Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 triple cameras What to choose? This year, the market for middles and budget smartphones is experiencing a real boom. Gadgets in an affordable price range are surrounded by the same functions as the flagships. Even if not by all, all the same, flagship devices must be somewhat cheaper than models. But the on-screen fingerprint scanner, Amoled-matrix, three decent cameras and fast charging in the middle peasant – this is a claim to increased demand.
Today we compare two smartphones that have all these chips (and not only these) – Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3. If Xiaomi in the budget and mid-price segment feels like a fish in water, and we are already used to seeing gadgets perfectly balanced in terms of functionality and price in its ranks, then Samsung did not really indulge users with this before. But this year, the South Korean brand surpassed itself and completely updated its A-series, stuffing it to the eyeballs with the most popular features. This line will definitely make your competitors nervous.
So, both smartphones are new to this year and both have roughly the same cost. But which one is better and which model should you bet on in order not to lose money? Let’s see what each of them is capable of.
Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 Content
Design – two of the casket
Displays
What’s inside?
Software
Security and Wireless
Triple cameras – who is cooler?
Autonomy
To summarize
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Design – two of the casket Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3
In appearance, the A30s and Mi A3 are not much different. Remember the quiz for mindfulness “Find 3 differences”? But with these smartphones you can definitely carry it out, because, at first glance, they look just like twins. But it’s hard to blame them, because, taking into account all the design chips, they look according to all current trends – a display with minimal frames, a cut-out drop, a beautiful iridescent “back”, three cameras, a USB Type-C connector instead of already “unfashionable” microUSB and stuff like that.
Samsung
Samsung’s smartphone has a slightly larger diagonal compared to the Mi A3 – 6.4 inches versus 6.088 inches. If you attach them to each other, you can see that the A30s are slightly higher and quite a bit wider than their opponent. The A30s case is made of polycarbonate, and the back cover is muted green and has a nice design in the form of diagonal lines and pearl overflows. Here, on the rear panel, you can see a triple camera with flash and the logo of the manufacturer triple cameras.
The upper edge of the Samsung A30s remained unused, on the left you can see the slot for a memory card and two “SIM cards”, and on the right – the volume buttons and the power key. Below is a charging connector (here we have USB Type-C), an external speaker and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Mi-A3-Xiaomi
Xiaomi Mi A3, in turn, also boasts a mother of pearl back with a wave-like iridescent accent. True, the case is not made of polycarbonate or brushed metal, as in last year’s version, but of glass, pleasantly cooling the hand. Despite all the external attractiveness, there is one caveat in the Mi A3 case – the smartphone is quite slippery. In his hand, he does not slip, but on any smooth surface that has at least some angle of inclination, it “rides” like on a skating rink. And on either side – at least the front, at least the back. I recommend immediately “dressing” him in a case, otherwise it’s worth a little distraction, and you can hear the sound of a falling smartphone. And the sound (and its consequences) is far from the most pleasant.
In comparison, we are participating in a model in saturated blue, and, I tell you, it looks very cool. Perhaps this is the most interesting color scheme in this model. Here, on the rear panel, you can also see a triple camera with a flash, as well as the brand name and an icon indicating that the smartphone is a member of the Android One “club”.
The controls in the Mi A3 are located almost the same as the A30s, but with a slight difference. The audio jack here is on the upper edge, next to the infrared sensor. This allowed the bottom to make a symmetrical perforation for an external speaker, as if hinting at the fact that there are two of them. But we all know that there is only one speaker in the smartphone, just like in the A30s, so the chip is for decoration only.
A30s-Mi-A3
As for the front panel, if we discard the difference in size, then it is completely identical in both cases. The large display occupies almost the entire area, the edging around it tends to a minimum, the front-panel cutout has a drop-shaped shape, and the cut for the conversational speaker is still “sewn” between the protective glass and the upper edge of the case.
Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 Displays
Displays A30s–Mi-A3
Both smartphones have Amoled matrices, only Samsung, of course, with the “Super” prefix. In gadgets with an average price tag, this solution is not so widespread, but all because OLED matrices are more expensive than their IPS counterparts. But in the smartphones we are considering, there is a logical explanation for this. Both devices are equipped with on-screen fingerprint scanners, which, as you probably know, so far can only work normally on OLED displays. Despite the fact that Fortsense was able to create the first on-screen fingerprint scanner on the IPS-matrix this spring, both Samsung and Xiaomi decided to take a proven path and not philosophize with new and yet unrolled technology. And users are hardly likely to lose out on such a decision.Displays in both cases are extremely good, with the exception of one point – HD-resolution Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3. And let there be no disaster in this, but somehow annoyingly. The rest of the user parameters are on top – and the contrast, and color depth, and margin of brightness (but the A30s looks a little brighter), and perfect black. And it is not worth talking about viewing angles in 2019.
