The sub-$250 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The vivo Y20t and Samsung Galaxy A23 5G both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches. The Y20t focuses on a value-driven experience, while the A23 5G attempts to offer a more modern chipset and display. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which phone provides the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, built on a more efficient 6nm process, provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Y20t’s Snapdragon 662. While both phones offer similar battery endurance, the A23 5G’s faster 25W charging is a significant convenience factor.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 11 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 11 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 76.3 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.33 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, Funtouch 11.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | 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 | 8 MP, f/1.8, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8, (wide) | 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 | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | microUSB 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Obsidian Black, Purist Blue | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | V2129 | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 180 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 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) |
vivo Y20t
- More affordable price point
- Decent battery life
- Reliable Snapdragon 662 for basic tasks
- Older, less efficient chipset
- Slower charging speed (18W)
- Likely lower display brightness
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- Faster and more efficient Snapdragon 695 5G
- Faster 25W charging
- Higher display brightness
- Slightly higher price
- Similar battery endurance to Y20t
- May include low-resolution auxiliary cameras
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 508 nits and a 1328:1 contrast ratio, providing a reasonably vibrant viewing experience. While the Y20t’s display specifications aren’t detailed, it’s likely to offer lower brightness and contrast. Both displays share the same contrast ratio, suggesting similar panel technology, but the A23 5G’s higher peak brightness will be noticeable in direct sunlight. Neither phone is expected to feature high refresh rate panels, focusing instead on power efficiency.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Given the price point, image quality will likely be similar in good lighting conditions. However, the A23 5G may benefit from Samsung’s image processing algorithms, potentially offering more refined results. It’s crucial to note that both phones likely include low-resolution auxiliary cameras (e.g., 2MP macro) that offer limited practical value.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G’s Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) is a significant upgrade over the vivo Y20t’s Snapdragon 662 (11nm). The 6nm process node translates to improved thermal efficiency and power consumption, allowing the A23 5G to sustain peak performance for longer. The A23 5G’s CPU configuration – 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver – also offers a clock speed advantage over the Y20t’s 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver. This will result in faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the A23 5G.
Battery Life
Both the vivo Y20t and Samsung Galaxy A23 5G achieve an endurance rating of 138 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the A23 5G’s 25W wired charging is a clear advantage over the Y20t’s 18W charging. This translates to significantly faster 0-100% charging times, reducing downtime and improving overall convenience. While battery capacity isn't specified, the more efficient chipset in the A23 5G likely contributes to the similar endurance rating despite potentially having a smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y20t if you prioritize absolute affordability and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Its Snapdragon 662 is sufficient for these workloads. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G if you want a smoother, more responsive experience, especially when multitasking or playing moderately demanding games. The 6nm Snapdragon 695 offers a tangible performance advantage and future-proofs the device slightly better.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 695 in the Galaxy A23 5G powerful enough for demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 695 5G can handle PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. However, don't expect to max out the graphics settings. The 6nm process helps with sustained performance, but it's still a budget-oriented chipset.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G with the 25W charger?
While Samsung includes a 15W charger in the box, using a separate 25W charger (sold separately) will significantly reduce charging times. Expect a full charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging.
❓ Does the vivo Y20t support VoLTE and VoWiFi for improved call quality?
VoLTE and VoWiFi support depend on your carrier. The Snapdragon 662 is capable of supporting these technologies, but carrier implementation is crucial. Check with your mobile provider to confirm compatibility.
❓ Are there any significant software differences between the vivo Y20t and the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G runs One UI, Samsung's custom Android skin, which offers a feature-rich experience and generally receives more frequent software updates than vivo's Funtouch OS. Funtouch OS is known for its customization options, but can sometimes feel cluttered.
