Looking for an affordable smartphone? The Philips PH2 and Samsung Galaxy A40 both offer compelling options, but cater to different needs. This comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A40 takes the crown. While the Philips PH2 boasts a modern chipset, the A40's superior display, established brand reputation, and longer software support make it the more well-rounded choice for most users, despite its age.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 08. Released 2021, December 13 | 2019, March 19. Released 2019, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 156.2 x 75.3 x 9 mm (6.15 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) | 144.4 x 69.2 x 7.9 mm (5.69 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 140 g (4.94 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~437 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.21 inches, 96.3 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.9 inches, 85.5 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (1x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 3x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x1.77 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.59 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T310 (12 nm) | Exynos 7904 (14 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8300 | Mali-G71 MP2 |
| OS | Android OS, HMS (Huawei Mobile Services) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), AF
2 MP | 16 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 25 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3900 mAh | Li-Po 3100 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Gold | Black, White, Blue, Coral |
| Models | S702 | SM-A405F, SM-A405FN, SM-A405FM, SM-A405S |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.49 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -85.9dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: infinite |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 73dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 106388 (v7)
GeekBench: 4112 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 4.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Philips PH2
- Modern Chipset (Unisoc T310)
- Potentially Lower Price
- Compact Size (likely)
- Likely LCD Display
- Unknown Camera Quality
- Limited Software Support
- Less Established Brand
Samsung Galaxy A40
- Super AMOLED Display
- Established Brand & Support
- Good Camera Performance
- Excellent Battery Life
- Older Chipset (Exynos 7904)
- May be harder to find new
- 15W Charging (relatively slow)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A40's 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display shines with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a measured 548 nits of brightness. The Philips PH2 likely has an LCD display, which will offer less contrast and potentially lower brightness. The A40's infinite contrast ratio is a significant advantage.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is subjective, but the Samsung Galaxy A40 generally has a better reputation for image processing and overall camera performance. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the A40 likely has better low-light performance and more refined software features. The PH2's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots.
Performance
The Philips PH2's Unisoc Tiger T310 chipset, while newer at 12nm, features a Cortex-A75 core, which can offer a slight performance boost in single-core tasks. However, the Samsung Galaxy A40's Exynos 7904, with its octa-core design, provides a more balanced performance across multiple tasks. Real-world performance will depend on software optimization.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 73 hours. This suggests excellent battery life for both devices, making battery life a non-factor in the comparison.
Buying Guide
The Philips PH2 is ideal for users prioritizing a very budget-friendly device and potentially needing a slightly more modern chipset for basic tasks. The Samsung Galaxy A40 is better suited for those seeking a reliable, well-rounded experience with a good display and camera, even if it's an older model.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Philips PH2 a good phone for gaming?
The Unisoc T310 chipset is adequate for basic games, but don't expect high-end gaming performance. The Samsung Galaxy A40 might offer a slightly smoother experience.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A40 with software updates?
Samsung typically provides 2-3 years of software updates for its A-series phones. The PH2's update support is likely to be more limited.