If we talk about the screen settings, then the Samsung A30s with this is more fun. In addition to the ability to turn on adaptive brightness, select the font size and style, set a lock timer, etc., the A30s has a “Screen Mode” item where you can select the display mode for colors – natural or saturated. In the second paragraph, a slider appears, which makes it possible to play with the temperature of the image. For many, this will prove to be important, since OLED matrices have the ability to bend with contrast. And this is especially felt when you change from an IPS device to Amoled. But in the Mi A3 you can not customize the color rendition.
One could hope that since Amoled displays are used in both cases, the Always-On feature should, in theory, be there. But alas. In Xiaomi Mi A3, the scanner area is still highlighted even on a locked screen. But in the A30s this is not. And sometimes it’s not very convenient to first “wake up” the gadget, and then apply a finger. The clock or notifications displayed on the locked screen is not possible in both cases. Probably, manufacturers have always decided to leave Always-On flagship devices so that they contrast more with the background of more affordable gadgets.
What’s inside?
Whats inside A30s-Mi-A3
Now about the most important thing – about the hardware. As expected, the A30s has an 8-core Samsung Exynos 7904 (2 × 1.8 GHz + 6 × 1.6 GHz) with a Mali-G71 MP2 graphics accelerator. In comparison, a model with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of flash memory is involved , but there is also a 4/64 GB version, the price tag of which is proportionally higher. In addition, the smartphone from the South Korean brand supports memory cards up to 512 GB.
Mi A3, in turn, is also equipped with an 8-core, but Snapdragon 665, executed according to the 11-nm process technology, the company of which is the Adreno 610 graphic chip. There are already 4 cores at 2 GHz and 4 more at 1.8 GHz. In the basic version, the smartphone is available in the 4/64 GB version, but there is also a slightly more expensive 4/128 GB version. Mi A3 is compatible with memory cards up to 256 GB. It is worth noting that the Xiaomi device has a hybrid slot, so in order to accommodate MicroSD, you will have to sacrifice one SIM card.
As for how both smartphones cope with everyday loads, there are no problems. Both Mi A3 and A30s allow you to work in a rather shocking mode, they are good at multitasking, and games are not a problem for them either. True, with regard to demanding toys, smartphones will not pull the maximum graphics settings. For those who rely on synthetic test data, I note that in the AnTuTu benchmark A30s scored a little less than 120,000 points, and Mi A3 – 140,000.
Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 Software
Of course, both gadgets are running the 9th version of Android. But this is where their similarities in terms of software end. Samsung A30s supplemented with a proprietary shell One UI version 1.5. One of the main tasks of One UI was to simplify the “curly” Samsung interface that was inherent in the company’s gadgets several years ago, and it coped well with this. The shell is quite comfortable and looks pretty. Of course, it could not do without proprietary software, which Samsung has plenty of. Out of the box, the Galaxy Store, Samsung Pay (which still doesn’t work in Ukraine), Samsung Health, Galaxy Wearable, and Windows applications – Office Mobile, OneDrive and Outlook are preinstalled on the smartphone. Windows mobile add-ons will be an excellent alternative for those who, for some reason, are not comfortable or unusual to use Google services.
Xiaomi’s Mi A line is the only company line that runs on pure Android and is not equipped with an MIUI shell. The main advantage of Android One is the fact that this program will ensure the relevance of software over the next few years. The user is waiting for two full system updates (which are Android 10 and Android 11), as well as monthly updates of security protocols. The rest is the classic Android OS without additional tinsel. There are no pre-installed Xiaomi services (except for the “User Experience Program”, which is easily turned off in the settings), which for opponents does not need an overabundance of software a big plus.
Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 Security and Wireless
Wireless interfaces in A30s and Mi A3 are almost identical, with the exception of one important point. Both smartphones have Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and also work with GPS, GLONASS and Beidou systems. But A30s added an NFC module to this kit, which today, although not for everyone, is relevant for many users. In Mi A3, they did not become generous with him. Therefore, if the function of contactless payments is strategically important for you, then the choice is obvious.
As mentioned above Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3, the main “protector” of smartphones from unwanted interference from outsiders is the on-screen fingerprint scanner. And it works pretty well on both devices, though not very fast. To unlock the gadget with a fingerprint will take about 2-3 seconds. In addition to the response speed, the only drawback, in my opinion, for both Xiaomi and Samsung is the location of the scanner. It would be more convenient if it was slightly higher so that you did not have to intercept the smartphone to unlock it.
Both devices are also equipped with a face unlock feature. Surprisingly, this chip works faster than a fingerprint scanner in any light in both cases. But let’s be honest – this function is usually used less often, since it is not always convenient to bring the device to your face, and besides, the technology cannot boast of 100% protection.
Triple cameras Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 – who is cooler?
Triple cameras A30s-Mi-A3
Three cameras in a smartphone is not a luxury, but quite a common occurrence. The main thing is that these cameras do well with different types of shooting. Although there are no ideal solutions in the middle price segment (although in many flagships too), it’s hard not to notice how Xiaomi and Samsung are trying to get closer to this.
