The Realme 5 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 take different approaches to achieving this. The Realme 5 prioritizes endurance and a relatively modern chipset, while the A30s focuses on a slightly faster charging solution and Samsung’s established brand recognition. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which device offers the best overall value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-lasting battery life and efficient performance, the Realme 5 emerges as the stronger contender. Its 144-hour endurance rating and Snapdragon 665 chipset provide a more consistent experience, especially considering the A30s’s slightly less efficient Exynos 7904 and only 15W charging.
| 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, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (2CA) 450/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August 20. Released 2019, August | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.6 x 9.3 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.37 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 | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| | Weather-sealed ports & loudspeaker | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Exynos 7904 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G71 MP2 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 13 MP, AF |
| Triple | - | 25 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 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, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Crystal Purple, Crystal Blue | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | RMX1911, RMX1919, RMX1927 | SM-A307F, SM-A307FN, SM-A307G, SM-A307GN, SM-A307GT |
| Price | About 190 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 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 144h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1406:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 89dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 139516 (v7)
GeekBench: 5707 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme 5
- Exceptional battery life (144h endurance)
- More efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Higher display contrast ratio (1406:1)
- Slower 10W charging
- Limited camera details available
Samsung Galaxy A30s
- Faster 15W charging
- Samsung brand recognition
- Available 128GB storage option
- Less efficient Exynos 7904 chipset
- Likely shorter battery life compared to Realme 5
Display Comparison
The Realme 5 boasts a display with a measured peak brightness of 485 nits and a 1406:1 contrast ratio. While the A30s’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s reasonable to assume a similar LCD panel. The Realme 5’s higher contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and a more vibrant image, potentially offering a better viewing experience in various lighting conditions. Neither phone is expected to feature high refresh rates or advanced panel technologies like AMOLED, focusing instead on affordability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on megapixel counts or aperture sizes, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, given the market segment, it’s likely both rely on similar budget sensors. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit due to the low resolution. Image processing will likely be the defining factor, with Samsung’s software potentially offering more refined results, but the underlying hardware is likely comparable.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme 5 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm) while the Samsung Galaxy A30s features the Exynos 7904 (14nm). The Snapdragon 665, built on a smaller 11nm process, generally offers better power efficiency and thermal management compared to the 14nm Exynos 7904. While both are octa-core CPUs, the architectural differences – Kryo 260 cores in the Snapdragon versus Cortex-A73/A53 in the Exynos – suggest the Snapdragon will handle sustained workloads and multitasking more effectively. The A30s’s available configurations of 64GB/4GB or 128GB/4GB RAM are comparable to the Realme 5’s RAM options, but the chipset’s efficiency is the key differentiator.
Battery Life
The Realme 5 shines with an impressive endurance rating of 144 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. This is coupled with 10W wired charging. The Samsung Galaxy A30s, while offering 15W wired charging, doesn’t provide an endurance rating. The faster charging speed on the A30s is a benefit, potentially reducing 0-100% charge times, but the Realme 5’s superior endurance means users will likely need to charge less frequently. The efficiency of the Snapdragon 665 contributes significantly to the Realme 5’s longer battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 5 if you need exceptional battery life and a chipset known for its power efficiency, making it ideal for users who heavily rely on their phone throughout the day. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A30s if you prefer the Samsung ecosystem and prioritize slightly faster charging, even if it comes at the cost of some battery endurance and potentially slightly lower sustained performance due to the 14nm process.
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 compared to the Realme 5’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm). While it can handle casual gaming, extended sessions with demanding titles may result in noticeable performance drops as the chip heats up.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Unfortunately, the 2MP macro cameras on both the Realme 5 and Galaxy A30s are largely marketing features. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. They are unlikely to provide a significant improvement over standard close-up shots taken with the main camera.
❓ What kind of real-world charging time can I expect from the Samsung Galaxy A30s's 15W charging?
With 15W charging, the Samsung Galaxy A30s will likely take around 2.5 to 3 hours to fully charge from 0% to 100%, depending on usage during charging. While faster than the Realme 5’s 10W charging, it’s not a dramatically quicker experience.
