Samsung is a very big company and it has a large smartphone division. It has many factories, staff, R&D divisions, and engineers. So the company churns out many products for different consumers and markets. It is also a common practice of Samsung to bring flagship specs to mid-range and budget range smartphones to attract more users. So all this creates lots of phones and lots of series. Last year Samsung launched Galaxy A series, E series, and J series. This year Samsung Galaxy C series has been launched. As all these series and products can be confusing, we have made this Galaxy C series vs A series comparison article.
Samsung creates different families or series for various reasons. Each series is special and the phones in those lineups are unique in some senses while different in others. For example, the Galaxy A series is a special mid-range lineup that is meant to provide mid-range hardware with a touch of flagship features in a premium package to global users. Similarly J series is a budget to mid-range series that is meant to purely provide value to budget-conscious users in Asia and many other countries. Likewise, this new Galaxy C series is an upper mid-range segment meant for the Chinese market. However, these phones have made their way to other markets due to their popularity.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A series vs J series
Galaxy C series vs A series: Basic Comparison and Procedure
In 2015, Samsung Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 were launched together with Galaxy E5 and Galaxy E7. After that Galaxy J7 and Galaxy J5 were launched. In 2016, new Galaxy A5 (2016), Galaxy A7 (2016), Galaxy J5 (2016), and Galaxy J7 (2016) were launched. All these are mid-range phones in terms of price and power. On top of all these models, Samsung also launched the Galaxy C5, Galaxy C7, Galaxy C8, and Galaxy C9 which compete with the Galaxy A5, A7, A8, and A9 of different generations. So in this article, we are comparing all these matching phones to see similarities and differences.
The main difference between these two series is that they are meant for different markets. The A series is meant for users with mid-level budgets in the global market. On the other hand, the C series products are priced higher and they were originally for the Chinese market but they made their way to the global market due to demand. The C series smartphones are very similar to the A line of products. Except for internal hardware and design differences, there are no other contrasting features that make the C family special for a country. One signature design difference of C family products is the metal body, rounded sides, and big screen.
In this article, we are comparing phones or models of each family that lies close to each other in terms of name and price. This will help to reduce confusion and provide a clear distinction of how featureful each product in each family is. So let us compare various models in this Galaxy A series vs C series to know the differences and similarities.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy J series vs E series
A5 vs C5
These two are the mid-range phones from the company and they are close in pricing. Both C5 and A5 are close in specs as well. The name matches and that is why it can be confusing to many people. So we are going to compare them generation-wise. For the first comparison, we are comparing A5 2016 with C5 because there was no C5 in 2015. So we shall keep on comparing phones of the same generation or same naming to make comparison easier. This method can show both similarities and differences
Galaxy C5 vs Galaxy A5 (2016)
| Galaxy A5 (2016) | Galaxy C5 | |
| Display | 5.2” Super AMOLED | 5.2” Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | N/A |
| Processor | Exynos 7580 (Octa-Core)/ Snapdragon 615 (Octa-Core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 (Octa-Core) |
| CPU Details | 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53/ 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 and 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 Quad-Core sets | 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 Quad-Core Sets |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 / Adreno 405 | Adreno 405 |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 16 GB | 32/64 GB |
| External Storage | 256 GB external SD card support | 128 GB external SD card support |
| Back Camera | 13 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Front Camera | 5 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 8 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Battery | 2900 mAh | 2600 mAh |
In the comparison of Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 vs Galaxy C5, we see some key differences that make the C5 a winner. The newer Galaxy C5 is amazing in comparison to the Galaxy A5 of 2016 but there are some things to keep in mind. The processor in the new C5 is a bit more powerful, RAM and internal storage are double plus the camera power is drastically higher with a 16 MP sensor. As usual only element of disappointment is the battery. Despite having such high and improved hardware, the battery size is less. Still, in the overall comparison, Galaxy C5 is a better choice due to its power-efficient Snapdragon 617 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 16 MP main camera.
Galaxy C5 Pro vs Galaxy A5 (2017)
| Galaxy A5 (2017) | Galaxy C5 Pro | |
| Display | 5.2” Super AMOLED | 5.2” