Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A02s vs. Motorola Moto G85
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Motorola Moto G85 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.2 × 75.9 × 9.1 mm | 161.9 × 73.1 × 7.6 mm | Moto G85 is noticeably thinner, narrower, and slightly shorter, making it easier to hold and handle, especially with one hand. A02s is bulkier. |
| Weight | 196g | 171g | Moto G85 is significantly lighter, enhancing comfort during extended use and portability. A02s feels heavier in comparison. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Moto G85 offers a slightly larger screen, providing more viewing space for media and content consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Moto G85 provides a much sharper and clearer display, with significantly more detail for reading text, viewing photos, and watching videos. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 395 | Moto G85's higher PPI results in a visibly crisper image, reducing pixelation and enhancing overall visual quality. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | P-OLED | Moto G85's P-OLED display offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and wider viewing angles compared to the LCD panel of the A02s. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Moto G85 provides a much smoother and more responsive visual experience, particularly noticeable when scrolling, gaming, and navigating the UI. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Moto G85 is significantly brighter, making it much more usable in bright sunlight, while A02s might struggle to be visible outdoors. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) | Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (6 nm) | Moto G85's newer chipset offers a massive performance increase, making apps load faster, multitasking smoother, and handling demanding tasks (including gaming) significantly better. |
| AnTuTu Score | 74,800 | 475,000 | Moto G85 demonstrates vastly superior performance, resulting in a much more responsive and overall faster user experience, being more future-proof. |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 619 | Moto G85's superior GPU allows for better graphics rendering, which directly improves gaming performance and enhances visual fidelity in graphically intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 13MP | 50MP | Moto G85 captures much more detailed images, resulting in greater potential for cropping, editing, and printing. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.79 | Moto G85 has a slightly wider aperture, allowing for slightly better low-light performance and a shallower depth of field for portrait-like images. |
| Front Camera Resolution | 5MP | 32MP | Moto G85 takes much higher resolution selfies, capturing finer details and allowing for more cropping and editing capabilities. |
| Front Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | A02s has a slightly wider aperture, potentially allowing slightly more light in for selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 8MP | Moto G85 has an additional wide angle lens, enabling users to capture more of a scene, which is great for landscapes and group photos. A02s does not have this functionality. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) | 2MP | None | A02s has a depth sensor dedicated to creating bokeh effects, but may not be as detailed as a software version on the Moto G85. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | A02s has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography, but the quality is likely basic. Moto G85 might be able to get close-up shots with better results from the main lens. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | Moto G85 features video stabilization, which greatly reduces shakiness in videos and improves the overall video recording quality. |
| DxOMark Score | N/A | 88 (Mobile) | Moto G85 has received a DxOMark score, which provides insight into its camera performance relative to other phones, indicating better video capabilities. A02s has no such score for camera performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacity, implying similar battery life under normal usage. |
| Charging | 15W | 30W | Moto G85 charges significantly faster, allowing users to quickly top up the battery when needed, while A02s would take much longer to fully charge. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (up to 12) | Android 14 | Moto G85 comes with a much newer version of Android, which typically means more features, better security, and a more modern user interface. The A02s will likely have a limited software life. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6) | Moto G85 supports faster and more efficient WiFi standards, resulting in faster download speeds, better network performance in crowded areas, and enhanced overall connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 LE | 5.1 LE | Moto G85 has a newer Bluetooth version, offering more energy efficiency, faster data transfer speeds, and increased range. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | Moto G85 supports additional satellite systems for more accurate and reliable location services. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano/eSIM) | Moto G85 additionally offers eSIM support, for better carrier flexibility and easier switching between networks. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32GB/64GB | 128GB/256GB | Moto G85 has significantly more storage space, allowing users to store more photos, videos, and apps, without worrying about running out of space. |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB | 8GB/12GB | Moto G85 offers much more RAM for smoother multitasking, better app switching, and overall improved performance, especially with multiple apps open. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither of these phones offers expandable storage so users are limited to the internal space available. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Moto G85 offers a more immersive audio experience with stereo speakers, along with advanced audio features. The 2 microphones provide better voice capture for clearer calls and recordings. |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | Basic | Fingerprint Sensor | Moto G85's fingerprint sensor offers a much more convenient and secure way to unlock the device compared to the basic security features of A02s. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Moto G85 has superior screen protection, making it more resistant to scratches and damage. Screen protection on A02s is unknown, and therefore might be more prone to scratches. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Moto G85 has more sensors, enabling more features such as advanced gaming motion control, and more accurate orientation. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A02s Advantages:
- Dedicated Macro and Depth Sensors: Has dedicated 2MP macro and depth sensors. These may be useful for very specific use cases, but generally are of lower quality than the main lens.
