The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Samsung Galaxy Express 2 and the Honor 7A. Let's see which phone delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor 7A takes the crown. While the Galaxy Express 2 has a slightly faster CPU core, the Honor 7A's octa-core processor, newer chipset, and generally improved features offer a smoother, more modern experience, especially considering its age.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, October. Released 2013, October | 2018, April. Released 2018, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 132.4 x 65.7 x 9.8 mm (5.21 x 2.59 x 0.39 in) | 152.4 x 73 x 7.8 mm (6.00 x 2.87 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 134.2 g (4.73 oz) | 150 g (5.29 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.5 inches, 55.8 cm2 (~64.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~75.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait | Octa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.1 GHz Cortex A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 505 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) | Android 8.0 (Oreo), EMUI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1.5GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | - |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | VGA | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 480 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, White | Black, Gold, Blue |
| Models | SM-G3815 | AUM-AL00IN, AUM-TL20, AUM-AL00, AUM-AL20, AUM-l29, AUM-L29, AUM-L33 |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR | 0.38 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.38 W/kg (head) 0.36 W/kg (body) | - |
Samsung Galaxy Express 2
- Simple and reliable
- Compact size (potentially)
- Samsung brand recognition
- Outdated chipset
- Limited performance
- Lower resolution display
- Less capable camera
- Smaller battery
Honor 7A
- Better performance (octa-core)
- Improved camera
- Larger battery
- Modern design
- More features
- May feel slightly larger for some
- Honor brand recognition (less established than Samsung)
Display Comparison
The Honor 7A typically features a slightly larger display (5.7 inches) with a more modern aspect ratio compared to the Galaxy Express 2 (likely around 4.5-5 inches). While both use LCD panels, the Honor 7A often has better color accuracy and brightness. Resolution is likely similar, but the Honor 7A's larger size allows for a slightly higher pixel density.
Camera Comparison
The Honor 7A generally boasts a more advanced camera system. It likely features a higher resolution main sensor and potentially a secondary depth sensor for portrait mode. The Galaxy Express 2's camera is likely adequate for basic photos, but the Honor 7A will offer better image quality, especially in low light.
Performance
This is where the Honor 7A shines. The Snapdragon 430's octa-core architecture provides significantly better multi-tasking capabilities than the Galaxy Express 2's dual-core processor. While the Express 2's 1.7 GHz Krait core might seem faster on paper, the 430's efficiency and additional cores make a noticeable difference in real-world usage. Expect smoother app loading and less lag on the Honor 7A.
Battery Life
The Honor 7A typically has a larger battery capacity (around 3000mAh) compared to the Galaxy Express 2 (likely around 2000mAh). This translates to longer battery life on the Honor 7A, easily lasting a full day of moderate use.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Express 2 might appeal to users seeking a very basic, reliable phone for calls and simple tasks, especially if it's available at a significantly lower price. The Honor 7A is a better choice for most users, offering a more modern design, better performance, and a more capable camera.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy Express 2 still worth buying?
Only if you need a very basic phone for calls and texts and find it at a significantly discounted price. Otherwise, the Honor 7A offers much better value.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Honor 7A, being a newer device, is more likely to have received software updates and security patches. The Galaxy Express 2 is likely running an older version of Android and may no longer receive updates.
