Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A32 vs. Motorola ThinkPhone
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-02-25 | 2023-01-29 | The Motorola ThinkPhone is significantly newer, likely offering a more modern software experience and potentially better long-term support. |
| Dimensions | 158.9 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | 158.8 × 74.4 × 8.3 mm | Both are very similar in size, making it unlikely for either to be substantially more pocketable. |
| Weight | 184g | 188.5g | The weight difference is negligible; both will feel similarly weighted in hand. |
| Build | Unknown Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Motorola ThinkPhone provides significantly better screen protection against scratches and drops, meaning it’s more durable. The A32's screen protection is unknown, making it less clear how well protected it is. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.6" | The ThinkPhone's slightly larger screen is noticeable for media consumption, offering slightly more screen real-estate. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both phones have the same resolution; resulting in similar sharpness. |
| PPI | 411 | 399 | Both displays are very sharp and offer a great visual experience, with negligibly different pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. P-OLED is more modern and efficient than AMOLED. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | The ThinkPhone has a significantly smoother display with 144Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations look more fluid, especially for gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The ThinkPhone offers vastly superior visibility in bright sunlight due to its much higher brightness capability, making it usable outdoors. The A32's nits is unknown, implying dimness in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G80 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | The ThinkPhone's chipset is dramatically more powerful, providing significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and higher-end gaming performance, also being more future proof. |
| AnTuTu Score | 200,458 | 1,232,700 | The ThinkPhone is substantially faster than the A32 across all performance metrics, giving a much more responsive user experience. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 730 | The ThinkPhone's GPU is significantly more powerful, enabling much better graphics performance in games and other demanding applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones should offer comparable battery life for general usage scenarios, due to similar battery capacity. |
| Charging | Li-Ion | 68W fast charging, Li-Polymer | The ThinkPhone offers a much faster-charging speed and uses Li-Polymer battery tech, allowing for quick power-ups. The A32 is not specified for fast charging, potentially taking longer to recharge. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 15W wireless charging | The ThinkPhone offers convenient wireless charging, adding a charging option for users. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 64.2MP, f/1.8, pixel size | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor, 1.00 µm | The A32 has higher megapixel count, but the ThinkPhone has a larger sensor and larger pixels, potentially allowing it to capture more light and detail. |
| Front Camera | 20MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.45 | The ThinkPhone has a higher megapixel front camera, potentially capturing more details in selfies, while the A32 has a wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2 | None | The A32 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing group photos or landscapes. |
| Portrait Mode | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | The A32 offers higher-resolution depth sensing capabilities in Portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | The A32 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.4 | The ThinkPhone combines both wide-angle and macro functionalities, creating more dynamic picture-taking experiences. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, No stabilisation | Up to 8K, EIS, HDR, OIS | The ThinkPhone has significantly better video recording capabilities with higher resolutions and optical image stabilization for smoother video footage. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera | Triple camera, OIS, RAW | The A32 has a dedicated quad camera system. The ThinkPhone offers OIS, which improves low-light photos, and RAW image capture for better post-processing. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, up to 13 | Android 13 | The ThinkPhone ships with a newer version of Android (13), while A32 has older software (11) that’s upgradable to 13. Meaning the ThinkPhone would receive newer features faster. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | The ThinkPhone has the latest WiFi standard, offering potentially faster and more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | The ThinkPhone supports low energy Bluetooth (5.2 LE), potentially improving battery life when connected to Bluetooth devices. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | Both offer similar location capabilities, with ThinkPhone's SUPL addition potentially improving location performance. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support dual SIM functionality for separating personal and work lines. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 256 GB | The ThinkPhone offers significantly more storage for photos, videos, and apps, with no storage expansion available on either phone. |
| RAM | 4 GB/6 GB/8 GB | 8 GB | The ThinkPhone will likely offer smoother multitasking and faster app switching due to its higher RAM and better chipset. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 mics | The ThinkPhone provides better audio quality with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos enhancement, offering immersive sound for media consumption and clear audio capture. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones have basic fingerprint sensors for security. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Accelerometer, Gyroscope | The A32 features a more comprehensive sensor suite. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 Advantages:
- Dedicated Wide Angle & Macro Lenses: Offers more versatility in photography by having a wide-angle and dedicated macro lens.
- Potentially Better Front Camera Aperture: Wider front camera aperture of f/2.2 could be better for low-light selfies.
- More Comprehensive Sensors: Includes a compass for navigation.
Motorola ThinkPhone Advantages:
- Far Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides a vastly superior processing capability for faster app launching, smoother multi-tasking, and high-end gaming.
- Significantly Better Display: The 144Hz refresh rate, and high 1200 nit brightness offers a much more pleasant viewing experience.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: Supports 68W fast charging and 15W wireless charging for quick and convenient power-ups.
- Superior Camera System: Provides better camera sensor and features, for capturing higher-quality pictures.
- Superior Video Recording: Up to 8K, plus OIS and EIS, provide the best in class video capture.
- Stereo Speakers and Dolby Atmos: Offers a much better audio experience for video content.
- Modern Software: Ships with Android 13, offering the latest features.
- Much higher Storage: Ships with 256GB of storage compared to 128/64GB of A32
- Superior Screen Protection: More resistant to scratches and breakage.
Trade-offs:
- The A32 has a dedicated wide-angle and macro camera lens, which the ThinkPhone does not.
- The ThinkPhone costs significantly more, since it offers high-end specs, while the A32 is a mid-range phone.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A32 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Looking for a capable device for general use without high-end performance.
- Casual photographers: Who want a versatile set of cameras for everyday photography, wide angle and macro.
- Users who prioritize a complete sensor suite. For users who rely on navigation and orientation-based sensors.
Use Cases:
- Everyday browsing, social media, and communication.
- Casual photography and video recording.
- Basic gaming and media consumption.
Motorola ThinkPhone Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Requiring a fast device for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking.
- Users who value display quality: Seeking a smooth and vibrant display with high brightness for outdoor usage.
- Professionals: Requiring a reliable and well-built phone with good performance and fast charging.
- Users who consume media: Appreciating high-quality audio and video features.
- Users with large files: Those who need ample local storage.
- Users who want a durable device Those who want superior protection for their device.
Use Cases:
- High-end gaming and intensive app usage.
- Professional photography and videography.
- Media consumption with high audio/visual demands.
- Multitasking and work-related tasks.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The A32 is significantly more affordable.
- How important is performance? If you need a fast and responsive device, the ThinkPhone is the superior choice.
- Which is more important to you, a good display or a versatile camera system? The ThinkPhone has a significantly superior display, while the A32 offers a dedicated wide-angle lens and a macro lens.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If you need a budget friendly phone for casual use: The Samsung A32 is more suitable.
- If you require high performance, fast charging, and high-end features: The Motorola ThinkPhone is the clear choice.
- If you care about the best display and video quality: The Motorola ThinkPhone is far superior.
Personal Choice
If I were to choose, I would pick the Motorola ThinkPhone. While the Samsung A32 offers a more versatile camera system, the ThinkPhone's superior performance, display quality, video capabilities, faster charging, better audio, and more modern software make it a more compelling choice overall. The ThinkPhone offers a superior all-round experience. Though it costs more, the value provided from the faster performance and better features outweigh the extra cost. The dramatically better performance, display, and video are key for my daily needs.
