Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A32 vs. Nothing Phone (1)
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Nothing Phone (1) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 158.9 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | 159.2 × 75.8 × 8.3 mm | Similar size, Nothing Phone (1) slightly wider. May impact one-handed use for some. |
| Weight | 184g | 193.5g | A32 is lighter, which might be noticeable during extended use, especially for smaller hands. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.55" | Slightly larger screen on Nothing Phone (1), offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer sharp visuals; no practical difference in clarity. |
| PPI | 411 | 402 | Similar pixel density, no noticeable difference in sharpness. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; minimal practical difference in display quality. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Smoother scrolling and animations on Nothing Phone (1), especially noticeable in fast-paced games and UI navigation. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | Nothing Phone (1) offers significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. A32's brightness is unspecified, indicating that it might have inferior brightness |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G80 (12nm) | Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6nm) | Snapdragon 778G+ provides significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. A32 may struggle with demanding tasks and newer games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 200,458 | 624,253 | Nothing Phone (1) has a vastly superior performance in benchmarks, reflecting in real-world usage. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 642L | Adreno 642L in Nothing Phone (1) offers better graphics performance, especially beneficial for gaming and graphic-intensive apps. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung A32 likely offers longer battery life. |
| Charging | Li-Ion | 33W Fast Charging, Li-Ion | Nothing Phone (1) charges much faster, reducing downtime. A32 offers no fast charging, taking long to fully charge. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable, No charger in box, Wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 5W | Nothing Phone (1) offers more advanced charging options, including wireless and reverse wireless charging for other devices. A32 lacks these features. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64.2MP, f/1.8 | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766 | Nothing Phone (1)'s larger sensor and better sensor model likely result in better low-light performance and dynamic range. A32 has higher megapixel count but the sensor size and sensor model is unknown which may result in poor image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.2, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471 | Similar aperture, A32 has a higher resolution but Nothing Phone (1)'s larger sensor may capture more details. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2 | N/A | Samsung A32 has a dedicated wide angle lens. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung A32 has a dedicated depth sensor. |
| Macro | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung A32 has a dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1 | Nothing Phone (1) has a high-resolution ultrawide/macro lens. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p@30/60fps with HDR, EIS | Nothing Phone (1) offers superior video recording quality with 4K and better stabilization. |
| Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Dual camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Nothing Phone (1) offers more advanced camera features, such as OIS, manual focus, and RAW capture which will result in higher quality images and videos. A32 offers more camera lenses. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 13 | Android 12, upgradable to 15 | Nothing Phone (1) has a newer Android version and a longer software update lifespan. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi ac | Wi-Fi 6 | Nothing Phone (1) supports faster and more efficient Wi-Fi. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Nothing Phone (1) offers more advanced audio codecs and lower energy consumption. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System | Nothing Phone (1) supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both allow dual SIM usage. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 128GB/256GB | Nothing Phone (1) offers more base storage capacity and double the storage on the higher-end option. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Nothing Phone (1) has more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and gaming. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic Audio | Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Nothing Phone (1) offers better audio quality with stereo speakers and clearer voice capture. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer a basic fingerprint sensor for biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Nothing Phone (1) has superior screen protection which may prevent from cracks and scratches. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, RGB | Both phones have a robust set of sensors which result in the smooth functionality of apps and games, Nothing Phone 1 has additional sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery likely offers better battery life than the Nothing Phone (1).
- Dedicated Camera Lenses: Features dedicated wide-angle, macro, and depth lenses for more versatility.
- Slightly Lighter: Weighs less than Nothing Phone (1)
Practical Implications:
- The larger battery is beneficial for users who prioritize battery endurance and don't want to charge their phone frequently.
- Dedicated camera lenses offer more shooting options, which may appeal to users who enjoy creative photography.
Nothing Phone (1) Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset offers significantly better overall performance for smoother multitasking, gaming, and app loading.
- Better Display: 120Hz refresh rate and higher brightness for a smoother and more visible display, especially outdoors.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging significantly reduces charging time.
- Advanced Camera Features: OIS, 4K Video, better low-light performance and more advanced video options.
- Modern Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for faster, more reliable connections.
- More Storage/RAM: More base storage option and more RAM for better performance.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers for a better audio experience.
- Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for better protection
- More Advanced Sensors: Nothing Phone 1 has RGB sensor for light sensing.
Practical Implications:
- The performance improvements make the phone much more responsive for daily tasks and more demanding applications.
- Faster charging allows for quick top-ups, which is useful for busy users.
- The higher refresh rate and brighter display provide a more enjoyable viewing experience.
- Modern connectivity ensures faster internet and better Bluetooth audio.
- Better audio gives a better experience when consuming media
Significant Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A32: Sacrifices performance and display quality for a slightly larger battery and more camera lenses.
- Nothing Phone (1): Sacrifices a bit of battery capacity for significantly better performance, display, and camera features.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy A32:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who prioritize affordability and value battery life over high performance.
- Casual Photographers: Users who appreciate having multiple lenses for basic photography but don't require high-end camera features.
- Users Needing Long Battery Life: Users who want a phone that can easily last a full day without needing a charge.
Use Cases:
- Basic Tasks: Web browsing, social media, and messaging, where peak performance is not essential.
- Long Trips: Users who need long-lasting battery life for extended travel without easy access to charging.
- General Photography: Users who want to capture different angles.
Ideal Users for Nothing Phone (1):
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize speed, responsiveness, and gaming performance.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who value a high-quality display for video watching and gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who desire better low-light performance, optical stabilization and more manual settings in their phone cameras.
Use Cases:
- Gaming: Enjoying graphically demanding games smoothly with the powerful processor.
- Multimedia Consumption: Watching videos and streaming content with better display and audio quality.
- Content Creation: Capturing high-quality videos and photos for social media or other purposes.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A32: Offers good value for those on a tight budget who prioritize battery life.
- Nothing Phone (1): Offers more value for those who prioritize performance and more advanced features, but likely at a higher price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? If the price is the highest priority then A32 is a clear choice.
- How important is performance? If you require top performance for daily tasks and gaming, go with Nothing Phone (1).
- Do you prioritize battery life or other features? If long battery life is crucial, the A32 might be suitable but at the cost of other features like a 120hz display.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User - If you are on a very strict budget and need long battery, the Samsung Galaxy A32 is a better choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance Seeker - If you want the best performance for gaming and multitasking, choose the Nothing Phone (1).
- Scenario 3: Multimedia Enthusiast - If you value a great display, audio experience and want to capture great photos and videos, the Nothing Phone (1) is a clear choice.
- Scenario 4: Basic user - If you want a basic phone for simple tasks and battery life is important, then A32 is suitable.
My Choice
I would choose the Nothing Phone (1). While the Samsung Galaxy A32 offers a larger battery and some extra camera lenses, the overall experience of the Nothing Phone (1) is far superior, especially for my needs. The significantly better performance of the Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, coupled with the 120Hz display, faster charging, and better main camera make it a more compelling device. I prefer the smoother responsiveness, better media consumption experience, and the improved camera capabilities that the Nothing Phone (1) provides, even if it means a slightly smaller battery. Additionally the extra sensors and better build quality of the Nothing Phone (1) further seals my choice. While I understand that some users may need the longer battery life of the A32, the advantages of the Nothing Phone (1) align more closely with my priorities.
