The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for those seeking essential features without breaking the bank. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the TCL Ion X and the Samsung Galaxy A03s. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges as the winner.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A03s edges out the TCL Ion X thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset, faster charging, and the inherent brand recognition and software support of Samsung. While both are budget options, the A03s provides a more polished and reliable experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A037U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, January 26 | 2021, August 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, January 26 | Available. Released 2021, August 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 156.5 x 75.2 x 8.9 mm (6.16 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 177.4 g (6.24 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android, TCL UI | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 Core |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, (wide) 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| 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 |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, Blue, White |
| Models | - | SM-A037F, SM-A037F/DS, SM-A037M, SM-A037G, SM-A037U, SM-S134DL, SM-A037W, SM-A037U1, SM-S135DL |
| Price | About 100 EUR | $ 65.65 / £ 82.99 / ₹ 10,800 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.36 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 122h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1718:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 103465 (v8), 101299 (v9)
GeekBench: 889 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
TCL Ion X
- Extremely Affordable
- Decent Battery Life
- Lightweight Design
- Less Powerful Chipset
- Slower Charging (10W)
- Basic Software Experience
Samsung Galaxy A03s
- Slightly More Powerful Chipset
- Faster Charging (15W)
- Samsung Brand & Software Support
- Brighter Display
- Slightly More Expensive
- Basic Camera Capabilities
Display Comparison
Both phones feature similar contrast ratios (1718:1), but the Samsung Galaxy A03s boasts a measured peak brightness of 488 nits, offering a noticeably brighter and more vibrant display, especially in outdoor conditions. The TCL Ion X's display is likely adequate but less impressive.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely comparable given the lack of detailed specifications. Both phones offer basic photo and video capabilities. Image quality will depend heavily on lighting conditions and software processing. Samsung's image processing might offer a slight edge.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A03s holds a slight advantage here. Its Helio P35 chipset (MT6765) offers a bit more processing power compared to the TCL Ion X's Helio G25 (MT6762G). This translates to smoother multitasking and slightly faster app loading times on the A03s. Both phones will struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings, with the Samsung Galaxy A03s claiming 122h. While real-world usage varies, the A03s's battery life is likely to be slightly better due to the more efficient chipset and optimized software.
Buying Guide
The TCL Ion X is a good choice for users prioritizing affordability above all else and who are comfortable with a more basic Android experience. The Samsung Galaxy A03s is ideal for those seeking a more reliable and feature-rich budget phone with a trusted brand and longer software support.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better performance for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A03s has a slightly more powerful chipset, making it marginally better for basic gaming, though neither phone is designed for demanding titles.
❓ How long will Samsung provide software updates for the Galaxy A03s?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its devices compared to TCL. Expect at least one major Android update and several security patches for the Galaxy A03s.
