Samsung began 2024 with its annual replace of its flagship Galaxy S household with three S24 fashions: S24, S24+, and S24 Extremely. With the current launch of the S23 FE smartphone and a refresh of the mid-range Galaxy A sequence, the query in consumers’ minds is which cellphone mannequin to purchase. Is it price going for the high-end S line or is the A spread adequate? Preserve studying to discover a common overview of the 2 cellphone households and see when you ought to go “A or S”.
Regardless that Samsung is shifting its mid-range increasingly into the higher class by way of specs, there are positively explanation why the producer retains its smartphone sequence separate. Due to this fact, we’ll begin by wanting on the variations between the 2 smartphone sequence.
Desk of contents:
Galaxy A and Galaxy S: What are the variations?
These fashions have been launched in 2022 and 2023
What do “A” and “S” actually stand for
Variations between A and S additionally apply to tablets
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These are the variations between “A” and “S”
The smartphone market is split into segments akin to “flagship”, “mid-range”, or “entry-level” fashions. Samsung’s flagship vary has at all times been the S sequence, whereas it additionally produces mid-range fashions within the type of the A-series. New applied sciences just like the highly effective quad-camera setup within the Galaxy S24 Extremely are normally discovered within the costlier fashions.
The S Pen can be suitable with Samsung’s costliest smartphones alone. Since 2022, the producer additionally determined to reintegrate the stylus into the housing of one of many Galaxy fashions. The Galaxy S24 Extremely is thus the official substitute of the Galaxy Observe sequence. As with Samsung’s legendary phablets, you’ll be able to retailer the S Pen on the backside of the housing.
By way of construct high quality, you too can anticipate higher-quality supplies like metallic frames and glass parts within the S sequence. Samsung makes use of shatterproof Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in all S23 and fundamental S24 fashions, with Gorilla Armor on the S24 Extremely, and thus gives a very high-quality feel and appear.
When you consider the Galaxy S lineup, construct high quality is persistently greater in comparison with the present A-series fashions. Whereas the Galaxy A fashions are constructed with a plast polycarbonate housing, the Galaxy S sequence integrates Corning’s Gorilla Glass additionally within the again, promising extra resistance.
Along with new applied sciences and construct high quality, you too can anticipate higher efficiency with the S sequence handsets. Count on quicker processing speeds and gaming efficiency on the Galaxy S fashions, with the S24 technology again to the break up between Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Samsung Exynos 2400 chips in several areas for the essential and plus fashions.
Within the mid-range, Samsung historically makes use of its personal processors. Current Galaxy A telephones used plenty of Exynos chips just like the Exynos 1280, 1380, and 1480 fashions. Opposite to what normally occurs within the flagship area, mid-range Exynos processors provide a very good steadiness between efficiency and battery consumption, performing properly in nextpit’s opinions.
In contrast with the S-series, nonetheless, Samsung’s new A fashions provide considerably bigger batteries. Whereas the Galaxy S24 gives a battery with simply 4,000 milliamp hours, the producer packs a hefty 5,000 milliamp hours into each the A53/A54/A55 and A33/A34/A35. One other benefit is the choice to develop the inner storage with a micro-SD card within the Galaxy A fashions.
Nonetheless, you must make allowances for the cameras within the mid-range fashions. Each A53 and A33 include a quad-camera, which accommodates quite ineffective sensors for macro pictures and depth info, fortunately, the latter was dropped within the A34/A54 and A35/A55 duos. Samsung now gives setups with wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto cameras throughout the board within the S-series.
The Galaxy A line briefly had a telephoto (optical zoom) possibility on 2021’s A72 mannequin, however not solely it was dropped on the subsequent yr’s Galaxy A73, that mannequin wasn’t even launched in North America or most European nations.
When you worth long-term software program assist for each working system variations and common safety updates, all Galaxy S fashions and the premium A fashions (A55 and A35 ranges) promise 4 main Android upgrades and 5 years of safety patches. Nonetheless, entry-level Galaxy A fashions normally obtain as much as two system upgrades and 4 years of safety updates.
With regards to water and dirt safety, the flagship S sequence is rated for higher resistance with an IP68 certification, whereas the higher A sequence fashions (e.g. A55 and A35) are rated as IP67. Decrease-end Galaxy A (e.g. A25, A15, A05) are usually not mud or waterproof.
These fashions have been launched in 2023 and 2024
5 fashions from the Galaxy S and Galaxy A sequence have already been launched in 2024. Past that, older fashions from 2023 are nonetheless price contemplating since they’re obtainable as new units with a guaranty and adequate replace coverage. You will discover an summary of all fashions within the following desk.
Galaxy A and Galaxy S current releases
With a click on on the respective system mannequin, it is possible for you to to acquire extra details about that handset. These are hyperlinks to our opinions, or—if not but examined by us—to the overview pages of the fashions.
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That is what the letters “A” and “S” stand for in actuality
After all, Samsung’s two system lessons are an element of the corporate’s advertising technique that the corporate has been pursuing for a couple of years now. The primary S mannequin, which was merely referred to as the Galaxy S, was launched in 2010. Right here, the “S” doesn’t stand for the “Tremendous AMOLED” show which it used earlier than and as many have assumed, however quite, it stands for “Tremendous Good”.
The “A” in “Galaxy A,” alternatively, stands for a considerably much less spectacular “Alpha”. Different Samsung designations embody “Y” for “Younger”, “C” for “China”, “M” for “Magic”, and “J” for “Pleasure”. Nicely, aren’t these enjoyable details to recollect as trivia?
Variations between A and S additionally apply to tablets
If you’re not solely concerned about Samsung’s small-screen units, you need to check out Samsung’s tablets. As you’ll be able to learn in our Samsung pill shopping for information, there may be additionally a distinction between the Galaxy S and Galaxy A. Together with the Galaxy Z updates in mid-2023, Samsung additionally launched the brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 with the Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Extremely fashions.
And identical to on the smartphone line-up, the Galaxy Tab household gives an identical stage of differentiation between the premium Tab S and the entry-level Tab A sequence: Higher construct high quality, quicker processors, stylus assist, and even water resistance on the newer Galaxy Tab S9 tablets. There are even Fan Version tablets (which principally change the older “Lite” alternate options).
Which Samsung system sequence do you discover to be extra thrilling? Do you like the A-series or the brand new S-series that was launched this yr?
Article up to date in April 2024. Older feedback have been stored and should seem out of context.