1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Xiaomi Poco F4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.2 × 75.9 × 9.1 mm | 163.2 × 76 × 7.7 mm | Poco F4 is slightly shorter and thinner, making it slightly more comfortable to hold and pocket. The A02s is bulkier. |
| Weight | 196g | 195g | Virtually identical weights, both feel similar in hand in terms of heft. |
| Build Material | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Screen | The Poco F4 has much better screen protection and resistance to scratches and drops. The A02s screen protection is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Xiaomi Poco F4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Poco F4 provides a slightly larger viewing area, improving the experience of media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Poco F4 has a significantly sharper display with more detail, making text and images look much clearer. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 395 PPI | The higher PPI of the Poco F4 results in a noticeably crisper image, especially noticeable when reading text or viewing detailed graphics. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Poco F4 offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency for dark themes. The A02s has a less vibrant and lower-contrast display. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Poco F4's 120Hz refresh rate provides significantly smoother scrolling and animations, resulting in a more fluid and responsive user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1300 nits | Poco F4's significantly higher brightness improves outdoor visibility in bright sunlight, making it much easier to use under such conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Xiaomi Poco F4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Poco F4 has a much more powerful and efficient chipset, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 74,800 | 861,200 | Poco F4 offers significantly superior performance, able to handle heavy tasks and demanding applications more smoothly. |
| GPU | Adreno 506 (Qualcomm Adreno 506) | Adreno 650 (Qualcomm Adreno 650) | Poco F4's superior GPU allows for significantly better gaming and graphics performance. The A02s would struggle with graphics heavy applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Xiaomi Poco F4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 13MP, f/1.8 | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor, 0.70 µm pixel size, Omnivision OV64B | Poco F4 captures significantly more detailed photos with its higher resolution sensor. It also performs better in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 5MP, f/2.2 | 20MP, f/2.4, 1/2" sensor, 0.80 µm pixel size, Sony IMX596 | Poco F4 captures much sharper and detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" sensor, 1.12 µm pixel size, Omnivision OV8856 | Poco F4 has a wide angle camera for more versatile photography, allowing to capture more in your shot. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The A02s can capture depth information which would allow for some depth effects, while the Poco F4 lacks this ability. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor, 1.75 µm pixel size, GalaxyCore GC02M1 | Both have comparable macro lenses. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps, No stabilization, No Slow motion | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, Yes stabilization, 960fps slow motion | Poco F4 offers significantly higher resolution and frame rates, along with video stabilization and superior slow motion capabilities. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Xiaomi Poco F4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung A02s has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life between charges but will depend heavily on use. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Poco F4 charges much faster, reducing downtime spent waiting for your phone to charge. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion Polymer | Li-ion polymer is typically lighter and more flexible allowing for greater capacity to size ratio, while li-ion is usually cheaper to produce. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A02s Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: Its 5000mAh battery may offer marginally longer battery life for lighter users.
- Dedicated Depth Camera: Inclusion of a depth sensor may produce better bokeh effects for portrait photography.
Lower Price: Being an older and lower-spec phone, it's likely available at a lower price point.
Practical Implications: The larger battery provides a slight advantage for those needing a phone that lasts longer, while the depth camera can appeal to users interested in basic portrait photography. The lower price point might be attractive for extremely budget-conscious users.
Xiaomi Poco F4 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness offers a significantly better viewing experience.
- Much Faster Performance: A vastly more powerful processor and GPU allow for smoother multitasking, gaming, and overall responsiveness.
- Significantly Better Camera System: Higher resolution, more versatile lenses, and superior video recording capabilities.
- Faster Charging: 67W fast charging significantly reduces the time needed to charge the battery.
- Advanced Connectivity: Newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards provide faster, more stable connections.
- Better Audio Quality: Includes Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers providing superior audio quality.
- Better Security: Equipped with a side mounted finger print sensor.
Better Screen Protection: Gorilla glass 5 means better resistance to scratches and drops.
Practical Implications: The Poco F4 is a much more capable device, offering a premium experience in display quality, performance, photography, and day-to-day usability. The faster charging is incredibly convenient, while the superior audio quality makes it much better for media consumption.
Trade-offs
- Battery Size: The Poco F4 has a slightly smaller battery. The much more powerful processor and display are likely to consume more power and this could result in slightly worse battery life despite the difference in battery capacity.
- Price: The Poco F4 will almost certainly be more expensive than the A02s.
- Depth Sensor: The lack of a depth sensor on the Poco F4 will result in slightly worse portrait photo capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A02s:
- Ideal User: Users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic smartphone functions and battery life.
- Use Cases:
- Making calls, sending texts and light browsing.
- Occasional use of apps and light mobile gaming.
- Users not concerned with high quality media consumption.
- Individuals that require a long lasting battery for basic use.
- Price-to-Value: Offers essential functionality at a low price point, but severely lacks performance compared to more modern devices.
Xiaomi Poco F4:
- Ideal User: Users seeking a high performance phone with excellent display, camera and overall features for the best value.
- Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming and heavy multi-tasking.
- High-quality media consumption (streaming, videos, etc.)
- Photography enthusiasts who need versatile camera capabilities.
- Users that need fast charging.
- Users who value high quality audio.
- Price-to-Value: Provides a premium experience at a reasonable price, offering excellent value for the performance and features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How tight is your budget, and can you afford a more expensive phone? The Samsung A02s is the option if money is your biggest concern.
- Performance Needs: Do you need a phone for basic tasks only, or do you need it to handle demanding apps and games? If heavy use is a concern, the Poco F4 is the only logical choice.
- Features: Do you prioritize display quality, camera versatility, and performance, or are you ok with basic features as long as it works? The Poco F4 has much better features and display.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Extremely Budget-Conscious: If your budget is very limited and you only need a basic phone for simple tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A02s is a viable option.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Focused User: If you want a phone that can handle demanding games, heavy multitasking, and high-quality media, the Xiaomi Poco F4 is the clear choice.
- Scenario 3: Media Consumption: If you prioritize watching videos or playing games, the Xiaomi Poco F4 with its vastly superior screen will provide much better image quality.
- Scenario 4: Photography Focused: The Xiaomi Poco F4 offers much more versatile camera and video recording abilities than the Samsung Galaxy A02s.
Personal Choice
If I were choosing, I would absolutely pick the Xiaomi Poco F4. The improvements in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, charging speed, and audio are so significant that they vastly outweigh the slightly smaller battery. The practical user experience would be far superior, and the investment would be well worth the money for me. The A02s is simply not capable enough in 2024 to provide a good experience for anything other than basic calls and messages, making it unsuitable for anything more than those very basic tasks.
