1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Realme 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.2 × 75.9 × 9.1 mm | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | Realme 8 is more compact and thinner, making it more pocketable and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 196g | 177g | Realme 8 is significantly lighter, enhancing comfort during prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.4" | Very similar screen sizes; minimal practical difference. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Realme 8 has much sharper text and images, leading to a more enjoyable viewing experience. |
| PPI | 270 | 411 | Realme 8 offers significantly higher pixel density, resulting in noticeably crisper visuals. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Realme 8's AMOLED provides richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, improving media consumption quality. It's also more efficient when using dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | Both have standard refresh rates, resulting in similar smoothness during everyday use. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1000 nits | Realme 8's display is much brighter and easier to view in sunlight. Samsung A02s brightness is unknown and could be significantly dimmer. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) | Helio G95 (12 nm) | Realme 8’s chipset is significantly faster, leading to smoother app loading, better multitasking, and enhanced gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 74,800 | 409,874 | Realme 8 delivers a drastically improved performance, making it suitable for demanding tasks and heavy usage. |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Mali-G76 MC4 | Realme 8's GPU offers superior graphics performance, leading to better gaming experiences. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones provide comparable battery life, suitable for all-day usage for most users. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging, Li-Ion | 30W Fast Charging, Li-Polymer | Realme 8 charges much faster, reducing downtime and making it more convenient. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 13MP, f/1.8 | 64MP, f/1.79 | Realme 8 captures significantly more detailed photos and potentially better low-light performance due to the higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera | 5MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.45 | Realme 8 takes higher-resolution selfies, which appear sharper. |
| Wide Angle Lens | N/A | 8MP, f/2.25 | Realme 8 has a versatile wide-angle lens for capturing broader scenes. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung A02s has a dedicated depth sensor for potentially better portrait mode with background blur. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both have similar macro lenses, offering comparable close-up shots. |
| Black & White lens | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | Realme 8 has an additional lens that may provide artistic monochrome shots. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps with EIS | Realme 8 records higher quality videos and offers EIS across all video recording resolutions for smoother capture. It also has slow-motion capture. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, upgrade to 12 | Android 11 | Realme 8 comes with a newer OS out of the box. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Realme 8 supports more advanced Wi-Fi standards, potentially offering faster and more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 LE | 5.1 LE | Realme 8's Bluetooth is more efficient and offers enhanced connectivity capabilities. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Similar location capabilities on both phones. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32GB/64GB | 64GB/128GB | Realme 8 comes with higher storage capacity options which is crucial for storing more files. |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB | 4GB/6GB/8GB | Realme 8 offers more RAM, which improves multitasking and app loading speeds. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage; therefore users are stuck with internal storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Hi-Res Audio | Realme 8 provides higher audio quality, benefiting audiophiles who use headphones. |
| Security | |||
| Biometrics | Basic | Fingerprint sensor | Realme 8 has a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure unlocking. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Realme 8 has a more comprehensive sensor suite including gyroscope and magnetometer for more advanced apps and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A02s Advantages:
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Offers a dedicated 2MP depth sensor, which may improve portrait mode photos by providing better background blur.
- Slightly Larger Screen: While the difference is minimal, the 6.5" display may be slightly more immersive for some users.
Practical Implications:
- The depth sensor could lead to slightly better portrait photos, although the overall image quality is still lower than Realme 8.
- The slightly larger screen makes minimal difference as both phones are very similar in size.
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with higher resolution and brightness offers a significantly better visual experience, especially in bright sunlight, and with richer colors.
- Significantly Better Performance: The Helio G95 chipset provides much faster processing and graphics, making it suitable for more demanding apps, multitasking, and gaming.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras with an additional ultra-wide lens provide a more versatile photography experience. It also captures higher resolution videos.
- Faster Charging: 30W fast charging significantly reduces charging time.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Offers more RAM for smoother multitasking and a larger 128GB storage variant, which is beneficial for storing more media.
- Advanced Connectivity: Supports faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- Enhanced Audio: Provides Hi-Res Audio for better audio quality when using headphones.
- Fingerprint sensor: Offers quick and secure unlock.
