The Realme 7i and Samsung Galaxy A32 represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, they take different approaches to achieving this. The Realme 7i leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662, prioritizing efficient performance, while the Samsung Galaxy A32 opts for MediaTek’s Helio G80, focusing on a brighter display and Samsung’s established brand recognition. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a smoother experience, the Realme 7i emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 662 chipset, despite being built on an 11nm process, offers a more refined and responsive experience than the Helio G80 in the Galaxy A32, making it ideal for daily tasks and moderate gaming.
| 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 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 17. Released 2020, September 18 | 2021, February 25 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, February 25 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.1 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.26 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 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 |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| 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, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Green, Polar Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, Awesome Violet |
| Models | RMX2103 | SM-A325F, SM-A325F/DS, SM-A325M, SM-A325N |
| Price | About 180 EUR | € 124.99 / £ 89.38 |
| SAR | 1.10 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | - | 0.45 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | Rp 2,950,000 | - |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | ₹ 12,990 | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.3 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 286666 (v8)
GeekBench: 1277 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 7i
- More efficient Snapdragon 662 chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Potentially smoother overall performance
- Display brightness likely lower than Galaxy A32
- Limited display specifications available
Samsung Galaxy A32
- Brighter 814 nit display for outdoor use
- Samsung brand recognition and ecosystem
- Potentially better software support
- Less efficient Helio G80 chipset
- Slower 15W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A32 boasts a significant advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 814 nits. This makes it considerably more usable outdoors under direct sunlight compared to the Realme 7i, whose brightness is not specified but is likely lower. While the Galaxy A32’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite (nominal)’ – a marketing term – the Realme 7i’s display specifications are absent, suggesting a standard IPS LCD panel. The lack of information on the Realme 7i’s PWM dimming rate raises concerns for users sensitive to flicker, while the Galaxy A32’s display, though brighter, doesn’t specify its refresh rate, implying a standard 60Hz panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture information, or image processing details, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the omission of specific details for the Galaxy A32 suggests a reliance on software processing to enhance image quality, while the Realme 7i’s camera system is likely more focused on delivering a straightforward photographic experience. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely inconsequential, offering limited practical benefit due to its low resolution.
Performance
The Realme 7i’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) and its octa-core CPU configuration (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) offer a more balanced performance profile than the Samsung Galaxy A32’s MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm). While the Helio G80 features two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz, the Snapdragon 662’s Kryo cores are generally more efficient and offer better sustained performance. The 12nm process of the Helio G80 suggests potentially higher power consumption and thermal throttling under sustained load. The Realme 7i’s available configurations of 4GB or 8GB of RAM, paired with 64GB or 128GB of storage, provide flexibility for different user needs, while the Galaxy A32’s RAM configuration is not specified in the provided data.
Battery Life
Both the Realme 7i and Samsung Galaxy A32 share an endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage scenarios. However, the Realme 7i’s 18W wired charging is faster than the Galaxy A32’s 15W wired charging. This translates to quicker top-ups, reducing downtime. While the mAh capacity of both batteries is not specified, the Snapdragon 662’s efficiency in the Realme 7i may contribute to comparable endurance despite the slower charging speed of the Galaxy A32.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 7i if you need a phone that feels consistently snappy and responsive for everyday use, and if you value a chipset known for its power efficiency. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A32 if you prioritize a brighter display for outdoor visibility and prefer the Samsung ecosystem and user interface, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G80 in the Galaxy A32 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G80, being built on a 12nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 662 (11nm) in the Realme 7i. While it can handle casual gaming, extended gaming sessions with demanding titles may result in noticeable performance drops as the chip attempts to manage heat.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Realme 7i significantly faster in real-world use compared to the Galaxy A32’s 15W charging?
Yes, while the difference of 3W may seem small, it translates to a noticeable reduction in charging time. The Realme 7i can expect to charge from 0-100% approximately 15-20% faster than the Galaxy A32, providing a more convenient charging experience.
❓ Given the lack of detailed camera specs, should I expect a significant difference in photo quality between these two phones?
Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing algorithms, it's difficult to predict a substantial difference in photo quality. Both phones likely rely on software enhancements, but the Realme 7i’s Snapdragon 662 may offer slightly faster image processing speeds. Expect similar results in good lighting conditions, but performance may vary in low-light scenarios.
