TCL Stylus vs Samsung Galaxy A23 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the TCL Stylus and the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G. Both offer compelling features, but which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G edges out the TCL Stylus thanks to its superior display, faster charging, and generally more polished software experience. While the Stylus's stylus is a unique selling point, the A23 5G provides a more well-rounded package for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL Stylus	Samsung Galaxy A23 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	25, 41, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2022, June 02	2022, August 05
Status	Available. Released 2022, June 02	Available. Released 2022, September 02

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	169.6 x 76.5 x 9 mm (6.68 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)	165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	213 g (7.51 oz)	197 g (6.95 oz)
	Stylus	-

Display
Protection	NEG	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.81 inches, 110.1 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ)	PLS LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12, TCL UI 4.0	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	-	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	13 MP, f/2.3, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3", 1.12µm	-
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 5 MP, 115˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	13 MP, f/2.3, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3", 1.12µm	8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	FM radio (market/region dependent)
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	18W wired	25W wired
Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Lunar Black	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	T779W	SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL
Price	About 240 EUR	$ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000
SAR	1.25 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body)	0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 138h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-25.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

TCL Stylus

Integrated stylus for note-taking and drawing
Potentially larger screen
Competitive price

Lower performance than A23 5G
Slower charging
Likely less vibrant display
Less polished software

Samsung Galaxy A23 5G

Brighter and more vibrant display
Faster performance (Snapdragon 695 5G)
Faster charging (25W)
Samsung's software support and updates
Likely better camera system

No stylus included
Potentially smaller screen
Price slightly higher than Stylus

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G boasts a brighter display (508 nits vs. Stylus's likely lower brightness) and a generally more vibrant color reproduction. While both have a 1328:1 contrast ratio, Samsung's display technology typically delivers a more visually appealing experience. The Stylus may offer a slightly larger screen, but the A23 5G's quality is a key advantage.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A23 5G is expected to have a more versatile and higher-quality camera system. While specific megapixel counts are not provided, Samsung's image processing is generally superior. The A23 5G likely offers better low-light performance and more features. The Stylus's camera is likely adequate but not a standout feature.

Performance

The Snapdragon 695 5G in the Galaxy A23 5G generally outperforms the Dimensity 700 in the TCL Stylus. While both are octa-core processors, the Kryo cores in the Snapdragon offer better efficiency and raw power. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the A23 5G. The Stylus's stylus functionality might introduce some minor performance overhead.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (138h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Galaxy A23 5G's 25W charging is faster than the Stylus's 18W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The TCL Stylus is ideal for users who heavily value stylus input for note-taking, drawing, or general navigation. If you need a stylus and don't want to spend a fortune, the Stylus is a solid choice. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is better suited for those prioritizing a vibrant display, reliable performance, and a more mainstream Android experience with Samsung's software support.