The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Umidigi G3 Plus and Samsung Galaxy A05s represent two distinct approaches to delivering value. The G3 Plus focuses on offering a functional experience at an extremely low price point, while the A05s leverages Samsung’s brand recognition and a more efficient chipset to provide a smoother, longer-lasting experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A05s is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 680 chipset, coupled with a measured 11:32h active use battery life, provides a significantly more responsive and enduring experience than the Umidigi G3 Plus, despite the latter’s lower price.
| 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 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2023, September 25 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023 | Available. Released 2023, October 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 75.7 x 8.8 mm (6.45 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 168 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm (6.61 x 3.06 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.64µm, AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5150 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Graphite Black, Dark Green, Lavender Purple | Black, Silver, Light Green, Violet |
| Models | - | SM-A057F, SM-A057F/DS, SM-A057M, SM-A057M/DS, SM-A057G/DSN, SM-A057G |
| Price | - | $ 134.00 / C$ 146.99 / £ 83.94 / € 100.99 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.58 W/kg (head) 1.31 W/kg (body) |
Umidigi G3 Plus
- Lowest possible price point
- Functional for basic tasks
- Potentially expandable storage (market segment expectation)
- Unisoc T606 chipset offers limited performance
- Slow 10W charging
- Likely inferior camera quality
Samsung Galaxy A05s
- More powerful Snapdragon 680 chipset
- Excellent 11:32h battery life
- Faster 25W charging
- Higher price than the Umidigi G3 Plus
- May still lack advanced features like NFC (market segment expectation)
- Plastic build quality
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A05s boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 468 nits, compared to the unmeasured display of the Umidigi G3 Plus. This brightness advantage translates to better visibility outdoors. Furthermore, the A05s’ 1418:1 contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. While neither phone is expected to feature high refresh rates or advanced panel technologies, the A05s’ superior brightness and contrast provide a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones likely feature basic camera setups geared towards casual photography. The context data only mentions 'Photo / Video' for the A05s, suggesting a standard configuration. While megapixel counts aren’t provided, the A05s benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processing (ISP), which generally delivers better image quality and dynamic range compared to Unisoc’s offerings. The absence of details on the G3 Plus’ camera suggests it’s a less emphasized feature.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A05s utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm), featuring a more modern architecture with 4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold cores and 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver cores. This contrasts with the Umidigi G3 Plus’ Unisoc T606 (12nm), which employs a 2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 configuration. The 6nm process node of the Snapdragon 680 offers superior power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning less throttling during sustained workloads. The A05s’ CPU clock speeds are also notably higher, promising faster app loading and smoother multitasking.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A05s shines in battery life, achieving an impressive 11:32h of active use. While the Umidigi G3 Plus’ battery capacity is unknown, its 10W wired charging is significantly slower than the A05s’ 25W wired charging. This means the A05s can replenish its battery much faster, minimizing downtime. The Snapdragon 680’s power efficiency further contributes to the A05s’ longer runtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Umidigi G3 Plus if you absolutely need the lowest possible price and are willing to compromise on performance and longevity. It’s suitable for basic communication and light tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A05s if you prioritize a smoother user experience, longer battery life, and the reliability of the Samsung ecosystem, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 680 in the Galaxy A05s handle popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 680 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but likely at medium settings to maintain a stable frame rate. Don't expect flagship-level gaming performance, but it's a significant step up from the Unisoc T606 in the Umidigi G3 Plus.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy A05s with the 25W charger?
While a precise time isn't available, the 25W charging should fully charge the Galaxy A05s in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging. This is considerably faster than the Umidigi G3 Plus’ 10W charging.
❓ Is the camera on the Samsung Galaxy A05s good enough for social media photos?
The Galaxy A05s’ camera is adequate for casual social media photos in good lighting conditions. Qualcomm’s ISP helps with image processing, but don’t expect professional-grade results. Low-light performance will likely be limited.
❓ Does the Umidigi G3 Plus support software updates?
Umidigi’s update track record is inconsistent. While it may receive occasional security patches, major Android version updates are unlikely. The Samsung Galaxy A05s is more likely to receive at least one major Android update and several years of security patches.
