The smartphone industry has really matured. High-end smartphones now have more advanced and bizarre features, low-end devices became more capable, and midrange offerings now brag features that we’re only seeing in flagship handsets before.
Today in our specs comparison, we’ll be stacking up one of the biggest success in the midrange category to one of the new contenders from a prominent brand.
Samsung has just launched its latest mid-range device, the Samsung Galaxy A50, and it’s not like any other entry-level Samsung device that we saw before. The South Korean tech giants ought to fight back on emerging Chinese brands, and the Galaxy A50 is here to achieve that.
But, does Samsung has what it takes to finally redeem themselves? To find the answer to that, we’ll be stacking it up with what is probably the crowning glory of midrange devices today — the undisputed Xiaomi Pocophone F1.
Here in our Samsung Galaxy A50 vs Xiaomi Pocophone F1 specs comparison, we shall see if Samsung’s latest bet has the chops to take on one of the crowd-favorites in the market today.
| Samsung Galaxy A50 | Xiaomi Pocophone F1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 9.0 Pie Samsung One UI | Android 8.1 Oreo MIUI 9.6 Poco launcher |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby Hybrid |
| Display | 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution ~403ppi | 6.18-inch FHD+ IPS 2246 x 1080 pixel resolution ~403ppi 19:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 2.3GHz Exynos 9610 octa-core | 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core LiquidCool cooling system |
| RAM | 6GB | 6GB |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 630 |
| Storage | 128GB expandable via microSD up to 512GB | 64GB/128GB UFS expandable via microSD up to 256GB |
| Front camera | 25-megapixel | 20-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 25-megapixel + 5-megapixel (depth sensor) + 8-megapixel (ultra wide) PDAF f/1.7 LED flash | 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel f/1.9 PDAF AI scene detection LED flash |
| Audio | Headphone jack | Stereo Speakers Headphone Jack |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock | Fingerprint scanner Infrared Face Unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo,QZSS FM Radio USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7mm | 155.5 x 75.3 x 8.8mm |
| Weight | 166g | 180g |
| Colors | Gradient Black Blue White Coral | Steel Blue Rosso Red Graphite Black Kevlar (Armored edition) |
| Battery | 4,000mAh 15W charger | 4,000mAh non-removable Quick Charge 3.0 |
| Price | Php17,990 | 6GB/64GB: Php17,990 6GB/128GB: Php19,990 |
See also: Samsung Galaxy A50 Review
To nobody’s surprise, the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 still remain triumphant over the Samsung Galaxy A50. This isn’t really surprising since the Pocophone F1 is actually considered a flagship/high-end device, but with a midrange price tag.
The fact that it’s running on a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor gave it an easy win. Partnered with an Adreno 630 GPU, the Pocophone F1 is easily the most powerful smartphone to get for the price.
However, the Samsung Galaxy A50 also has other premium features that the Pocophone F1 lacks. This makes up for the underpowered, yet still relatively capable, Exynos 9610 processor that it has.
For starters, it has a bigger 6.4-inch FHD+ display, which uses a more vibrant and colorful Super AMOLED panel. This also enabled Samsung to incorporate an in-display fingerprint scanner on this device.
Samsung’s offering also offers better camera features. This thing has a 25-megapixel selfie-snapper on the front, while the Pocophone F1 only has a 20-megapixel sensor.
Moreover, the Galaxy A50 also has more cameras on the back. Compared to the Pocophone F1’s 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual rear cameras, the Galaxy A50 has a 25-megapixel primary shooter, an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor.
Also, the Galaxy A50 feels more ergonomic and nice in the hands. This thing is only 7.7mm thin and only weighs 166g. In contrast, the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is at 8.8mm and 180g, respectively. That’s despite the fact that the two of them has the same 4,000mAh battery, with the Galaxy A50 having a bigger screen.
See also: Huawei P30 Lite vs Samsung Galaxy A50: Specs Comparison
To sum it up, if performance — and performance only — is your top priority, then you can never go wrong with the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 and its Snapdragon 845 processor.
But if you also care about other components, then you might find the right balance with the Samsung Galaxy A50. Its Exynos 9610 chipset is capable enough, the camera system gives flexibility in different shooting scenarios, there’s also the better display with the modern in-display fingerprint scanner.
Both devices start at Php17,990. Although the base model Pocophone F1 only has 64GB of storage, while the former has 128GB. Both models are now available nationwide through their respective physical stores and online shops.