Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A32 5G vs. Xiaomi Poco F5
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1 mm | 161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm | Poco F5 is smaller and thinner, potentially more comfortable in hand and pocket. |
| Weight | 205g | 181g | Poco F5 is significantly lighter, making it easier to hold for long periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Poco F5 has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Poco F5 has a much sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 395 PPI | Poco F5 has a noticeably sharper display, with finer details visible. |
| Technology | TFT LCD | AMOLED | Poco F5 has significantly better display quality with deeper blacks, higher contrast, and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Poco F5 offers much smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical, but both values are unhelpful. Missing information here limits comparison in outdoor visibility and HDR capabilities |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | Poco F5 has a far more powerful processor, providing faster performance and better app responsiveness. |
| AnTuTu Score | 249,720 | 1,134,558 | Poco F5 offers a significantly better gaming experience, faster loading times and smoother multitasking. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 725 | Poco F5 has a more powerful GPU, leading to better graphics performance in games and graphic-intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 64MP | Poco F5's main camera has higher resolution, allowing for more detailed photos. |
| Rear Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.79 | Poco F5's slightly wider aperture allows for slightly better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 13MP | 16MP | Poco F5 has a higher resolution front camera for more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.45 | A32 5G's front camera has a wider aperture, which can lead to slightly better low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2 | Both phones have comparable wide-angle cameras. |
| Portrait (depth) Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | A32 5G has a dedicated depth sensor for bokeh effects. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | A32 5G has a higher resolution macro lens. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | Both capture 4K video at 30fps, but Poco F5 has extra frame rates for video recording with electronic image stabilization. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | Poco F5 has electronic image stabilization for smoother video capture. |
| OIS | No | Yes | Poco F5 has optical image stabilization for better low-light and smoother video, particularly when walking |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have identical battery capacity. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Poco F5 charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Software & Connectivity | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradeable to 13) | Android 13 (upgradeable to 14) | Poco F5 ships with a newer version of Android out of the box and longer update support. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Poco F5 has Wi-Fi 6, offering potentially faster and more reliable wireless connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.3 LE | Poco F5 has a newer version of Bluetooth with better power efficiency and potentially more features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Poco F5 has more satellite systems for potentially more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Full Active (Nano SIM) | Both offer dual SIM support, but they differ in standby or full active. |
| Storage & Audio | |||
| Internal Storage | 64 GB / 128 GB | 256 GB | Poco F5 offers more internal storage for apps, photos and videos. |
| RAM | 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB | Poco F5 has more RAM for smoother multitasking and running more apps simultaneously. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage via microSD card. |
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Poco F5 has better audio capabilities with stereo speakers and Hi-Res Audio support. |
| Other | |||
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both phones use similar side-mounted fingerprint sensor |
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Poco F5 offers a higher level of screen protection against scratches and minor impacts. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Poco F5 has a more comprehensive sensor suite. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Advantages:
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: The A32 5G features a dedicated 2MP depth sensor which can assist in portrait mode shots by creating more natural background blurs
- Higher Resolution Macro Lens: While likely of limited use, the A32 5G's macro lens has a higher 5MP resolution compared to Poco F5's 2MP.
- 'Ultra Stable' Video Although the practical application of this is vague, Samsung advertises 'Ultra Stable' video recording
- Dual SIM Standby: Both can use two SIMs, but the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G supports Dual SIM Standby, with both able to receive calls and texts but only one active for data
Xiaomi Poco F5 Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset in the Poco F5 offers significantly better performance, resulting in snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming experiences.
- Superior Display: The AMOLED display on the Poco F5 offers much better picture quality (deeper blacks, more vibrant colours) and a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in a much more enjoyable viewing experience.
- Faster Charging: The 67W fast charging capability allows the Poco F5 to charge much more quickly than the A32 5G.
- Better Audio: The inclusion of stereo speakers and Hi-Res Audio support makes the audio experience on the Poco F5 noticeably superior.
- Newer Software & Connectivity: The Poco F5 comes with a newer Android version and supports faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 standards.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): The Poco F5's OIS offers significant improvement in low light and video stabilization
- Significantly more storage: The Poco F5's 256GB storage is a significant upgrade over the options presented by the A32 5G
- Significantly more RAM: The Poco F5 has more RAM, up to 12GB, for smoother multitasking and demanding applications
Trade-offs:
- The A32 5G has a dedicated depth camera and slightly higher resolution for its macro lens, but both are minor features compared to the advancements in other aspects of the Poco F5.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those on a very tight budget seeking basic smartphone functionality.
- Users with Less Demanding Needs: Individuals who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, social media, and light browsing and don't require high performance or top display quality.
- Users who want Dual SIM Standby: For users who need to use two SIMs actively, this allows both to be available at the same time.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A32 5G:
- Casual social media browsing
- Basic mobile gaming
- General web browsing
- Primary calling and texting
- Users who need two active SIMs
Xiaomi Poco F5 Ideal User:
- Performance Seekers: Users who prioritize speed, responsiveness, and smooth multitasking.
- Mobile Gamers: Gamers who need a device capable of handling graphically intensive games at high frame rates.
- Media Enthusiasts: Those who enjoy watching videos, movies, and other visual content and appreciate high display quality.
- Users with heavy multitasking habits: For users who use many apps at once, the Poco F5's 8 or 12GB of RAM will be a massive advantage.
Use Cases for Xiaomi Poco F5:
- High-end mobile gaming
- Watching videos and streaming content
- Demanding multitasking
- Photography and videography
- Mobile editing and content creation
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is generally a more budget-friendly option, but the value of the Poco F5 is much better due to the significantly improved performance, display, and overall experience it provides for only a slight increase in price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is my primary use case? Is the phone for basic communication, social media and browsing, or for gaming, media consumption, and photography?
- What is my budget? How much am I willing to spend for a smartphone that meets my needs?
- How important is performance and display quality? Do I prioritize speed, smooth animations, and vibrant colors, or can I compromise for a more budget-friendly option?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: You are on a strict budget and need a phone for basic communication and social media browsing, the A32 5G could suffice.
Scenario 2: You play mobile games frequently, watch a lot of videos, and need good performance, the Poco F5 is the clear choice, offering a much better gaming and visual experience.
Scenario 3: You want the best overall value and performance in the mid-range segment, the Poco F5 is the better option for most use cases, especially with its much faster performance, screen, audio and charging.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would absolutely choose the Xiaomi Poco F5. While the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is the more budget friendly of the two, the Poco F5 offers a significantly better overall experience in every aspect for only a slight increase in price. The Poco F5 has a better, higher resolution AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, much better performance due to its superior processor and GPU, much faster charging, better audio, and a much better selection of cameras for most users with the inclusion of OIS. It is hard to recommend the A32 5G, especially with the limitations in its display and the lacking performance. While it does have some minor advantages with its Macro and Depth sensors, those benefits don't come close to those provided by the Poco F5, which is why I would select the Poco F5.
