Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The Samsung Galaxy Core Plus and the Honor Magic5 Lite are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Magic5 Lite decisively wins this comparison. Its significantly more powerful processor, brighter display, faster charging, and impressive battery life make it a far superior choice despite the Galaxy Core Plus's potential affordability. The Magic5 Lite offers a modern experience at a budget price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - G3500 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, October. Released 2013, October | 2023, February 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, February 20 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 129.7 x 66 x 9.5 mm (5.11 x 2.60 x 0.37 in) | 161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 132.5 g (4.66 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch/drop-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~217 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.3 inches, 52.6 cm2 (~61.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.2 GHz | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MagicOS 7.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 4GB | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 entries, Photocall | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 3.0 | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite | - |
| Games | Yes | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, Email | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 40W wired |
| Music play | Up to 40 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 320 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 1800 mAh, removable | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Black, Pink | Midnight Black, Emerald Green, Titanium Silver |
| Models | SM-G3502, SM-G350, SM-G352, SM-G3520, SM-G3502C, SM-G3502U | RMO-NX1, RMO-NX3 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 0.61 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.54 W/kg (head) 0.46 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.8dB / Crosstalk -73.5dB | - |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 111h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB |
-31.4 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 387250 (v9)
GeekBench: 1912 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Core Plus
- Potentially very affordable
- Basic calling and texting functionality
- Outdated processor
- Low performance
- Likely poor camera quality
- Slow charging
- Dim display
- Limited features
Honor Magic5 Lite
- Powerful Snapdragon 695 5G processor
- Bright and vibrant display
- Long battery life
- Fast 40W charging
- Improved camera performance
- Modern features
- May be slightly more expensive than the Core Plus (but worth it)
Display Comparison
The Honor Magic5 Lite boasts a significantly brighter display at 864 nits compared to the Galaxy Core Plus's likely lower brightness (spec unavailable, assumed to be standard for its era). The Magic5 Lite's 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent image quality, while the Core Plus likely offers a more basic viewing experience. The Magic5 Lite's display is a clear winner.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo/Video' capabilities, the Magic5 Lite's newer chipset and likely improved camera sensors should result in better image quality, especially in low light. The Core Plus's camera is likely to be basic and produce less detailed photos. Specific camera specs are missing for both, but the Magic5 Lite is expected to perform better.
Performance
The Honor Magic5 Lite's Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset with an octa-core processor is a massive upgrade over the Galaxy Core Plus's dual-core 1.2 GHz CPU. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better overall performance on the Magic5 Lite. The Core Plus will struggle with modern apps and demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones claim an impressive 111h endurance rating, but the Magic5 Lite's 40W wired charging offers significantly faster charging speeds compared to the Core Plus's likely slower charging (spec unavailable). Even with similar endurance, the Magic5 Lite's faster charging provides a practical advantage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Core Plus might appeal to users with extremely limited budgets who prioritize basic calling and texting. The Honor Magic5 Lite is ideal for anyone seeking a modern smartphone experience with good performance, a vibrant display, and long-lasting battery life, all without spending a fortune.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy Core Plus still worth buying?
Only if you have an extremely limited budget and only need basic calling and texting. Otherwise, the Honor Magic5 Lite offers significantly better value.
❓ What is the biggest difference between these two phones?
The biggest difference is performance. The Honor Magic5 Lite's modern chipset provides a vastly superior user experience compared to the Galaxy Core Plus's outdated processor.