So, in the Mi A3 there is a main 48 MP camera module with an aperture of f / 1.79 and a 4-in-1 function (combining 4 pixels in 1), an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens with aperture of f / 2.2 and a 2 MP telephoto lens with an aperture of f / 2.4. In the camera application, the modes Photo, Portrait, Night, Panorama and Pro are available, in which, in addition to white balance and ISO, you can choose a wide lens or a fish-eye effect, and for video there are two modes – Video and Short video. Filters and beauty on site. By the way, Mi A3 can shoot videos in 4K format. 32MP front camera with f / 2.0 photosensitivity and the ability to shoot video in FullHD.
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Xiaomi Mobiles Official Specs & Retail Price
The camera in Xiaomi is equipped with an AI function, which, in theory, should automatically determine the plot and select the most suitable settings for it. However, as I already said in the Mi A3 review, she is far from perfect – sometimes the decisions made by artificial intelligence do not look entirely appropriate, and you have to take the photo again and manually. If we talk about frames in daylight, then there are practically no complaints about them. Except for focusing when shooting small objects Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 – sometimes in automatic mode the camera has to catch focus for 8-10 seconds and “find” it behind the subject.
But questions arise when shooting at night. Sometimes the camera manages to “pull out” the light at night and make the picture beautiful, but sometimes it goes too far — it changes the color tone, noticeably “makes noise” in unlit areas or randomly blurs some details of the composition. It’s possible, of course, to get used to the Mi A3 camera, but it can not always provide a fast high-quality picture.
In A30s, the role of the main module is played by a 25-megapixel sensor (f / 1.7), the wide-angle here is 8 megapixels, and the telephoto lens is 5 megapixels (f / 2.2). Unlike its competitor, the video is shot in FullHD format. The modes include Food, Panorama, Pro, Live Focus (the same bokeh), Photography, Video and Slow Motion, which, unfortunately, have no settings, but there is no time limit. Instead of artificial intelligence, the A30s has a button to optimize the scene, and there is also a selfie function that allows you to make animated stickers from a selfie, beauty and augmented reality mode with all sorts of ears and faces.
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Samsung Galaxy A30s Official Specs & Retail Price
In the camera app in Samsung, I like two options. The first is the ability to add and remove shooting modes (only from the ones listed above), so that in most cases unnecessary modes (Food, for example) can be hidden from view. And the second is a smart “viewfinder”, the role of which is played by the display during shooting. He reacts so quickly to camera movement and focuses on the subject so quickly that it’s hard not to be surprised. At Xiaomi, everything happens somehow more slowly, therefore, attention is not focused on this.
What is a good camera in the A30s? Well, there is nothing to talk about daytime shots – they are at a very decent level. Compared to Mi A3, the color reproduction in the photo is more natural – the camera does not try to stretch anything if the lighting is quite digestible. In addition, focusing on small objects close to the camera is faster and more accurate than that of his opponent. It’s also convenient that switching between the wide-angle and the main module is immediately on the screen in the Photo and Video modes Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3.
Knocking down intermediate results, the Samsung A30s handles photos faster and better than the Xiaomi Mi A3, in which the camera is not bad, but sometimes you need to tinker with it to achieve a cool shot. With Samsung, in most cases, you will be happy with the result of shooting even in the format “I got out of my pocket – quickly clicked on the first mode I got.”
Autonomy Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3
What is essentially required of a modern smartphone? So that his charge is enough for moderate-intensive use throughout the day. Actually, both smartphones do a good job of this. In Mi A3, the battery has 4030 mAh and there is support for fast charging Quick Charge 3.0. Samsung also does not lag behind – the battery capacity in the A30s is 4000 mAh and fast charging (15 W) is also present. In general, the indicators are completely nothing, and fast charging generally solves everything.
Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3 To summarize
summarize
What smartphone proved to be a great fellow? Despite the fact that both gadgets look very similar, there are a lot of differences in them – from hardware and software to cameras. Therefore, it is difficult to come up with an unequivocal answer, since we all have different priorities and requirements for devices.
So, both smartphones have a nice modern (but almost the same) design, cool matrices, on-screen fingerprint scanners and support fast charging. The main advantages of the Samsung A30s are a more advanced camera, which you do not need to adapt to and learn to interact with, as well as the availability of NFC. Therefore, if the capabilities of the camera and contactless payments in your smartphone are in the first place for you, then it makes sense to choose A30s.
Mi A3 can boast a little more productive hardware and more relevant modifications – 4/64 and 4/128 versus 3/32 and 4/64 in A30s, the price of which will be somewhat higher in any situation. In addition, for many, the participation of Mi A3 in the Android One program will be a plus. After all, to be sure that in 2-3 years your smartphone will not lose its relevance Samsung A30s or Xiaomi Mi A3- this is the choice of those who are for reasonable consumption and against changing a mobile device every six months to a year.
