Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone? The ZTE Blade A31 Plus and Samsung Galaxy A70 are both contenders, offering compelling features at accessible price points. But which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you make the right choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A70 is the clear winner. While the ZTE Blade A31 Plus offers affordability, the A70's superior chipset, display, camera, and charging capabilities provide a significantly better user experience, justifying the slightly higher price.
| 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - SM-A705YN/DS |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A705FN/DS |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 31 | 2019, March 26. Released 2019, May 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 31 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 77.5 x 9.6 mm (6.27 x 3.05 x 0.38 in) | 164.3 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~179 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~75.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Qualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Adreno 612 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 64GB, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP (up-scaled to 8 MP) | - |
| Triple | - | 32 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP (up-scaled to 5 MP) | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Gray | Coral, Blue, Black, White |
| Models | - | SM-A705F, SM-A705FN, SM-A705GM, SM-A705MN, SM-A7050, SM-A705W, SM-A705YN, SM-A705X, SM-A705U |
| Price | - | About 90 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.33 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.35 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 103h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 81dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 167750 (v7)
GeekBench: 6584 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Blade A31 Plus
- Affordable
- Large Display
- Decent Battery Life (likely)
- Underpowered Chipset
- Lower Quality Display
- Basic Camera
- Slow Charging
Samsung Galaxy A70
- Powerful Chipset
- Vibrant Super AMOLED Display
- Capable Camera
- Long Battery Life
- Fast Charging
- Older Model
- Potentially Larger Size/Weight
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A70 boasts a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The ZTE Blade A31 Plus likely has an LCD display, which will offer acceptable visuals but won't match the A70's richness and clarity. The A70's display is noticeably superior.
Camera Comparison
While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A70's camera system is expected to be more advanced. The A70 likely features better image processing, improved low-light performance, and potentially more versatile lens options. The Blade A31 Plus camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots but won't compete with the A70's capabilities.
Performance
Here, the Galaxy A70 pulls ahead significantly. Its Snapdragon 675 chipset (11nm) is considerably more powerful and efficient than the ZTE Blade A31 Plus's Unisoc SC9863A (28nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the A70. The A70's CPU architecture is also more modern and optimized.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive battery life, with the Galaxy A70 achieving an endurance rating of 103h. The Blade A31 Plus likely has a large battery as well, but the A70's more efficient chipset contributes to its exceptional longevity. The A70 also supports 25W fast charging, a feature absent in the Blade A31 Plus.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the ZTE Blade A31 Plus? Those on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and a large screen. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A70? Anyone seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a vibrant display, capable camera, and long-lasting battery, without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Blade A31 Plus good for gaming?
The ZTE Blade A31 Plus's chipset is not ideal for demanding games. You might experience lag and reduced frame rates. The Samsung Galaxy A70 offers a much smoother gaming experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides better software updates and longer support lifecycles than ZTE. The Galaxy A70 is likely to receive more updates over time.
