Samsung Galaxy A02s vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date January 4, 2021 February 9, 2022
Release Year 2021 2022

Physical

Volume 113.41 cm³ 95.71 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.32 "/g 3.59 "/g
Weight 196 g 179 g
Height 164.2 mm 159.9 mm
Width 75.9 mm 73.9 mm
Thickness 9.1 mm 8.1 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Black
  • Red
  • Blue
  • White
  • Pearl White
  • Twilight Blue
  • Graphite Gray

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.43 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.8 % 84.5 %
Pixel Density 270 PPI 409 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 90 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A 700 nits
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A 1000 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 120.93 mAh/in²
Battery Density 44.09 mAh/cm³ 52.24 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support No Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm)
CPU Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Adreno 506 Mali-G57 MC2

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 10 11
Maximum OS Version 12

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A02sXiaomi Redmi Note 11SPractical Impact
Design
Dimensions164.2 × 75.9 × 9.1 mm159.9 × 73.9 × 8.1 mmRedmi Note 11S is more compact and easier to handle. A02s is noticeably larger and thicker.
Weight196g179gRedmi Note 11S is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use.
Display
Size6.5"6.43"Negligible difference in screen size.
Resolution720x16001080x2400Redmi Note 11S has a much sharper and clearer display, better for reading, viewing photos, and watching videos.
Pixel Density (PPI)270409Redmi Note 11S provides a noticeably crisper image with more detail.
TechnologyPLS LCDAMOLEDRedmi Note 11S has superior display quality with deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors. More battery efficient for dark theme usage.
Refresh Rate60Hz90HzRedmi Note 11S has smoother scrolling and animations, which makes the phone feel more responsive.
Brightness0 nits (reported, likely inaccurate)1000 nitsRedmi Note 11S screen is much more visible outdoors in bright sunlight.
Performance
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 450 (14 nm)Mediatek Helio G96 (12 nm)Redmi Note 11S has a significantly more powerful processor, offering better performance for all tasks.
AnTuTu Score74,800302,877Redmi Note 11S is much faster, providing a smoother experience for everyday use, multitasking, and gaming.
GPUAdreno 506Mali-G57 MC2Redmi Note 11S has a much more powerful GPU allowing for more demanding gaming and graphics intensive tasks.
Camera
Main Camera Resolution13MP108MPRedmi Note 11S captures much higher resolution images with greater detail.
Main Camera Aperturef/1.8f/1.9A02s has slightly better low-light performance due to wider aperture (although significantly less capable overall).
Selfie Camera Resolution5MP16MPRedmi Note 11S takes much more detailed and higher quality selfies.
Selfie Camera Aperturef/2.2f/2.4A02s has slightly wider aperture, better low-light selfie capabilities (although significantly less capable overall).
Wide Angle LensNone8MPRedmi Note 11S offers an additional wide-angle camera for capturing expansive shots.
Video Recording1080p@30fps1080p@30fpsBoth record similar video quality, but Redmi Note 11S offers slow motion recording.
Camera FeaturesTriple camera, PDAF, PanoramaQuadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Night ModeRedmi Note 11S offers more camera features, including digital image stabilization and night mode.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth phones offer similar battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life.
Charging15W Fast Charging33W Fast ChargingRedmi Note 11S charges much faster, resulting in less downtime.
Battery TypeLi-IonLi-PolymerNo practical impact for normal usage.
Battery FeaturesNon-removableReverse Charging, Non-removableRedmi Note 11S can be used to charge other devices.
Software
OSAndroid 10Android 11Redmi Note 11S has a newer operating system out of the box.
Connectivity
WiFi802.11 b/g/n802.11 a/b/g/n/acRedmi Note 11S supports newer and faster Wi-Fi standards with Dual band support, MiMO support.
Bluetooth4.2 LE5.0 LERedmi Note 11S has a newer version of bluetooth, offering better range and speed for connecting devices.
Storage & RAM
Internal Storage32GB/64GB64GB/128GBRedmi Note 11S offers more storage for apps, photos, videos, and other files.
RAM3GB/4GB6GB/8GBRedmi Note 11S provides a smoother experience with more apps running in the background, better multitasking.
Expandable StorageNoNoNeither phone can expand storage capacity
Audio
Audio QualityBasicHi-Res Audio, Stereo SpeakersRedmi Note 11S offers a more immersive audio experience with high-quality output and dual speakers.
Security
Security FeaturesBasicSide-mounted fingerprint sensorRedmi Note 11S offers fingerprint based unlocking.
Build Quality
Screen ProtectionUnknownCorning Gorilla Glass 3Redmi Note 11S offers more robust scratch and damage protection.
Sensors
SensorsProximity, AccelerometerFingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtualRedmi Note 11S has a more comprehensive set of sensors, allowing for a wider range of functionalities (like gaming and augmented reality).

