detailed display specifications for these models. However, given their price points, both likely utilize LCD panels. The A30s's larger screen size (6.4 inches vs. the A11s's 6.5 inches) doesn't necessarily translate to a better viewing experience without knowing the resolution and color accuracy. The absence of high refresh rates is expected in this segment. The A11s's slightly smaller size may appeal to users who prefer a more compact device.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs are lacking, but both phones likely feature a multi-camera setup with a primary sensor. The A30s's inclusion of a 2MP macro camera is a common, but often underwhelming, feature in this price range. Image quality will heavily rely on software processing. Without detailed sensor size information, it's difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Exynos 7904's ISP (Image Signal Processor) may offer slightly more advanced image processing capabilities, potentially leading to better dynamic range in certain scenarios. However, the Snapdragon 460's ISP is also capable, and software optimization plays a crucial role.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Oppo A11s's Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (11nm) features an octa-core CPU configuration with Kryo 240 cores. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy A30s's Exynos 7904 (14nm), which uses a combination of Cortex-A73 and Cortex-A53 cores. The 11nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 460 generally leads to improved power efficiency compared to the 14nm Exynos 7904, potentially resulting in better battery life and less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. While both are octa-core, the architectural differences suggest the Snapdragon 460 will offer a slight edge in CPU-intensive tasks.
Battery Life
The Oppo A11s supports 18W wired charging, while the Samsung Galaxy A30s is limited to 15W. This means the A11s will likely charge faster from 0-100%. While battery capacity isn't specified, the Snapdragon 460's improved power efficiency could translate to longer battery life for the A11s, even with a similar capacity battery to the A30s. The faster charging speed of the A11s is a tangible benefit for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo A11s if you prioritize a slightly smoother user experience and potentially longer software support due to the more recent chipset. It's ideal for users who engage in light multitasking, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A30s if you need more storage out of the box and value Samsung's established brand reputation, particularly if you can find the 128GB model at a significant discount. It's a solid option for users who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, and basic apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 7904 in the Galaxy A30s tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 7904, being built on a 14nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 460 (11nm). While it can handle casual gaming, extended sessions with graphically demanding titles may lead to noticeable performance drops as the chip heats up. The A11s is likely to maintain more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung Galaxy A30s actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget phones 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.
❓ Can either of these phones handle playing PUBG Mobile at 60fps?
Achieving a stable 60fps in PUBG Mobile on either the Oppo A11s or Samsung Galaxy A30s will likely require lowering the graphics settings to the lowest possible levels. The Snapdragon 460 in the A11s has a slight advantage, but both phones are at the lower end of the performance spectrum for this demanding game. Expect occasional frame drops even with optimized settings.
