Budget Entertainment Phone Showdown: Honor 7A vs Samsung Galaxy J7 Core

We compare two entertainment-centric budget phones!

Both the newly launched Honor 7A and Samsung Galaxy J7 Core feature vibrant full view displays, long battery life, and a powerful processor. While they may have similar features, we wonder: which one really lives up to the hype? Side-by-side, we put these two phones to the test to see which one will prove to be the best choice for a complete mobile entertainment (i.e. gaming and streaming) experience.

Before we get started, here’s a quick rundown of their specs:

Samsung Galaxy J7 Core Specs

1.6GHz Exynos 7870 Octa-core processor
2GB RAM
5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display
16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
13-megapixel, f/1.9 rear camera with LED flash
5-megapixel, f/2.2 front camera with LED flash
Dual SIM
3G, LTE
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Android 7.0 Nougat
3,000mAh battery

Honor 7A specs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor
2GB RAM
5.7-inch HD+ display, 18:9 display aspect ratio, 1440 x 720 resolution
16GB of internal storage, expandable via dedicated microSD
13-megapixel f/2.2 rear camera with PDAF, LED flash
8-megapixel f/2.2 front camera with selfie toning flash
Dual SIM
3G, LTE
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Fingerprint scanner, Face Unlock, SMART PA amplifier
Android Oreo with EMUI 8.0
3,000mAh battery

Which has the better look?

While both phones come with metallic sides, the Honor 7A has a more polished look with its matte-finished polycarbonate back that has a metal-like look on the first impression. In addition, the Honor 7A is slimmer than the Galaxy J7 Core thanks to its 18:9 display.

Because of its choice of display, this makes the Honor 7A easier to use with one hand.

Which has a better display?

Both phones come with an HD display, but the Honor 7A takes the cake for using an 18:9 panel, which results in a bigger screen estate for videos and games. The Galaxy J7 Core may earn plus points for its Super AMOLED display, but the Honor 7A’s IPS display is just as good.

Both phones delivered good colors and decent viewing angles, even in direct sunlight.

Which one offers better performance?

While both have 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage, the Honor 7A scored better in AnTuTu compared to the Galaxy J7 Core, with a score of 56896 (compared to the J7 Core’s 45490 when we ran AnTuTu to it last year). However, since the Galaxy J7 Core’s Exynos 7870 processor is made using a modern 14nm process (compared to the 28nm process of the Honor 7A’s Snapdragon 430), this makes the Galaxy J7 Core more energy efficient.

When it comes to extra features, the Honor 7A scores several points as it has a fingerprint scanner, face unlock, and Android Oreo out of the box. In addition, the Honor 7A comes with a Smart PA amplifier that helps in delivering a powerful sound output with minimal distortion.

Which is better at taking photos?

This is where the Galaxy J7 Core fares better: It’s 13-megapixel f/1.9 rear camera can do better depth-of-field shots compared to the Honor 7A’s 13-megapixel f/2.2 rear camera. In addition, there’s a noticeable shutter lag with the Honor 7A’s camera UI, and that it struggles with getting the right exposure in tricky lighting situations.

It is a different story when it comes to selfies, as the Honor 7A is the better performer with its 8-megapixel camera and selfie-toning flash.

Which has a better battery life?

While both have a 3000mAh battery, The Galaxy J7 Core’s 14nm processor is more power-efficient, as it scored almost 10 hours in PCMark. However, the Honor 7A is not far behind, as it scored around 7 and a half hours in PCMark—not bad considering that the Honor 7A has a bigger display.

And the winner is…

It depends on what you will use the phone for. If power efficiency and a great rear camera is your priority the Galaxy J7 Core is the better choice. If you are looking for a stylish phone that has generous screen estate, a powerful speaker, and a complete suite of security features (for a budget phone), the Honor 7A is your safe bet.

However, the Honor 7A is a great deal if you get it during Shopee’s flash sale on July 7, 14, and 30, as it will be priced at Php 5,990—Php 1k cheaper than its SRP price of Php 6,990.