Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Sharp Aquos Sense 5G, offering 5G connectivity, and the Samsung Galaxy A30s, a popular budget-friendly choice. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sharp Aquos Sense 5G takes the lead thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 690 5G chipset and faster charging. However, the Samsung Galaxy A30s offers a compelling value proposition with its attractive price point, especially considering its decent display and camera capabilities.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 25. Released 2021, June 10 | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 148 x 71 x 8.9 mm (5.83 x 2.80 x 0.35 in) | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.8 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| | IPX5/IP6X/IPX8 water/dust resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
MIL-STD-810H compliant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~435 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.8 inches, 84.0 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IGZO IPS LCD, HDR10 | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 7904 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619L | Mali-G71 MP2 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 13 MP, AF |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF
8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), AF
12 MP, f/2.4, 121˚ (ultrawide) | 25 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 27W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4570 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Satin Gold, Titanium Black | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | SHG03 | SM-A307F, SM-A307FN, SM-A307G, SM-A307GN, SM-A307GT |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.43 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 194.02 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 269.99 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 120.00 |
Sharp Aquos sense5G
- 5G Connectivity
- Faster Processor (Snapdragon 690)
- Faster Charging (27W)
- Potentially better performance
- Display likely LCD (less vibrant)
- Camera specs less clear
- Potentially higher price
Samsung Galaxy A30s
- Super AMOLED Display
- Versatile Camera System
- Samsung Brand Recognition
- Competitive Price
- Slower Processor (Exynos 7904)
- Slower Charging (15W)
- No 5G
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A30s boasts a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks, offering a superior viewing experience compared to the Aquos Sense 5G's likely LCD panel (specifications are not fully available, but typical for this price range). Resolution is likely similar, but the AMOLED advantage is significant.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A30s features a versatile triple-camera setup (48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP depth sensor), offering good image quality in various conditions. The Aquos Sense 5G likely has a dual or triple camera setup, but detailed specifications are scarce. Samsung's image processing is generally well-regarded.
Performance
Here, the Sharp Aquos Sense 5G shines. Its Snapdragon 690 5G chipset is considerably more powerful than the Exynos 7904 in the Galaxy A30s. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Aquos Sense 5G. The 8nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones likely offer all-day battery life with moderate usage. However, the Sharp Aquos Sense 5G's 27W fast charging provides a significant advantage over the Galaxy A30s' 15W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Sharp Aquos Sense 5G is ideal for users who prioritize 5G connectivity, performance, and faster charging. The Samsung Galaxy A30s is a great choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a reliable Samsung phone with a good display and camera, and don't necessarily need 5G.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Sharp Aquos Sense 5G worth the extra cost?
If 5G connectivity and performance are your priorities, then yes. Otherwise, the Galaxy A30s offers excellent value for the price.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides longer software update support than Sharp, so the Galaxy A30s is likely to receive updates for a longer period.