The Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos and Lenovo S90 Sisley were popular budget Android phones offering a blend of features and affordability. But which one truly delivers the better experience? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos takes the crown thanks to its significantly longer battery life and slightly more powerful processor. While both are budget options, the A7 Duos offers a more enduring and responsive experience, making it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A700YD, A700H | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - S90-a |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A700YD | 1, 3, 41 - S90-u |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | LTE (unspecified) - S90-a |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, January. Released 2015, February | 2014, November. Released 2014, November |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151 x 76.2 x 6.3 mm (5.94 x 3.00 x 0.25 in) | 146 x 71.7 x 6.9 mm (5.75 x 2.82 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 141 g (4.97 oz) | 129 g (4.55 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~65.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Adreno 306 |
| OS | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes (A700YD) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| | ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 54 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pearl White, Midnight Black, Champagne Gold | White/silver, gray, pink, soft orange, blue |
| Models | SM-A7000, SM-A7009, SM-A700H, SM-A700YD | S90-A |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.39 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -95.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 83h
|
Endurance rating 54h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.679 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.892 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 64dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 73dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB
|
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 813Basemark X: 4802 |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 513Basemark X: 1909 |
Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos
- Significantly longer battery life
- More powerful processor
- Better sunlight display readability
- Dual SIM support (Duos)
- Older model, potentially harder to find new
- Design may feel dated
Lenovo S90 Sisley
- Potentially lower price (if found used)
- Slightly more compact design (likely)
- Decent basic functionality
- Shorter battery life
- Less powerful processor
- Lower sunlight display readability
- Older model
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays with a nominal 'infinite' contrast ratio, but the A7 Duos boasts a superior sunlight readability score of 3.679 compared to the S90 Sisley's 2.892. This suggests the A7 Duos screen is easier to view outdoors. Resolution and panel type are likely similar (likely IPS LCD), but the A7 Duos's better sunlight performance is a noticeable advantage.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse, but both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities. Given the chipset differences, the A7 Duos likely has a slightly better camera, but image quality will largely depend on the sensor and software processing. Neither phone was known for exceptional camera performance.
Performance
The A7 Duos holds a clear advantage here. Its Octa-core Snapdragon 615 chipset with two clusters of Cortex-A53 cores (4x1.5 GHz & 4x1.0 GHz) significantly outperforms the S90 Sisley's Quad-core Snapdragon 410 (1.2 GHz). Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the A7 Duos.
Battery Life
This is where the A7 Duos truly shines. Its endurance rating of 83 hours dwarfs the S90 Sisley's 54 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, a crucial factor for many users.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and a smoother performance for everyday tasks. The Lenovo S90 Sisley might appeal to those seeking a slightly more compact design and a potentially lower price point (if found used), but be prepared for shorter battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still worth buying?
Given their age, finding these phones new is unlikely. If you can find them used at a very low price, the A7 Duos is the better option due to its superior battery and performance. However, consider newer budget phones with better features and security updates.
❓ What operating system do these phones run?
Both phones originally shipped with Android 4.4 KitKat, but may have received updates to later versions depending on the carrier and region. However, they are unlikely to receive further updates now.
