The Tecno Phantom 9 and Samsung Galaxy A50s represent compelling options in the sub-$200 smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches to achieving this. The Phantom 9 prioritizes a newer design and potentially lower price, while the A50s leverages Samsung’s established brand and a more efficient chipset.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy A50s is the better choice. Its Exynos 9611 chipset, built on a 10nm process, offers superior performance and thermal management compared to the Tecno Phantom 9’s Mediatek Helio P35. While the Phantom 9 may be cheaper, the A50s provides a smoother, more reliable experience.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, July. Released 2019, July | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 158.5 x 74.5 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.93 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 164.4 g (5.78 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Lapland Aurora | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | AB7 | SM-A507F, SM-A507FN, SM-A5070 |
| Price | About 15000 INR | About 290 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.43 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 154761 (v7)
GeekBench: 5295 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 9.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Tecno Phantom 9
- Potentially lower price point
- May feature a more modern design
- Likely lightweight build
- Inferior chipset performance (Helio P35)
- Less efficient 12nm process
- Potentially limited software support
Samsung Galaxy A50s
- More powerful and efficient Exynos 9611 chipset
- 10nm process for better thermal management
- Samsung’s established software ecosystem
- Slightly higher price
- 15W charging is not particularly fast
- May be slightly heavier than the Phantom 9
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a particularly standout display. Details on panel type and resolution are missing for the Phantom 9, but given the price point, it's likely a standard IPS LCD. The A50s also uses an IPS LCD. The key difference lies in the underlying processing power impacting display responsiveness. While both likely offer similar color accuracy, the A50s’ more powerful chipset can handle display-intensive tasks like scrolling and animations more smoothly.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs beyond the presence of a 2MP macro lens (which is generally of limited utility on both devices), it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Samsung’s image processing algorithms are generally more refined than Tecno’s. The A50s likely benefits from better dynamic range and noise reduction. The larger processing power of the Exynos 9611 also aids in faster image capture and processing. While sensor size is unknown for both, Samsung’s history suggests a focus on image quality even in their budget offerings.
Performance
This is where the most significant difference lies. The Samsung Galaxy A50s’ Exynos 9611, fabricated on a 10nm process, is a clear upgrade over the Tecno Phantom 9’s Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm). The A50s utilizes Cortex-A73 cores in its CPU, which offer significantly better single-core performance than the Cortex-A53 cores found in both the A50s (for the efficiency cores) and the Phantom 9. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience. The 10nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during prolonged use. The Phantom 9’s Helio P35 will be adequate for basic tasks, but will struggle with demanding applications and games.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for the Phantom 9. The Samsung Galaxy A50s supports 15W wired charging. While not particularly fast by today’s standards, it’s a reasonable charging speed for this price range. The Exynos 9611’s 10nm process contributes to better power efficiency, meaning the A50s will likely deliver longer battery life than the Phantom 9, even if the Phantom 9 has a slightly larger battery capacity. The more efficient chipset reduces power draw during both active use and standby.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Phantom 9 if you absolutely need the lowest possible price and are willing to compromise on performance and long-term software support. It may appeal to users who prioritize a fresh design over raw power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50s if you value a more responsive user experience, better thermal efficiency for sustained tasks, and the backing of Samsung’s software ecosystem, even if it means paying a slight premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy A50s tend to overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9611 is generally well-behaved in terms of thermal management, thanks to its 10nm fabrication process. While it may get warm during prolonged gaming, it’s unlikely to experience significant throttling like the Helio P35 in the Phantom 9, which is more prone to overheating due to its less efficient 12nm process.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget phones are of limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. They are often included as a marketing feature rather than a genuinely useful camera component. Expect better results using the main camera and digitally zooming.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A50s reliably run PUBG Mobile at 60fps?
The Samsung Galaxy A50s *can* run PUBG Mobile, but achieving a consistent 60fps will depend on the graphics settings. Lowering the settings to balanced or even low is recommended for a smoother experience. The Exynos 9611 has enough power to handle the game, but it’s not a high-end gaming chipset.
