Samsung Galaxy A71 5G vs. Apple iPhone SE (2020): A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing future-proofing and a larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G offers compelling value. However, the iPhone SE (2020) wins for those demanding the absolute fastest performance in a pocketable device, backed by Apple’s software support.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A71 5G | Apple iPhone SE (2020) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A716B | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - SM-A716B | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2296 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A716B | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 2, 5, 41, 66, 71 mmWave/Sub6 - SM-A716U | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2275, A2298 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 08 | 2020, April 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 15 | Available. Released 2020, April 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 148 g (5.22 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Ion-strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED Plus | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55) | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) |
| Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP5 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| ANT+ | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 18W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 1821 mAh (6.91 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube Sliver, Prism Cube Blue | Black, White, Red |
| Models | SM-A716F, SM-A716F/DS, SM-A716F/DSN, SM-A7160, SM-A716B/DS, SM-A716U, SM-A716B, SM-A716U1 | A2275, A2296, A2298, iPhone12,8 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | $ 120.00 / C$ 165.75 / £ 99.95 / € 130.89 |
| SAR | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) | 1.17 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.53 W/kg (body) | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 59h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1544:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 462253 (v8) GeekBench: 3237 (v5.1) |
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
- 5G Connectivity for faster data speeds
- Likely larger display for better media consumption
- 25W fast charging for quicker top-ups
- Exynos 980 chipset is less powerful than the A13 Bionic
- Camera details are limited, potentially lacking in low-light performance
Apple iPhone SE (2020)
- Apple A13 Bionic delivers exceptional performance
- Compact form factor for easy one-handed use
- Wireless charging (Qi) adds convenience
- Smaller display may not be ideal for all users
- Limited battery capacity compared to some competitors
Display Comparison
Both devices feature a 1544:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar levels of black depth. However, the iPhone SE (2020) boasts a measured peak brightness of 670 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. The A71 5G’s display size isn’t specified, but is expected to be significantly larger, impacting portability. While both displays share the same contrast ratio, the iPhone SE’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The A71 5G likely features a more versatile camera system with multiple lenses, while the iPhone SE (2020) focuses on computational photography powered by the A13 Bionic. Without sensor size or aperture information for the A71 5G, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The iPhone SE’s image processing is known for its natural color reproduction and dynamic range, while Samsung typically favors more saturated colors.
Performance
The Apple A13 Bionic, fabricated on a 7nm+ process, demonstrably outperforms the Samsung Exynos 980 (8nm) in CPU-intensive tasks. The A13’s hexa-core configuration, with its 2x2.65 GHz Lightning cores, provides a significant speed advantage over the A71 5G’s 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 cores. While the Exynos 980 benefits from 5G integration, the A13’s architectural efficiency and raw power translate to smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. The A13’s GPU also provides a substantial edge in graphics performance.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 59 hours, indicating comparable battery life despite differing capacities. The A71 5G supports 25W wired charging, potentially offering faster top-ups than the iPhone SE’s 18W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The iPhone SE also supports 7.5W wireless charging (Qi), a feature absent on the A71 5G. The similar endurance ratings suggest efficient power management on both sides, despite the A13 Bionic’s higher performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G if you need 5G connectivity, a large display for media consumption, and a versatile camera system without breaking the bank. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2020) if you prefer a compact phone, prioritize peak performance for gaming and demanding apps, and value Apple’s iOS ecosystem and long-term software updates.