The Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016) was a premium mid-range phone in its time, known for its sleek design and solid performance. Now, the Galaxy M33 offers a more modern experience with updated features and a more powerful processor. Let's see how these two stack up against each other.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M33 is the clear winner. Its significantly more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset, improved camera system, and modern features like a 120Hz display and faster charging outweigh the A8 (2016)'s more premium design and slightly more compact form factor.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38 - Taiwan | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 - UAE | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, September. Released 2016, October | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, April 08 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 156.6 x 76.8 x 7.2 mm (6.17 x 3.02 x 0.28 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 198 g (Global) / 215 g (India) (6.98 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 89.6 cm2 (~74.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | TFT LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) | Android 12, upgradable to Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, AF | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.9 | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro |
| | ANT+ | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired
4.5W reverse wired |
| Music play | Up to 44 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 22 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Ion 5000 mAh (Global)· Li-Ion 6000 mAh (India only) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Pink, Silver, Gold | Green, Blue, Brown |
| Models | SM-A8100, SM-A810F, SM-A810F, SM-A810YZ, SM-A810S | SM-M336B, SM-M336B/DS, SM-M336BU, SM-M336BU/DS, SM-M336K |
| Price | About 300 EUR | £ 299.00 |
| SAR EU | 0.13 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.38 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016)
- Premium build quality
- Compact size
- Good Super AMOLED display (for its time)
- Outdated processor
- Shorter battery life
- Less capable camera
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy M33
- Powerful Exynos 1280 processor
- Large, vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display
- Excellent battery life
- Versatile camera system
- Fast charging
- Reverse wired charging
- Larger size may not suit everyone
- Plastic build (less premium feel than A8)
Display Comparison
The Galaxy M33 boasts a 6.6-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother visuals and vibrant colors. The A8 (2016) has a 5.7-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, which is still good but lacks the high refresh rate and larger size of the M33. The M33's display is noticeably more immersive.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy M33 features a versatile quad-camera system (50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth), offering improved image quality and more creative options. The A8 (2016) has a 16MP main camera and a 5MP front camera, which are decent but don't compare to the M33's capabilities. Night photography is significantly better on the M33.
Performance
The Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy M33 is a substantial upgrade over the Exynos 7420 in the A8 (2016). The M33 handles demanding games and multitasking with ease, while the A8 (2016) can show its age with occasional lag. The Cortex-A78 cores in the M33 provide a significant performance boost.
Battery Life
The Galaxy M33 packs a larger 6000mAh battery, providing significantly longer battery life than the A8 (2016)'s 3000mAh battery. The M33 also supports 25W fast charging and reverse wired charging, while the A8 (2016) has standard charging speeds.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016) is best suited for users seeking a compact, reliable phone for basic tasks and who prioritize a premium feel. The Galaxy M33 is ideal for users who want a smooth, fast experience for gaming, photography, and everyday use, and appreciate modern features like a high refresh rate display.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy A8 (2016) still usable in 2024?
Yes, the Galaxy A8 (2016) can still be used for basic tasks, but its performance will be noticeably slower than modern phones. Software updates have likely ceased, which poses a security risk.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy M33 has significantly better gaming performance due to its more powerful processor and high refresh rate display.
