The Plum Ram Plus LTE and Samsung Galaxy A02s represent the extreme end of the smartphone price spectrum. Both aim to deliver essential functionality at a minimal cost, but they achieve this through different approaches to hardware. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offers the best value for budget-conscious consumers.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A02s emerges as the slightly better choice. While the Plum Ram Plus LTE's Unisoc T107 is a modern chip, the Snapdragon 450 in the A02s, coupled with its measured 406 nits of brightness and 114-hour endurance rating, provides a more consistently reliable experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 26, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 02 | 2020, November 24. Released 2021, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 02 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 111.5 x 57.5 x 22 mm (4.39 x 2.26 x 0.87 in) | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 108.4 g (3.81 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Flashlight | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~27.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 256K colors | PLS LCD |
| | External display: 1.44 inches, 128 x 128 pixels | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Unisoc T107 | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 506 |
| OS | - | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128MB, 48MB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Phonebook | Yes | - |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 2 MP | 3.15 MP |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 4.2, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, built-in antenna | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | No | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS | - |
| Sensors | - | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 530 h (2G) / Up to 530 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 6 h 12 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 18 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1200 mAh, removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Black/Orange | Black, White, Red, Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A025F, SM-A025F/DS, SM-A025G, SM-A025G/DS, SM-A025M, SM-A025M/DS, SM-A025U, SM-A025V, SM-A025A, SM-A025U1, SM-A025AZ, SM-S124DL |
| Price | - | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.40 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -81.4dB / Crosstalk -80.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 114h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1765:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.8 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 90811 (v8)
GeekBench: 495 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Plum Ram Plus LTE
- Potentially more future-proof chipset (Unisoc T107)
- May offer a lower price point
- Newer architecture
- Unisoc chipset may require software optimization
- Display specifications are unknown and likely inferior
- Uncertain battery performance
Samsung Galaxy A02s
- Proven Snapdragon 450 performance
- Brighter display (406 nits)
- Excellent battery life (114h endurance)
- 15W fast charging
- Older chipset architecture
- May be slightly more expensive
- Basic camera system
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A02s boasts a measured peak brightness of 406 nits and a 1765:1 contrast ratio, offering a noticeably more vibrant and visible experience, especially outdoors. While the Plum Ram Plus LTE’s display specifications are unavailable, it’s reasonable to assume it will fall short of the A02s in both brightness and contrast, given its lower price point. The A02s’ contrast ratio, while not exceptional, is sufficient for comfortable viewing in most conditions. The lack of detailed display information for the Plum Ram Plus LTE makes a direct comparison difficult, but the A02s clearly has the advantage based on measured data.
Camera Comparison
Both devices list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Given the price bracket, it’s safe to assume both feature basic camera setups. The A02s likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP), which generally provides better image processing than Unisoc’s offerings at this level. The absence of sensor size or aperture information prevents a detailed analysis, but the A02s’ established brand reputation suggests a more refined camera experience, even if the hardware is similar. It's highly probable both phones include low-resolution auxiliary cameras (e.g., 2MP depth sensors) that offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A02s utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 (14nm), an octa-core processor with Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. This is a mature, well-optimized chipset. The Plum Ram Plus LTE, however, features the Unisoc T107. While newer, Unisoc chips often require more software optimization to reach their full potential. The Snapdragon 450’s 14nm process node is also more efficient than what is likely used in the T107, potentially leading to better thermal management under sustained loads. For everyday tasks, both will be adequate, but the A02s is likely to offer smoother multitasking and app loading due to Qualcomm’s established software ecosystem.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A02s achieves an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating excellent battery life. Coupled with 15W wired charging, it provides a reliable and convenient charging experience. The Plum Ram Plus LTE’s battery capacity and charging speed are unknown, but achieving a similar endurance rating would require a larger battery or significantly more efficient chipset. The A02s’ 15W charging, while not fast by modern standards, is sufficient for topping up the battery overnight, ensuring all-day usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the Plum Ram Plus LTE if you prioritize a newer chipset architecture and are comfortable potentially troubleshooting software optimizations. It may appeal to users who enjoy tinkering. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A02s if you value a proven track record of stability, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a longer-lasting battery, making it ideal for users who need a dependable daily driver.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 450 in the Samsung Galaxy A02s still a capable processor in 2024?
While not a flagship-level chip, the Snapdragon 450 remains perfectly adequate for basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, social media, and light web browsing. It's a well-optimized processor that provides a stable and reliable experience, even years after its release.
❓ How does the Unisoc T107 in the Plum Ram Plus LTE compare to the Snapdragon 450 in terms of gaming?
The Unisoc T107 is a newer chip, but its gaming performance is likely comparable to, or slightly below, the Snapdragon 450. Both chips will struggle with demanding 3D games, and you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to achieve playable frame rates. The Snapdragon 450 benefits from Qualcomm's Adreno GPU, which is generally more efficient.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A02s support software updates?
Software update support for the Samsung Galaxy A02s is limited. It originally launched with Android 10 and has received updates to Android 12. Further major Android version updates are unlikely. However, Samsung typically provides security patches for a period after the last major update.
❓ What type of charging port does the Samsung Galaxy A02s use?
The Samsung Galaxy A02s uses a Micro-USB port for charging and data transfer. This is an older standard, and charging speeds are limited to 15W. It's slower than the USB-C ports found on more modern smartphones.
