Samsung's new Galaxy A series: what are the differences?

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Samsung's new Galaxy A series: what are the differences?
Samsung has a new lineup of affordable phones that shakes things up with quite a few cool new features including the first ever true edge-to-edge screen on a Samsung phone, but there is a bunch of phones in the series and it's easy to get lost in the model numbers.

We're here to clear things up about the Samsung Galaxy A series.

First things first, the name of the new lineup is Samsung A series and the phones you will see listed below will completely replace the Samsung J series of affordable phones.

Samsung Galaxy A series comparison:


So, here is a quick look at the Galaxy A series, starting from the most expensive and most exciting one, the A80, and going down to the most affordable, the dirt-cheap A10:

  • A80 (650 euro in Europe)
  • A70 (420 euro in Europe | ~$465 in Asia)
  • A50 (350 euro in Europe | ~$290 in Asia)
  • A40 (260 euro in Europe | ~$280 in Asia)
  • A30 (~$245)
  • A20e 
  • A20 (~$180)
  • A10 (~$123)

We have also heard of a Samsung Galaxy A60 model that should be launching in the near future and we wouldn't be surprised to see a Galaxy A90 model, but so far these are the A series models that are available.

Galaxy A80



  • Display: 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, edge-to-edge, no notch
  • Processor: Snapdragon 730 with 8GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB, no microSD
  • Cameras: 48MP main camera + 8MP ultra wide angle + TOF depth cam
  • *All cameras rotate, so you can use them as front cameras too
  • Battery: 3700mAh with 25-watt fast charge
  • *No headphone jack

The "flagship" of the A series, the phone that brings the most in terms of features and performance, is the Galaxy A80.

It has one trick that no other Samsung phone, even the premium S10 series, have: a true edge-to-edge display with no notch, no interruptions and a record screen-to-body ratio. How did Samsung do it? With a very cool trick: a camera system that lifts up and swivels, so the rear cameras of the phone can also point forward and you can use them for your selfies. Here is how it all works:


It looks cool and seems quite fast, but will it withstand the test of time (and the test of accidentally dropping your phone)? We don't know the answer to that yet.

For all else, the Galaxy A80 falls a little bit short of the Galaxy S10 series: it does not have quite as fast a processor, it lacks the telephoto camera, and it does not have as large a battery as the S10+. The A80 also comes with an optical fingerprint scanner, while the S10 features the newer and cooler ultrasonic reader. But for selfies? It might actually do a better job.


Galaxy A70



  • Display: 6.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, teardrop notch
  • Processor: Snapdragon 730 with 6GB RAM
  • Storage: 128GB + microSD
  • Cameras: 32MP main camera + 8MP ultra wide angle + TOF depth cam + 32MP front cam
  • Battery: 4500mAh

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Much more affordable than the Galaxy A80, the A70 ships with a similar size Super AMOLED screen, but it's not a true edge-to-edge screen and you have a tiny teardrop notch here. Of course, gone is the cool camera trick and here you have a traditional set of rear cameras, a 32MP main shooter with a depth camera and an ultra-wide angle camera, as well as a separate front facing shooter for your selfies. The processor is clocked at a slightly slower peak speed (2.0GHz vs 2.2GHz on the A80).

But for all else, the A70 actually offers more: it has a much larger, 4500mAh battery that will last you longer and unlike the A80, the A70 supports expandable storage via microSD cards. 


Galaxy A50



  • Display: 6.4-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, U-shape notch
  • Processor: Exynos 7 Octa with 6GB RAM
  • Storage: 64GB + microSD
  • Cameras: 25MP main camera + 8MP ultra wide angle + 5MP TOF depth cam + 25MP front cam
  • Battery: 4000mAh with 15-watt fast charge

Dropping to mid-range prices, the Galaxy A50 still brings a large AMOLED display with a tiny notch, a huge, 4000mAh battery, and a triple camera system.

On paper, this phone looks like it has a very well-balanced set of features and will please many people who don't want to shell out extra cash. It also comes with an in-screen optical fingerprint reader, another innovative feature that you won't find on most rivals.


Galaxy A40



  • Display: 5.9-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, teardrop notch
  • Processor: Exynos 7 Octa with 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 64GB + microSD
  • Cameras: 16MP main camera + 5MP ultra wide angle + 25MP front cam
  • Battery: 3100mAh with 15-watt fast charge

The Galaxy A40 is a smaller phone that does not have a dedicate depth camera, so it's not quite as good in capturing portrait shots with a blurred background and its battery size is on the small side, but you still get an AMOLED screen, a good amount of storage and the Samsung One UI experience.


Galaxy A30



  • Display: 6.4-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, U-shape notch
  • Processor: Exynos 7 Octa with 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 64GB + microSD
  • Cameras: 16MP main camera + 5MP ultra wide angle + 16MP front cam
  • Battery: 4000mAh with 15-watt fast charge

Further down in price, we have another big phone with a big battery, but slightly less capable camera, the Galaxy A30.


Galaxy A20



  • Display: 6.4-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen, teardrop notch
  • Processor: Exynos 7884 with 3GB RAM
  • Storage: 32GB + microSD
  • Cameras: 13MP main camera + 8MP front cam
  • Battery: 4000mAh with 15-watt fast charge

And when you go even further down in price with the Galaxy A20, you see that the screen resolution drops to just 720p, so you will see some pixelization on this display. With less RAM and a slower processor, this phone won't be quite as zippy as the more expensive ones too. In terms of camera, the A20 also does not have a depth camera or an ultra-wide one, and instead just has the main camera and the selfie shooter.

Note that there is also a Galaxy A20e model for some markets. The A20e will have a smaller, 5.8" screen that will use LCD technology rather than an AMOLED one. It will be powered by the Exynos 7884 chipset with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage.


Galaxy A10



  • Display: 6.2-inch 720p LCD, teardrop notch
  • Processor: Exynos 7884 with 2GB RAM
  • Storage: 32GB + microSD
  • Cameras: 13MP main camera with 1080p video + 5MP front
  • Battery: 3400mAh

Finally, the dirt-cheap Galaxy A10 comes with a 720p LCD display that does not quite have the rich and vivid colors that others in the A series can boast. It's also decidedly on the slow side.

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