- Slightly Wider Selfie Aperture: A slightly wider f/2.2 aperture on the selfie camera could mean slightly better low-light selfies compared to the f/2.4 aperture of the Moto G85's selfie camera, but this is not a major difference due to the vast improvement in the lens resolution.
Motorola Moto G85 Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset offers a vast performance advantage over the Snapdragon 450 in the A02s, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
- Much Better Display: The P-OLED screen with higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness provides a significantly superior viewing experience compared to the A02s's LCD screen.
- Superior Camera System: The 50MP main camera, wide-angle lens, and optical image stabilization (OIS) on the G85 offer far better photo and video capabilities compared to the A02s.
- Faster Charging: 30W fast charging on the G85 is much faster than the 15W charging on the A02s, which greatly improves charging speed and convenience.
- Newer Software: The Moto G85 runs on a much more recent version of Android (Android 14), which brings with it updated features, security patches, and overall better functionality compared to Android 10 on the A02s.
- More Advanced Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and additional GPS satellite support, offering more reliable wireless connectivity, a more accurate GPS, and more battery-efficient wireless technology.
- Larger Storage and RAM: Comes with more storage space and much more RAM, which is excellent for heavy multitasking and storing large amounts of media.
- Enhanced Audio Features: Includes Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers, and dual microphones, offering a superior audio experience for listening to music, watching videos, and taking calls.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Provides additional biometric security.
- Screen protection: Has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for superior protection, while A02s has an unknown screen protection.
Trade-offs:
- The Moto G85 lacks a dedicated macro and depth sensor while the Samsung A02s has both. In practice, the vastly superior main lens on the G85 will likely take better macro shots than the A02s's dedicated lens.
- The A02s has a slightly wider aperture on its front camera, which might result in a very slight advantage in low-light selfie performance, but not enough to overcome the huge disparity in sensor resolution.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A02s:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users with very basic smartphone needs, who mostly use the phone for calls, text messaging, and very light social media browsing. Not suitable for heavy app users or anyone who prioritizes performance.
- Use Cases: Basic web browsing, casual social media, light app usage, phone calls, text messaging, older adults who prioritize ease of use over advanced features, users looking for a basic secondary phone.
- Price-to-value: The A02s has a very low price, making it appealing to users on a strict budget. However, it offers extremely limited features, and will feel slow and outdated very quickly.
Motorola Moto G85:
- Ideal User: Users who want a well-rounded smartphone with excellent performance, a great display, and a good camera system, without breaking the bank. Suitable for users who prioritize media consumption, social media, and mobile gaming.
- Use Cases: Watching videos, social media browsing, high-quality photography and videography, gaming, multitasking, moderate to heavy app usage, daily use as a primary phone, users who appreciate a smooth and responsive experience.
- Price-to-value: The Moto G85 offers significantly better value due to its vast performance and feature set compared to the A02s. It has a much longer life cycle than the A02s, so may be a cheaper option in the long run.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Ask:
- What is my budget? The A02s is aimed at users with a very strict budget, but will feel slow and outdated very quickly.
- How important are performance and a smooth user experience? The Moto G85 offers vastly superior performance and smoothness, which is important if you are a regular smartphone user.
- What are my primary use cases? If you simply want a very basic phone for calls and texts, the A02s might suffice. However, if you intend to do anything more demanding, such as browsing social media, taking good photos, or watching videos, the Moto G85 is a much more sensible choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Extreme Budget): If you are on a very strict budget and only need a phone for the most basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A02s might be suitable, though you will have to manage its limitations.
- Scenario 2 (Balanced Needs): If you want a balanced smartphone that excels at most daily tasks, including good photography, a great display, and smooth multitasking, the Motorola Moto G85 is the better choice.
- Scenario 3 (Performance and Media Focus): If you are looking for a great media consumption device or a phone to run mobile games, the Motorola Moto G85 is the obvious choice due to its vastly superior chipset, display, audio and fast charging.
Final Recommendation
I would choose the Motorola Moto G85.
The performance difference between these two phones is so vast that it would be impossible to recommend the Samsung Galaxy A02s to most users. The Moto G85 offers a dramatically better experience in virtually every aspect: the screen is much clearer, brighter, and smoother, the performance is vastly better, the camera is superior, it has faster charging, more storage, more RAM, a much newer operating system, and a host of other features like an optical image stabilized main lens, stereo speakers, and fingerprint sensor.
While the A02s might be cheaper, the G85 provides a vastly better experience, which is more likely to provide a smoother and more satisfying smartphone experience. In my opinion, the Moto G85 offers far better value overall due to its significant performance and feature advantages.
