Samsung makes some of the best Android smartphones around. Their flagship line, the Galaxy S9 series, is considered as the best in the Android space.
But beautiful and powerful smartphones don’t always have to come with a heavy price tag. And for those circumstances, Samsung has come up with the Galaxy A-series — a line of Samsung smartphones which try to mimic that same premium-smartphone feel, at almost half the price.
Today we’re taking a look at two of Samsung’s offering in the midrange market. For the higher-midrange line, the company has come up with the Samsung Galaxy A6 and Samsung Galaxy A8. Both devices have premium designs, high-end specs, and a price tag that won’t break the bank.
Related: Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018) officially launched in the Philippines
But the question is, which between the two delivers better value for the money? Are you better off getting any of the two? Or should you just aim higher for a proper flagship device? Our Samsung Galaxy A6 vs Samsung Galaxy A8 specifications and features comparison will hopefully let you decide.
| Samsung Galaxy A6 | Samsung Galaxy A8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo Samsung Experience | Android 7.1.1 Nougat Samsung Experience |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Single/Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 5.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED 1480 x 720 resolution ~293ppi 2.5D Infinity Curved Glass 18:9 aspect ratio | 5.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 2220 x 1080 resolution ~440ppi 2.5D Infinity Curved Glass 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 1.6GHz Exynos 7870 octa-Core | 2.2GHz Exynos 7885 hexa-core |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB | 4GB |
| GPU | Mali-T830 | Mali-G71 |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB internal storage Expandable via microSD up to 256GB | 32GB/64GB internal storage Expandable via microSD up to 256GB |
| Front camera | 16-megapixel front camera f/1.9 LED flash | 8-megapixel (f/1.9) + 16-megapixel (f/1.9) Wide-angle Live Focus |
| Rear Camera | 16-megapixel f/1.7 PDAF LED flash | 16-megapixel f/1.7 PDAF LED flash |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner Facial recognition | Fingerprint scanner Facial recognition |
| Connectivity | HSPA+ 4G LTE WiFi a/b/g/n, dual-band Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS BDS FM Radio NFC USB Type-C | HSPA+ 4G LTE WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS BDS FM Radio NFC USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 149.9 x 70.8 x 7.7 mm | Dimensions: 149.2 x 70.6 x 8.4mm |
| Weight | TBA | 172g |
| Color | Black Blue Gold Lavander | Gold Blue Black Orchid Gray |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 3000mAh |
| Price | EUR309 (~Php19,100) | Php26,990 |
Specs-wise, I think it’s pretty obvious who is the winner here. As presented in the table above, the Samsung Galaxy A8 offers the better set of features when compared to the Samsung Galaxy A6. It’s not surprising, though, as it’s the more premium model.
For starters, the Samsung Galaxy A8 has a sharper Full HD+ screen. Although they have the same size, the Galaxy A6 only has an HD+ screen — which is really unacceptable especially for a device at its price.
The Galaxy A8 also has a higher-clocked processor despite having only six-cores. Its dual front cameras are also relatively more enticing than the single 16-megapixel shooter on the other camp. It provides a wide-angle view and Samsung’s Live Focus feature also known as portrait mode.
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Since it runs on a newer chipset, the Galaxy A8 also have more advanced connectivity options. There’s the Bluetooth 5.0 for connecting through wireless peripherals and the more reliable dual-band WiFi ac.
But to Galaxy A6’s credit, it runs on a newer Android 8.0 Oreo software, while the Galaxy A8 is stuck at Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Also, this device is noticeably cheaper than the Galaxy A8 which explains its compromised hardware.
Other than those major differences, the two devices have identical extra features. They have the same 16-megapixel camera with PDAF and a wide aperture of f/1.9. The duo is equipped with a fingerprint scanner at the back — located at a convenient location like in the Galaxy S9.
They also come with the same 3000mAh battery, which we expect to last longer on the Galaxy A6 as it will power less-demanding hardware.
But then again, despite being more affordable than the Galaxy A8, this device still belongs in the higher-midrange category. And in this price bracket, we should be expecting more than just an HD+ screen or a single camera in front and back.
While the Galaxy A6 is cheaper at ~Php19,000 (EUR309), we think that it doesn’t offer enough hardware and features for its asking price. The same goes for the Galaxy A8 priced at Php26,990, although some may argue that it’s a more complete package, blurring the line between upper midrange and flagship.