Entry-level smartphones became very sweet. Mainstream manufacturers are putting a lot of effort even into low-end devices and several amazing devices are hitting the shelves at a very affordable price. One of the latest is the Realme C3, recently launched even in a new triple camera variant and in the global market. But Huawei’s sub-brand launched an awesome entry-level too: Honor Play 9A. And it is not about Chinese manufacturers anymore: even Samsung started releasing advanced entry-level phones like the newly-announced Samsung Galaxy M11. Is it worth going for a Samsung entry-level phone in 2020 or you should choose Realme and Honor? This comparison will clear your ideas.
Oppo Realme C3 vs Huawei Honor Play 9A vs Samsung Galaxy M11
| Huawei Honor Play 9A | Oppo Realme C3 | Samsung Galaxy M11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 159.1 x 74.1 x 9 mm, 185 grams | 164.4 x 75 x 9 mm, 195 grams | 161.4 x 76.3 x 9 mm, 197 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.3 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), 278 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.5 inches, 720 x 1560p (HD+), 270 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.4 inches, 720 x 1560p (HD+), 268 ppi, PLS TFT |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Helio P35, octa-core 2.3 GHz | Mediatek Helio G70, octa-core 2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, octa-core 1.8 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 2 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, EMUI | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, One UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 13 + 2 MP f/1.8 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 12 + 2 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 5 MP f/2.4 front camera |
Triple 13 + 5 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 5000 mAh, fast charging 10W | 5000 mAh, battery charging 10W | 5000 mAh, fast charging 15W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot, reverse charging | Dual SIM slot |
Design
Samsung started mounting punch-hole display even on entry-level phones. And the punch-hole display is the reason why Samsung Galaxy M11 looks more attractive than its rivals. Realme C3 has a more interesting build quality not only because its display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, but also because the phone is splash resistant. On the other hand, Honor Play 9A is the most compact phone due to its smaller display. Which design do you prefer? Would you prefer the best look or the best build quality on an entry-level device?
Display
Unfortunately, a punch-hole display does not mean a better image quality. Samsung Galaxy M11 has a PLS TFT screen and generally, this technology delivers a lower quality compared to IPS displays like the ones mounted on Honor Play 9A and Realme C3. The Realme C3 has the widest panel and it may be generally better for advanced users, while Honor Play 9A has the smallest display, so it provides a higher pixel density and it is easier to use with one hand. Realme C3 should provide a slightly better quality despite its lower pixel density, but in each case, you get an HD+ resolution, so a similar level of detail.
Specs & Software
The most powerful SoC is the MediaTek Helio G70 mounted on the Realme C3. Besides having a very strong CPU, it even comes with high graphics performance. So, despite Realme C3 is an entry-level phone, it is a good choice even for gamers. Right after, we got the Samsung Galaxy M11 with a Qualcomm chipset, even though it is a pretty old Qualcomm SoC built at 14 nm. Honor Play 9A has a less convincing chipset, but it doubles the internal storage by reaching 128 GB. In each case, you get a micro SD dedicated slot and Android 10 out of the box.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy M11 provides the most complete camera department. On the rear side, you get a main 13 MP sensor with a bright f/1.8 focal aperture, a 5 MP ultrawide lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. The Realme C3 comes in two variants: one with a dual camera and one with a triple camera which adds a 2 MP macro sensor besides a 2 MP depth sensor. So it takes the silver medal. But the Honor Play 9A actually comes with a better front camera than both the Realme C3 variants. None of these devices is a great camera phone, they are all low-end devices in terms of camera performance, but far from being bad.
Battery
The battery life is the strongest point of all these handsets. With their huge 5000 mAh batteries, they last up to three days on a single charge with moderate usage. Samsung Galaxy M11 comes with the fastest charging technology thanks to a 15W power, while the others support 10W charging.
Price
Unfortunately, the Realme C3 is currently the only device sold globally (€160), so the following prices are referred to the Asian market. Realme C3 starts from Rs. 6,999 in India, while Honor Play 9A is priced CNY 899 in China. We still do not know how much Samsung Galaxy M11 will cost. If we only consider the specifications, Samsung Galaxy M11 is the best when it comes to design and cameras, while Realme C3 provides more powerful hardware and potentially better build quality, as well as a better display. Honor Play 9A is not as interesting as its rivals.
Oppo Realme C3 vs Huawei Honor Play 9A vs Samsung Galaxy M11: PROs and CONS
Huawei Honor Play 9A
PROs
- Compact
- Up to 128 GB storage
- Lighter
- Affordable
CONS
- Inferior chipset
Oppo Realme C3
PROs
- Amazing performance
- Wider display
- Splash resistant
- Reverse charging
CONS
- No fingerprint reader
Samsung Galaxy M11
PROs
- Punch-hole display
- Great cameras
- Faster charging tech
CONS
- Bluetooth 4.2