- Comprehensive Sensor Suite: Includes gyroscope and magnetometer for more advanced apps.
Practical Implications:
- The vastly superior display provides a significantly better viewing experience for movies, games, and overall usage.
- Faster performance leads to a smoother, lag-free experience for most everyday tasks, including gaming and browsing.
- The improved camera system enables capturing better quality photos and videos, suitable for sharing on social media.
- Faster charging improves convenience by reducing downtime.
- More RAM and storage provides users with a smoother experience without worrying about performance lag or running out of space for apps and media.
- Advanced connectivity offers better connection reliability.
- Hi-Res Audio enhances the audio experience when listening to music with high-quality headphones.
- Added sensors enhance user experience with more features in apps and games.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Realme 8 lacks a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photos, unlike the Samsung Galaxy A02s. However, its superior overall camera system, especially the main sensor, likely compensates for this with software-based portrait effects.
- The Samsung Galaxy A02s does not have a known screen brightness value which could indicate dim screen when viewing the screen outdoors.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A02s Ideal User:
- Basic smartphone users: Those who primarily use their phones for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light browsing.
- Budget-conscious buyers: People looking for the most affordable option who do not require advanced features or high performance.
- Users with basic photography needs: Those who occasionally take photos but do not require high image quality.
Use Cases:
- Primary phone for elderly users: Simple operation and large display.
- Backup phone: For calls and texts if your primary phone is unavailable.
- Light social media use: Basic browsing and social media interaction.
Realme 8 Ideal User:
- Performance-oriented users: Those who need a fast and responsive phone for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Multimedia consumers: People who enjoy watching videos, streaming content, and playing games on their phones and appreciate higher resolution and color accuracy.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who want a versatile camera system for capturing high-quality photos and videos.
- Users who value a better user experience: Those who are looking for a smoother and more enjoyable everyday experience.
- Users who want better audio: Those who listen to music with headphones and value high-quality audio.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming: Smooth and responsive gaming experience.
- Content creation: High-quality photos and videos for social media.
- Daily multimedia use: Enjoying streaming services and watching videos.
- Work and school use: Multitasking between apps with ease.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Realme 8 provides significantly more value for the price due to its superior display, performance, camera, and features. It is the more future-proof device.
- The Samsung Galaxy A02s is a very basic entry level phone.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case for a phone? Am I a basic user or a power user who needs high performance and features?
- How important is display quality to me? Do I value a higher resolution, vibrant display, or is a basic display sufficient?
- How important is camera quality? Do I need a high-resolution camera for capturing detailed images and videos, or will a basic camera suffice?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious, Minimal Needs: If your budget is extremely limited and you only need a basic phone for calls and texts, the Samsung Galaxy A02s can serve. However, for a small price increase the Realme 8 provides significantly more value.
Scenario 2: Performance and Multimedia Focus: If you enjoy gaming, watching videos, taking photos/videos, and using more demanding apps, the Realme 8 is the clear choice due to its superior performance, display, and camera capabilities.
Scenario 3: Daily Driver, Enhanced User Experience: If you want a balanced phone with a better display, faster performance, and an enhanced user experience, the Realme 8 provides the most value, especially with its faster charging and better camera system.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would absolutely choose the Realme 8.
Here's why:
The Realme 8 offers a significantly better user experience across the board. The AMOLED display is a major upgrade with its higher resolution, brightness, and vibrant colors making watching videos and gaming far more enjoyable. The processing speed difference is also massive, meaning that using day to day apps is smoother with less lag. The much better camera with its higher resolution, ultra-wide lens, and 4K recording, gives more flexibility and far better images. The faster charging is a convenience that I would not want to give up, and the extra RAM, storage, WiFi and Bluetooth standards ensure a more future proof device. While the Samsung A02s has a depth sensor, the overall camera and video quality on the Realme 8 is superior, and the Realme 8 more than makes up for it with its software-based portrait modes. In addition the Realme 8 includes a fingerprint sensor and gyroscope/magnetometer sensors which are lacking on the A02s. Given that they're both at a similar price point, I see no benefit in choosing the A02s. The Realme 8 is the clear winner providing significantly more value.
