The Galaxy A32 is an unusual smartphone on account of the fact that the LTE and 5G variants are very different. Galaxy A31 owners who might want to upgrade to the latest model will have to be very careful when choosing between the two, so today we'll pit the Galaxy A31 against the Galaxy A32 LTE and 5G variants to highlight their differences.
Galaxy A31 vs Galaxy A32 LTE: Significant upgrade with incredible display
The new Galaxy A32 LTE is equal to or better than the Galaxy A31 in virtually every aspect. For example, the camera setup is almost unchanged but it now boasts a higher-resolution 64MP main sensor.
Similarly, the size and resolution of the Super AMOLED display is the same as last year, but the new Galaxy A32 LTE boasts a 90Hz refresh rate instead of 60Hz. This is a significant upgrade that will redefine the user experience with smoother animations all throughout the UI.
Memory options remain similar but the Galaxy A32 LTE benefits from a newer, slightly more competent Helio G80 chipset, and it ships with Android 11-based One UI 3.1 out of the box.
Galaxy A31 vs Galaxy A32 5G: If you're not in it for 5G, skip this one
You'd think that the 5G variant is superior to the LTE model and that upgrading to the Galaxy A32 5G would be a safe bet, but that's very far from the truth. As unusual as this may sound, the Galaxy A32 5G is inferior to the A32 LTE model in more than one way, and it's not that much better than the Galaxy A31 either.
To begin with, the camera setup was downgraded with lower-resolution wide, depth, and selfie sensors compared to the Galaxy A31.
Then there's the display, which was relegated to TFT technology and a lower resolution of 1600 by 720 pixels. It doesn't support a high refresh rate, and it's a clear downgrade from the Galaxy A31's Super AMOLED panel.
Furthermore, the Galaxy A32 5G has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor instead of an under-display solution, which could be viewed as a plus, but the only clear advantages it has over the Galaxy A31 are 5G support and the Dimensity 720 5G chipset.
Galaxy A31 vs Galaxy A32 LTE / 5G: Conclusion
Barring 5G connectivity, there's no good reason for most Galaxy A31 owners to view the Galaxy A32 5G as an upgrade, unless they really want higher performance levels. But for many users, the more powerful chipset won't make up for the lower-resolution display and / or the poorer cameras.
The Galaxy A32 LTE, however, is a clear upgrade over the Galaxy A31, especially in terms of display. High refresh rates were initially reserved for the flagship segment but they're now reaching the budget market thanks to the Galaxy A32 LTE. The latter model also has a better camera and a more powerful SoC compared to the Galaxy A31.
You can refer to the comparison widget below for a closer look at the Galaxy A31, Galaxy A32 LTE, and Galaxy A32 5G side-by-side, and don't forget to stay tuned for our upcoming Galaxy A32 reviews.
Galaxy A31 review
Samsung
Galaxy A31
Samsung
Galaxy A32
Samsung
Galaxy A32 5G
General Information
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Model Name
Galaxy A31
Galaxy A32
Galaxy A32 5G
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Model type
Bar
Bar
Bar
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Colors
Blue (Prism Crush Blue)Black (Prism Crush Black)Red (Prism Crush Red)White (Prism Crush White)
Black (Awesome Black)White (Awesome White)Blue (Awesome Blue)Violet (Awesome Violet)
Black (Awesome Black)White (Awesome White)Blue (Awesome Blue)Violet (Awesome Violet)
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Announced
2020, March
2021, January
2021, January
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Released
2020, April
Physical specifications
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Dimensions
Bar: 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm
Bar: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm
Bar: 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1 mm
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Weights
185g
184g
205g
Operating system
-
Operating system
Android 10
Android 11
Android 11
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One UI version
2.5
3.1
3.1
Networks
-
SIM
Dual SIM model
Dual SIM model
Dual SIM model
-
SIM card sizes
Nano-SIM (4FF)
Nano-SIM (4FF)
Nano-SIM (4FF)
-
Networks
2G3G4G
2G3G4G
2G3G4G5G
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eSIM support
No
No
No
Display
-
Kind
Main Display
-
Name
Infinity-U Display
Infinity-U Display
Infinity-V Display
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Technology
Super AMOLED Display
Super AMOLED Display
IPS LCD
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Size
6.4 inch / 162.56 mm
6.4 inch / 162.56 mm
6.5 inch / 165.1 mm
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Resolution
FHD+ / 2400x1080 pixels
FHD+ / x pixels
HD+ / 1600x720 pixels
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Pixel density
411 PPI
270 PPI
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Screen to body ratio
~84.0%
~81.6%
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Refresh rate
90Hz
