Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn't compromise too much? The Umidigi F1 and the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW are both contenders, offering compelling features at accessible price points. But which one is the better choice for you?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW wins overall thanks to its superior chipset, 5G connectivity, and Samsung's software support. While the Umidigi F1 offers a competitive price, the A51 5G UW provides a more polished and future-proof experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | 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, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 2, 4, 5, 13, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (2CA) Cat13 600/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, December | 2020, August 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2019, January | Available. Released 2020, August 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) | 158.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.89 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 188.8 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 10, One UI 2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.7, 1/2.8", 1.12µm, PDAF
8 MP | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 672 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h |
| Type | Li-Ion 5150 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Gold | Prism Bricks Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A516V |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.32 W/kg (body) |
Umidigi F1
- Affordable price
- Large display
- Decent battery life
- Good value for money
- Less powerful chipset
- Lower camera quality
- Limited software updates
- Less brand recognition
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW
- Powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
- 5G connectivity
- Excellent display
- Good camera system
- Samsung's software support
- Slower charging (15W)
- Higher price than Umidigi F1
- Design may be considered less exciting
Display Comparison
The Umidigi F1 typically features a large, vibrant display (likely AMOLED) with a high resolution, offering an immersive viewing experience. The Galaxy A51 5G UW also boasts a Super AMOLED display, known for its excellent color accuracy and contrast. While both are good, Samsung's display technology generally has a slight edge in terms of color reproduction and brightness.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A51 5G UW generally offers a more versatile and higher-quality camera system. It typically includes a main lens, ultrawide lens, macro lens, and depth sensor, providing more creative options. While the Umidigi F1's camera is adequate, it lacks the image processing capabilities and overall quality of the A51 5G UW.
Performance
Here's where the Galaxy A51 5G UW truly shines. The Snapdragon 765G is significantly more powerful than the Helio P60, resulting in noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The Umidigi F1 can handle everyday tasks, but it will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones offer respectable battery life. The Umidigi F1 often has a larger battery capacity, potentially providing slightly longer usage times. However, the Galaxy A51 5G UW's more efficient chipset can help offset this difference, resulting in comparable real-world battery performance.
Buying Guide
The Umidigi F1 is ideal for users on a very tight budget who prioritize a large display and decent battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW is a better choice for those who want 5G connectivity, a smoother performance, and the reliability of a well-established brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Umidigi F1 worth buying?
The Umidigi F1 is a good option if you're on a very tight budget and prioritize a large screen and long battery life. However, be aware of its limitations in performance and camera quality.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW support 5G?
Yes, the '5G UW' in the name indicates that it supports 5G connectivity, specifically utilizing UW (Ultra Wideband) 5G technology.
