Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A32 vs. Realme 11
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Realme 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 158.9 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | 165.7 × 76 × 8.1 mm | Realme 11 is taller and wider, A32 is slightly thicker. Realme 11 may feel less compact, the difference in thickness will be barely noticeable. |
| Weight | 184g | 190g | A32 is slightly lighter (6g), possibly more comfortable for extended single-handed use. |
| Build Quality | Screen protection: Unknown | Screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Realme 11 has superior screen protection against scratches and drops. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Realme 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.4" | 6.72" | Realme 11 offers a larger viewing area for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer a similar level of sharpness for everyday tasks. |
| PPI | 411 | 392 | Both phones have very similar pixel density |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Samsung A32 has richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, ideal for media, while the Realme 11 may struggle in bright sunlight due to inferior brightness. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Realme 11 provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1000 nits | Realme 11 is significantly brighter, providing much better visibility in outdoor conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Realme 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ (6 nm) | Realme 11's newer chipset provides significantly better performance and efficiency. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 200,458 | 389,600 | Realme 11 has significantly higher benchmark scores (94%), translating to better real-world responsiveness for gaming and demanding apps. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali-G57 MC2 | Realme 11's GPU offers better graphics processing capabilities for gaming and GPU-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Realme 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 64.2 MP, f/1.8 | 64 MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | Both offer similar high-resolution photos; Realme 11's slightly wider aperture might allow for better low light performance; Realme 11 has a dedicated 1/2" sensor and Omnivision OV64B which are beneficial for quality. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.0 | Samsung A32 has higher-resolution selfie camera, which might result in more detail in self-portraits; Realme 11 has wider aperture, which might lead to better low light performance in selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8 MP, f/2.2 | Not Available | A32 has a wide angle lens for capturing more in one photo; Realme 11 lacks a wide angle lens. |
| Portrait Lens | 5 MP, f/2.4 | 2 MP, f/2.4 | A32 has better depth resolution for better portrait results |
| Macro Lens | 5 MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | A32 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography; Realme 11 lacks a macro lens. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps, No Slow-mo | 1080p@30fps, Yes Slow-mo 120 fps | Both offer basic 1080p recording, Realme 11 offers the option to record slow-motion video. |
| Camera 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 | Digital zoom, Dual camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | Samsung A32 has a quadruple camera setup, Realme 11 has a dual camera setup with digital image stabilization and PDAF. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Realme 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both offer similar battery life potential. |
| Charging | Li-Ion | 33W Fast Charging, Li-Polymer | Realme 11 charges significantly faster due to 33W fast charging. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both batteries are non-removable. |
Software & Other Features
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Realme 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 13 | Realme 11 has a more modern OS out of the box, which means better feature support, security, and optimization. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual Band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual Band | Both support similar Wi-Fi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | Realme 11's Bluetooth 5.1 LE offers better energy efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | Realme 11 has better GPS with support for additional QZSS satellite for improved location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones support Dual SIM. |
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128 GB | 128GB/256 GB | Realme 11 offers more storage options. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Realme 11 offers more RAM options, leading to smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio Quality | Basic audio features | Basic audio features | Both phones offer similar audio quality. |
| Security | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Realme 11 provides better security with a faster side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Heart Rate, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Realme 11 has a Heart Rate sensor, while Samsung A32 features Compass and Hall sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 Advantages:
- AMOLED Display: Offers superior color quality, contrast, and black levels for media consumption.
- Better Selfie Camera: Higher resolution, potentially better detailed selfies.
- Versatile Camera System: Offers a dedicated wide angle, portrait and macro lens, providing more flexibility in photography.
- More Sensors: Compass and Hall sensor.
Realme 11 Advantages:
- Faster Performance: Significantly more powerful chipset and higher benchmark scores leading to a much better user experience.
- Brighter Display: Much higher brightness makes it much better to use outdoors.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother user experience.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging significantly reduces charging times.
- More RAM and Storage: More RAM and internal storage leads to better performance and more space for applications and files.
- More Modern OS: Ships with a more modern version of Android (13 vs 11) that provides a superior software experience.
- Better Build: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
- Heart Rate sensor: Includes a heart rate sensor for health tracking.
- Better GPS: Includes additional QZSS satellite support.
- Bluetooth: Has a newer and more efficient bluetooth version.
- Better Primary Sensor: Dedicated 1/2" sensor and Omnivision OV64B model.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung A32: Better display technology but it lacks in performance, build quality and software. Slower charging.
- Realme 11: Faster charging, better performance, better display brightness, but lower selfie camera resolution and lacks a wide angle/macro lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A32 Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize display quality for media consumption.
- Users who enjoy taking a variety of different types of photos with a versatile camera setup including wide angle, portrait and macro.
Users who are not very demanding in terms of performance, preferring to watch movies on their phones rather than play games.
Use Cases: Casual media consumption, casual photography, basic social media use.
Realme 11 Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize performance for gaming and multitasking.
- Users who need a reliable phone for everyday use that is fast and snappy.
- Users who need a bright display that is usable outdoors.
Users who want a more modern software experience.
Use Cases: Gaming, demanding apps, outdoor use, everyday tasks, power users, multitasking.
Price-to-Value:
- Realme 11 provides a much better value proposition with its performance, faster charging, screen brightness, more modern OS, build quality and more storage. It is much better for users who need the phone for heavy use.
- Samsung Galaxy A32 is more suitable for users who prioritize display quality and versatile camera lens setup over other specs and do not have heavy performance requirements, but the value proposition is much worse.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is screen quality? (If crucial, prioritize AMOLED of A32. If brightness is more important, prioritize the 1000 nits IPS LCD of Realme 11)
- How important is raw performance? (Realme 11 has much better processing power for gaming and multitasking)
- How important is fast charging and modern software? (Realme 11 offers fast charging and a newer Android version).
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Movie Buff: If watching movies is your priority, Samsung Galaxy A32 is slightly better due to its superior display technology if you are watching in a low light environment; otherwise, the Realme 11 is better due to the screen brightness.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer: If you enjoy gaming or need to run demanding apps, the Realme 11 is much better due to its superior processing power, more RAM, and smoother display with 120Hz.
- Scenario 3: Everyday User: If you just need a phone for social media, web browsing, and general use, the Realme 11 is better due to its fast charging, brighter display, better performance and more modern software.
- Scenario 4: Photography Enthusiast: If you need versatile camera options such as wide angle, macro and portrait, the Samsung Galaxy A32 is better. If you need the main camera to perform well and are not interested in the other lenses, the Realme 11 is better due to the superior main sensor.
Personal Recommendation
I would choose the Realme 11. While the Samsung Galaxy A32 has an appealing AMOLED display, the overall performance difference is substantial. The Realme 11's significantly faster processor, combined with its higher refresh rate, superior screen brightness, faster charging, and more modern software, provides a much better daily experience. The slightly larger screen size, more storage, and faster charging are also significant advantages. The superior build quality due to Corning Gorilla Glass 5 is also a major plus. While the Samsung A32 has a better selfie camera on paper and a more versatile camera system with a wide angle, macro and portrait lenses, the quality of the Realme 11 main camera is likely to be better due to a better sensor model. For me, the better performance and smoother experience make the Realme 11 the more compelling option.
