The Samsung Galaxy A71 and A51 5G UW represent Samsung’s approach to delivering feature-rich smartphones at accessible price points. While both aim to provide a solid user experience, they diverge significantly in their core hardware, particularly in chipset and connectivity. This comparison dissects these differences, focusing on how they impact real-world performance and usability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A71 offers a more compelling package due to its superior battery endurance, rated at 102 hours. While the A51 5G UW boasts 5G connectivity and a newer Snapdragon 765G, the trade-off in battery life and slower 15W charging makes it less practical for all-day use.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 2, 4, 5, 13, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 12. Released 2020, January 17 | 2020, August 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, August 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.30 in) | 158.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.89 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 188.8 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED Plus | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) - Philippines | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 10, One UI 2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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 | 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 |
| Single | - | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 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 | Yes (market dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 672 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink | Prism Bricks Blue |
| Models | SM-A715F, SM-A715F/DS, SM-A715F/DSN, SM-A715F/DSM, SM-A715W, SM-A715X | SM-A516V |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.51 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.32 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 102h | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-29.0 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 192 458(v7), 263396 (v8)
GeekBench: 7039 (v4.4), 1733 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy A71
- Exceptional 102-hour battery life
- Faster 25W wired charging
- Potentially more refined camera software
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Older chipset compared to A51 5G UW
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- More efficient 7nm Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Slightly improved CPU performance
- Significantly slower 15W wired charging
- Reduced battery endurance compared to A71
- Potential for increased power consumption with 5G active
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays suitable for their price range, but detailed specifications are limited. The A71 is confirmed to reach a peak brightness of 515 nits, providing adequate visibility in most conditions. While contrast is listed as 'Infinite (nominal)', this is standard marketing terminology. The A51 5G UW’s display specs are not provided, but given its market positioning, it likely offers similar brightness and contrast levels. The absence of high refresh rate panels on either device is a notable omission compared to some competitors.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the A71’s longevity on the market suggests a more refined image processing pipeline. The A51 5G UW benefits from the newer ISP within the Snapdragon 765G, potentially offering improved noise reduction and dynamic range. It’s likely both phones feature similar multi-camera setups with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and depth sensor, but the A71’s established software optimization may yield more consistent results.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A71 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 (or 730G in the Philippines), built on an 8nm process. This is paired with an octa-core CPU configuration featuring 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver cores. The A51 5G UW steps up to the Snapdragon 765G, fabricated on a more efficient 7nm process, with a CPU configuration of 1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver cores. The 7nm process and the addition of the Kryo 475 Prime core in the 765G should translate to slightly improved performance and efficiency, particularly in demanding tasks, but the difference won't be dramatic. The A51 5G UW’s 5G modem is its key advantage, enabling access to faster mobile data speeds where available.
Battery Life
The A71 shines with an endurance rating of 102 hours, a testament to its efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (though not specified). This translates to excellent all-day battery life for most users. The A51 5G UW, however, suffers from a significantly slower 15W wired charging speed. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the increased power draw of the 5G modem and the less efficient charging likely contribute to a shorter overall battery life compared to the A71. The A71’s 25W charging provides a much faster top-up when needed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 if you prioritize long-lasting battery life and consistent performance for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and photography. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW if you absolutely require 5G connectivity on a budget and are willing to compromise on battery life and charging speed, and live in an area with robust 5G UW coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the A51 5G UW offer a noticeable gaming performance boost over the A71's Snapdragon 730?
While the Snapdragon 765G is technically more powerful, the real-world gaming difference will be modest. Both chipsets are mid-range and will struggle with demanding titles at high settings. Expect similar frame rates with minor improvements on the A51 5G UW, but thermal throttling could limit sustained performance on both devices.
❓ How much faster are download speeds on the A51 5G UW compared to 4G LTE on the A71?
The A51 5G UW, when connected to a 5G network, can achieve significantly faster download speeds – potentially 10x or more – compared to 4G LTE on the A71. However, 5G availability and speeds vary greatly depending on location and carrier. If you don't have access to reliable 5G coverage, the A51 5G UW's advantage is diminished.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the A51 5G UW a significant drawback?
Yes, the 15W charging is a considerable disadvantage. Compared to the A71’s 25W charging, it will take considerably longer to fully recharge the battery. This can be inconvenient for users who frequently need to top up their phone throughout the day.
