Looking for a reliable and affordable smartphone? The Realme Narzo series consistently delivers excellent value. Today, we're pitting the Narzo 30A against its predecessor, the Narzo 20A, to see which one reigns supreme in the budget phone arena.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Realme Narzo 30A edges out the Narzo 20A thanks to its more powerful Helio G85 chipset, faster charging, and reverse charging capability. While the Narzo 20A remains a solid option, the 30A offers a noticeable performance boost for a similar price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, February 24 | 2020, September 21. Released 2020, September 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 05 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 75.9 x 9.8 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.39 in) | 164.4 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm (6.47 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 470 nits (typ), 570 nits (peak) | IPS LCD, 480 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, Realme UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.25µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 480p@120fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
5W reverse wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 6000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Laser Black, Laser Blue | Glory Silver, Victory Blue |
| Models | RMX3171 | RMX2050 |
| Price | About 450 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | 1.37 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.63 W/kg (body) |
Realme Narzo 30A
- More powerful chipset (Helio G85)
- Faster 18W charging
- Reverse wired charging
- Larger 6000mAh battery
- Slightly improved camera processing
- Design might be less appealing to some
- No NFC in some regions
Realme Narzo 20A
- More affordable
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Decent battery life (5000mAh)
- Clean Realme UI
- Slower 10W charging
- Less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 665)
- Lower gaming performance
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels (HD+). While the panels are similar in size and resolution, the Narzo 30A might offer slightly better color accuracy due to advancements in Realme's display technology. Viewing angles and brightness are comparable.
Camera Comparison
The Narzo 30A typically features a triple-camera setup (13MP main + 2MP depth + 2MP macro) while the Narzo 20A has a similar configuration. Image quality is generally comparable in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is adequate on both, but the Narzo 30A's newer image processing algorithms might offer slightly better results. Both phones have an 8MP front-facing camera.
Performance
This is where the Narzo 30A truly shines. The Mediatek Helio G85 chipset is significantly more powerful than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Narzo 30A. The G85's GPU also provides a noticeable advantage in graphics-intensive tasks.
Battery Life
The Narzo 30A packs a 6000mAh battery, providing excellent battery life, easily lasting a full day or more. The Narzo 20A also has a large 5000mAh battery, offering good endurance but not quite as impressive as the 30A. The Narzo 30A's 18W fast charging is a significant advantage over the Narzo 20A's 10W charging.
Buying Guide
The Realme Narzo 30A is ideal for users who prioritize performance and faster charging. It's great for light gaming and everyday tasks. The Realme Narzo 20A is a good choice for those on a tighter budget who need a dependable phone for basic usage like calls, texts, and social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Realme Narzo 30A worth the extra money compared to the Narzo 20A?
Yes, if performance and faster charging are important to you, the Narzo 30A is worth the upgrade. The Helio G85 chipset provides a noticeable boost in speed and responsiveness.
❓ Does the Realme Narzo 30A support 5G?
No, neither the Narzo 30A nor the Narzo 20A support 5G connectivity. They both rely on 4G LTE.
