Oppo Find 7a vs Samsung Galaxy S9: A Detailed Showdown

The Oppo Find 7a was a strong contender in its time, boasting impressive specs for its price. The Samsung Galaxy S9, released later, brought significant advancements. But which phone holds up better today? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the clear winner. While the Find 7a offered great value initially, the S9's superior display, more powerful chipset, and refined camera experience make it the better choice, even considering its age. The S9's endurance rating is also slightly better.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Find 7a Samsung Galaxy S9
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all modelsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - international modelHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA
4G bands1, 3, 7, 20 - International model1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
  LTE 700 / 1700 / 2100 - Mexico & US model1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
Launch
Announced2014, March. Released 2014, March2018, February 25. Released 2018, March 09
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions152.6 x 75 x 9.2 mm (6.01 x 2.95 x 0.36 in)147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in)
SIMMicro-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight170 g (6.00 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~570 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.9% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 84.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, HDR10
 -3D Touch (home button only) Always-on display
Platform
CPUQuad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801 (28 nm)Exynos 9810 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China
GPUAdreno 330Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEAAdreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China
OSAndroid 4.3 (Jelly Bean), ColorOSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal16GB 2GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3", AF12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS (30fps)
Selfie camera
Dual-8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF 2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera)
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.0-
Video1080p@30fps1440p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jack-Yes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (USA & Canada only)
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassIris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
 -ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging20W wired, 75% in 30 min (advertised)15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
TypeLi-Po 2800 mAh, removableLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable (11.55 Wh)
Misc
ColorsWhite, BlackMidnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue
ModelsX9006SM-G960F, SM-G960, SM-G960F, SM-G960U, SM-G960W, SM-G9600, SM-G960U1, SM-G960N, SCV38, SM-G960X, SC-02K
PriceAbout 370 EURAbout 110 EUR
SAR-0.63 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.36 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -92.7dB / Crosstalk -92.0dB Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -93.9dB
Battery life Endurance rating 60h Endurance rating 78h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 852 (nominal), 2.279 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.630 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker Voice 71dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 250156 (v7) GeekBench: 8830 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo Find 7a

  • Good value for its time
  • Decent performance for casual use
  • Impressive battery life (60h)

  • Outdated chipset
  • Inferior display
  • Less capable camera
  • No wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S9

  • Vibrant AMOLED display
  • Powerful processor
  • Excellent camera
  • Good battery life (78h)
  • Wireless charging (market dependent)

  • Older device
  • May lack latest software updates
  • Battery degradation possible

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S9 takes a commanding lead in the display department. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (effectively near-black levels) and 4.630 sunlight readability far surpass the Find 7a's 852 (nominal) and 2.279 (sunlight) contrast. The S9's AMOLED technology delivers richer colors and deeper blacks, providing a more immersive viewing experience. The Find 7a's display was good for its time, but it simply can't compete.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S9's camera is generally considered superior. While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the S9 boasts better image processing, low-light performance, and features like a variable aperture. The Find 7a's camera was decent, but the S9's advancements in image quality are undeniable.

Performance

The Galaxy S9's Exynos 9810 (or Snapdragon 845 in some regions) is significantly faster than the Find 7a's Snapdragon 801. The S9's octa-core processor and 10nm manufacturing process offer a noticeable performance boost in everyday tasks and demanding games. While the Find 7a's quad-core processor was capable, it shows its age compared to the S9's more modern architecture.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (60h vs 78h). However, the Galaxy S9 edges out the Oppo Find 7a in battery life, likely due to more efficient components and software optimization. The S9 also supports wireless charging (market dependent), a feature absent in the Find 7a.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Oppo Find 7a? Budget-conscious users looking for a nostalgic Android experience. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S9? Users prioritizing a vibrant display, smooth performance, and a capable camera, willing to accept an older device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Oppo Find 7a still worth buying?
Only if you're on a very tight budget and appreciate older Android phones. Otherwise, the Galaxy S9 offers a much better experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S9, despite being older, likely has slightly better software support, although updates are limited now. The Oppo Find 7a's support has likely ended.