Mid-Range Phones Around 500,000 Won Face Off... iPhone SE VS Galaxy A51 5G

iPhone SE vs Galaxy A51 with Overlapping Price and Release Schedule
iPhone SE Retains Old Design but Differentiates with Latest Processor
Galaxy A51 Leads in Display Size, Camera, and Battery Specs

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The iPhone SE 2nd generation and Galaxy A51 are set to compete in the mid-range smartphone market. Both products are priced in the 500,000 KRW range, but there are clear differences in detailed specifications such as screen size, camera performance, and battery.

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), smartphone shipments in February dropped sharply by 38% compared to the previous year, and sales this year are expected to reach the lowest point in the last decade. The pandemic caused supply chain issues and sluggish sales compared to previous years, making strong performance in the mid-range smartphone segment crucial.

This year, Apple and Samsung are unusually facing off directly in the mid-range smartphone market. The iPhone SE 2nd generation is launched at 550,000 KRW for the 64GB model. Although the domestic price of the Galaxy A51 5G has not been disclosed, based on overseas launch prices, both products are priced at $400.

The most noticeable difference between the two products is size. The iPhone SE 2nd generation has a 4.7-inch screen, while the Galaxy A51 has a 6.5-inch screen. The Galaxy A51 features a display that covers almost the entire front except for the front camera area, making it ideal for enjoying videos, photos, and other content. On the other hand, the iPhone SE 2nd generation has thick top and bottom bezels, giving a somewhat cramped impression, but its small size offers the advantage of portability.

The Galaxy A51 5G measures 73.6mm in width, 158.9mm in height, with a thickness of 8.7mm and weighs 187g. The iPhone SE measures 67.3mm in width, 138.4mm in height, with a thickness of 7.3mm and weighs 148g, making it much smaller and lighter.

Both products support fingerprint authentication, but the functions differ. The Galaxy A51 5G supports on-screen fingerprint recognition by placing a finger on the display, whereas the iPhone SE 2nd generation supports Touch ID by placing a finger on the home button.

There are also price differences based on storage capacity. The iPhone SE 2nd generation is priced at 550,000 KRW for the 64GB model and 620,000 KRW for the 128GB model. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A51 starts from the 128GB model and is expected to launch in the 500,000 KRW range. Additionally, the storage can be expanded up to 1TB by adding a micro SD card. Regarding battery capacity, Apple has not disclosed exact specifications but it is known to be the same 1821mAh as the iPhone 8. The Galaxy A51 5G has a 4500mAh battery, more than twice the capacity.

Apple has equipped the iPhone SE with the same A13 Bionic chipset as the iPhone 11 to enhance performance. The iPhone SE 2nd generation has 3GB of RAM but has improved CPU performance by about 40% compared to its predecessor. Although benchmark specifications for the iPhone SE 2nd generation have not yet been released, tests with the existing A13 chipset show a single-core score of 5432 and a multi-core score of 13,544. In contrast, Samsung’s Galaxy A51 is equipped with an octa-core Exynos 9611, which scores 1690 in single-core and 5544 in multi-core tests. The Galaxy A51 5G supports 6GB and 8GB RAM options.

IT specialist media MacRumors explained, "To catch up with Apple’s A-series chips, Android manufacturers equip more RAM and the latest processors, but this formula is not always followed in mid-range products."

Regarding camera specifications, the Galaxy A51 5G is equipped with four lenses, while the iPhone SE 2nd generation supports a single lens. The Galaxy A51 features a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and 5MP macro and depth cameras. The front camera is 32MP. The iPhone SE 2nd generation has a 12MP single camera and a 7MP front camera. Apple supports portrait mode and HDR functions on the iPhone SE 2nd generation camera.

Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight, explained, "The Galaxy A51 can defend against the iPhone SE while offering mid-range products to consumers who want a well-known brand, which could help retain customers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.