Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A32 5G vs. Motorola ThinkPhone
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed breakdown of the specifications, highlighting the practical implications:
Design & Build
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1 mm | 158.8 x 74.4 x 8.3 mm | ThinkPhone is more compact and slightly easier to handle, especially for one-handed use. The A32 5G is larger and slightly bulkier. |
| Weight | 205g | 188.5g | ThinkPhone is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended periods of use. |
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | ThinkPhone screen is significantly more resistant to scratches and damage. The A32 5G's protection is unknown, implying a potentially more fragile screen. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.6" | Both offer very similar screen sizes, with negligible difference for practical usage. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2400 | ThinkPhone has a much sharper display with significantly more detail. Text and images will be clearer. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 399 | ThinkPhone's screen looks noticeably crisper and clearer. The difference is substantial and easily visible. |
| Technology | TFT LCD | P-OLED | ThinkPhone offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better viewing angles due to the superior P-OLED technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | ThinkPhone offers significantly smoother scrolling and animations, particularly noticeable in games and fast-moving content. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | ThinkPhone has vastly superior outdoor visibility and is usable in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | ThinkPhone offers much faster performance. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and significantly better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 249,720 | 1,232,700 | ThinkPhone is drastically faster, handling demanding tasks and games without lag. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 730 | ThinkPhone provides superior graphics processing capability, translating into better gaming and smoother UI. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2" sensor | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor | ThinkPhone captures more light and has slightly better detail, leading to higher-quality photos. |
| Front Camera | 13MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.45 | ThinkPhone captures much more detailed selfies and has better overall selfie camera performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | None | A32 5G is capable of taking ultrawide photos while the Thinkphone doesn't have one. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both offer similar basic depth information for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | A32 5G can capture closeup photos, while the Thinkphone does not have one. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.4 | ThinkPhone combines both functionality in one lens, while the A32 5G does not. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps | ThinkPhone offers much higher quality video recording options, including 8K and high-frame-rate HD, providing significantly more versatility and video performance. |
| Video Stabilization | None | HDR and EIS | ThinkPhone delivers superior video stabilization for smoother footage. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer similar battery capacity and should last a full day of normal usage. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | ThinkPhone charges much faster than the A32 5G. |
| Wireless Charging | None | 15W Wireless Charging | ThinkPhone offers convenient wireless charging option, while the A32 5G does not. |
Other Features
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 13 | ThinkPhone comes with the latest Android version out-of-the-box and likely better long-term software support. |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6) | ThinkPhone supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | ThinkPhone has a slightly newer Bluetooth version for potential connectivity advantages. |
| Internal Storage | 64/128GB | 256 GB | ThinkPhone has more storage for files, apps and media. |
| RAM | 4/6/8GB | 8 GB | Both will offer good performance, however, the 8GB on the ThinkPhone will help with heavy multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | ThinkPhone offers a more immersive audio experience with stereo speakers and enhanced voice capture. |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones offer biometric security. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola ThinkPhone Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset offers a massive performance boost over the Dimensity 720, making the ThinkPhone much faster and smoother in all tasks.
- Much Better Display: The P-OLED panel with 144Hz refresh rate and higher resolution is vastly superior for visual experience.
- Faster Charging: 68W charging is much faster than the 15W charging offered in the A32 5G, and it features wireless charging.
- Better Main and Selfie Camera: The ThinkPhone features a higher-resolution main and selfie camera with larger sensor for better image quality.
- Superior Video Recording: ThinkPhone supports up to 8K video with HDR and better stabilization.
- Superior Build Quality: The Thinkphone has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which is vastly superior to the unknown type of the Samsung A32 5G
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Advantages:
- Dedicated Wide Angle & Macro Lenses: Offers a separate wide-angle lens and a macro lens for different photography needs, which the ThinkPhone lacks.
- Potentially Lower Price: The A32 5G is an older, budget-oriented model, and is likely significantly cheaper.
- Slightly Better Audio features: The inclusion of Dolby Digital Plus adds a layer of audio enhancement to the phone.
Trade-offs:
- The ThinkPhone offers a premium experience at the cost of potentially higher price.
- The A32 5G sacrifices performance and display quality for a lower price and inclusion of dedicated macro and wide angle lenses.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola ThinkPhone:
- Ideal Users:
- Power users who demand fast performance.
- Gamers looking for smooth, lag-free gameplay.
- Users who consume a lot of media and appreciate a high-quality display.
- Photography enthusiasts wanting good photo and video quality.
- Users needing modern features and up to date software.
- Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphics-intensive mobile games
- Editing photos and videos on-the-go
- Watching movies and TV shows
- Multitasking with multiple apps seamlessly
- Business users seeking a reliable and secure device.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G:
- Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious buyers looking for a basic 5G phone.
- Users who prioritize battery life over performance.
- Casual users who mostly browse the web, use social media, and do light tasks.
- Users who like taking wide angle photos or macro photos.
- Specific Use Cases:
- General daily use (calls, messages, social media)
- Web browsing and email
- Occasional photography with its dedicated macro and wide-angle lens.
- Users looking for a reliable secondary device.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The ThinkPhone will likely cost significantly more.
- How important is performance? ThinkPhone is much faster and better for demanding tasks.
- How important is a high quality display? ThinkPhone has much better display quality for media consumption and more.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious: If you have a tight budget and basic smartphone needs, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a viable choice as long as you're aware of its compromises.
- Performance Focused: If you prioritize high performance, responsiveness, and smooth multitasking, the Motorola ThinkPhone is the clear winner.
- Multimedia Enthusiast: If you consume a lot of media or enjoy gaming, the ThinkPhone's high-quality display and powerful internals are a much better choice.
- Photography Focused: If you prefer taking wide-angle or macro shots, the Samsung A32 5G may be more appealing, otherwise, the ThinkPhone is superior on all other camera fronts.
My Choice and Why
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Motorola ThinkPhone. My reasoning is based on several factors:
- Performance is a priority: As someone who uses a phone for a variety of tasks, including gaming and productivity, the drastic difference in performance between the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and the Dimensity 720 is very significant. I would much prefer a phone that is smooth and responsive in most scenarios, and that would be the ThinkPhone.
- Display Quality Matters: I value a high-quality display for viewing media and creating content. The ThinkPhone's P-OLED panel with its 144Hz refresh rate is vastly superior to the A32 5G's TFT LCD. The ThinkPhone's better resolution, pixel density, color reproduction and outdoor visibility make for a far more enjoyable viewing experience.
- Better Camera Overall: While I would appreciate the wide-angle and macro lens from the A32 5G, the primary and selfie camera of the Thinkphone are superior, and are used more often. The Thinkphone also offers better video capabilities overall with 8K recording, higher frame rates, and stabilization.
- Future Proofing: The Motorola ThinkPhone is a newer device and will have better support in the long run compared to the Samsung A32 5G. The superior chipset will handle newer games and updates much better, which makes it more future proof.
- Faster Charging: The ThinkPhone's fast charging and wireless charging would be far more convenient in the long run, which the A32 5G lacks.
- Build Quality: The A32 5G has unknown screen protection, but the Thinkphone uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus which makes it significantly more durable.
While the Samsung A32 5G has a lower price, its performance, display, and camera capabilities are vastly inferior to the Motorola ThinkPhone and for my use case, the ThinkPhone would be a much more satisfying device to use day to day. The ThinkPhone is also more versatile, and would allow me to perform more tasks.