2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy A02s Advantages:

  • Slightly wider main camera aperture: Might perform slightly better in very low light situations, but the significantly lower resolution will be noticeable compared to the Redmi.
  • Marginally cheaper : Being an older and less capable model, the A02s should be more affordable.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S Advantages:

  • Significantly Better Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness provides superior visuals, ideal for media consumption.
  • Superior Performance: Much faster processor and more RAM result in smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance.
  • Superior Camera System: Higher resolution main and front cameras with an additional wide-angle lens, combined with additional features (e.g. night mode).
  • Faster Charging: 33W charging significantly reduces battery charging times.
  • Better Audio: Stereo speakers and Hi-Res audio support offer better multimedia experience.
  • More Storage and RAM: Higher storage and RAM options.
  • More robust Build: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 provides better screen protection against scratches.
  • More comprehensive sensor suite
  • Reverse Charging : Can be used as a power bank for other devices.
  • More modern operating system and connectivity standards

Trade-offs:

  • The Redmi Note 11S is likely to be more expensive than the Galaxy A02s, as the specifications are significantly better.
  • The A02s has a slightly wider main camera aperture and might be negligibly better in low light, although this advantage is negated by the significantly higher resolution of the 11S.
  • The A02s has a slightly larger display screen size of 6.5 inches, while the 11S is a tad smaller at 6.43 inches.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy A02s - Ideal User:

  • Budget-Conscious Users: Those who prioritize a very low price point over performance and features.
  • Basic Users: Primarily uses their phone for calling, texting, and light web browsing.
  • Elderly Users: The larger screen might be preferred by elderly users but the inferior display makes it a bad choice.
  • Users with very simple needs: Not a great phone for any kind of media consumption, gaming, or camera-centric use.

Use Cases:

  • Making calls and sending text messages.
  • Basic web browsing and social media (with limitations).
  • Light app use.
  • An emergency backup phone.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S - Ideal User:

  • Performance-Oriented Users: Those who desire smooth multitasking, fast app loading, and good gaming performance.
  • Multimedia Consumers: Users who watch videos, browse photos, and listen to music regularly.
  • Photography Enthusiasts: Those who want to capture detailed photos and videos in various situations.
  • Users on a moderate budget: Looking for a solid mid-range phone without breaking the bank.

Use Cases:

  • Casual gaming and more demanding tasks.
  • Watching videos and streaming media.
  • Taking high-quality photos and videos.
  • Social media and content creation.
  • Daily productivity and multitasking.

Price-to-Value Ratio:

  • The Redmi Note 11S offers significantly more value for the money. The higher initial cost is justified by its vastly superior performance, display, camera, and features, and ultimately more future-proof.
  • The Galaxy A02s is a very low-end device and may appear cheaper, but it will quickly become outdated with limited utility for modern smartphone tasks.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. Budget: How much are you willing to spend? The A02s may be more affordable, but the Redmi Note 11S provides significantly better value.
  2. Use Case: What do you primarily use your phone for? If its only calls and texts, A02s is sufficient. However, for anything else, the Redmi Note 11S is a far better choice.
  3. Longevity: How long do you plan to use your phone? The Redmi Note 11S will be a much more capable and future-proof device, while the A02s will become very outdated very quickly.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Extremely Budget Conscious: If the budget is the absolute primary concern and only the most basic smartphone functions are needed, the Galaxy A02s might be considered as the absolute cheapest option, but it will not provide a good overall experience.
  • Scenario 2: Balanced Performance and Price: If you need a good all-around experience with better performance, display, camera and other features, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S is the clear choice.
  • Scenario 3: Multimedia and Photography Enthusiasts: If high-quality media consumption and photography are critical, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S is the far superior choice, with a much better display, audio, and camera capabilities.
  • Scenario 4: Modern features: If modern features such as a fingerprint sensor, gyrocope, compass, higher charging speeds, stereo speakers, or reverse charging are needed, the Redmi Note 11S is the only choice.

My Choice

If I were choosing between these two phones, I would overwhelmingly choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S. Here's why:

The A02s is simply too compromised for anything but the most basic use. The Redmi Note 11S offers a significantly better user experience in virtually every way that matters. The superior display alone is a game-changer, offering a much more enjoyable experience for browsing, watching videos, and viewing photos. Combine this with better performance, camera, faster charging, better audio, and modern features, and the Redmi Note 11S represents a far better overall value, even at a higher price point. The added long term performance and future proofing is a worthwhile investment.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.