The Samsung Galaxy A51 and Realme 7 Pro represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, but cater to different priorities. The A51, released earlier, initially offered a strong value proposition, while the 7 Pro arrived with a focus on faster charging and improved performance. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme 7 Pro is the superior choice. Its significantly faster 65W charging and longer battery life (113h endurance vs 86h) outweigh the A51’s brighter display. While the A51 has wider availability and brand recognition, the 7 Pro delivers a more modern and efficient experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A515U | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 12. Released 2019, December 16 | 2020, September 03. Released 2020, September 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) | 160.9 x 74.3 x 8.7 mm (6.33 x 2.93 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing
ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 65W wired, 50% in 12 min, 100% in 34 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink | Mirror Blue, Mirror Silver |
| Models | SM-A515F, SM-A515F/DSN, SM-A515F/DS, SM-A515F/DST, SM-A515F/DSM, SM-A515F/N, SM-A515U, SM-A515U1, SM-A515W, SM-A515X, SM-S515DL | RMX2170 |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 0.80 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) | 0.73 W/kg (head) 0.52 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.37 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) | - |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | $ 299.99 | - |
| 128GB 6GB RAM | $ 674.99 | - |
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | Rp 3,498,000 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | $ 211.50 | - |
| RENEWED | £ 179.00 | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -87.3dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 86h
|
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.6 LUFS (Average)
|
-24.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 113051 (v7), 175363 (v8)
GeekBench: 5401 (v4.4), 1294 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 278414(v8)
GeekBench: 1811 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A51
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Established brand reputation and wider availability
- Potentially larger battery capacity (unconfirmed)
- Slow 15W charging
- Less efficient Exynos 9611 chipset
- Lower RAM in base configuration
Realme 7 Pro
- 65W SuperDart charging – incredibly fast
- More efficient Snapdragon 720G processor
- Longer battery life (113h endurance)
- 8GB RAM standard configuration
- Slightly dimmer display
- Less brand recognition in some markets
- Camera details are limited
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A51 boasts a brighter display, reaching 636 nits, compared to the Realme 7 Pro’s 585 nits. This difference is noticeable in direct sunlight, giving the A51 a slight edge for outdoor visibility. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks typical of AMOLED panels. However, the Realme 7 Pro’s display technology isn’t specified, while the A51’s panel characteristics (PWM dimming rate, color gamut coverage) are unknown, making a definitive color accuracy assessment impossible. The brightness difference is the primary distinguishing factor.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without information on sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing algorithms, a direct comparison is difficult. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices suggests limited utility, as these sensors typically produce low-quality images. The Realme 7 Pro’s image processing is likely tuned for vibrant colors, while Samsung typically aims for more natural tones. The lack of detail prevents a meaningful assessment of camera performance.
Performance
The Realme 7 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) demonstrably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A51’s Exynos 9611 (10nm). The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 720G translates to better power efficiency and thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained tasks. The 7 Pro’s CPU configuration – 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver – is architecturally more modern than the A51’s Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53). The 7 Pro also benefits from 8GB of RAM in its standard configuration, compared to the A51’s base model of 4GB, resulting in smoother multitasking and app switching.
Battery Life
The Realme 7 Pro’s 65W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 50% charge in just 12 minutes and a full charge in 34 minutes. This is a massive advantage over the Samsung Galaxy A51’s slow 15W charging. Despite the A51 having a potentially larger battery capacity (not specified), the 7 Pro’s superior charging speed and 113h endurance rating (vs. A51’s 86h) make it the clear winner in battery performance. The 7 Pro allows for quick top-ups, minimizing downtime, while the A51 requires significantly longer charging times.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 if you prioritize a slightly brighter display and are heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem. Its wider availability and established brand reputation may also be appealing. Buy the Realme 7 Pro if you value exceptional battery life, incredibly fast charging, and a more efficient processor for a smoother overall experience, especially if you're a power user or gamer.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy A51 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9611, built on a 10nm process, is prone to thermal throttling under sustained load. While it can handle casual gaming, demanding titles may experience frame drops and reduced performance after extended play. The Realme 7 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G (8nm) is more efficient and less likely to overheat.
❓ Is the 65W charging on the Realme 7 Pro safe for the battery's long-term health?
Realme employs multiple layers of safety protection in its 65W SuperDart charging system, including temperature control and overcharge protection. While fast charging can theoretically contribute to battery degradation over time, the sophisticated charging algorithms minimize this effect, and the convenience of rapid charging generally outweighs the minor potential impact on long-term battery health.
❓ Are the 2MP macro cameras on either phone worth using?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget and mid-range phones offer limited image quality. The small sensor size and fixed focus result in soft, often noisy images. They are best used for casual snapshots and experimentation, but don't expect professional-level macro photography.
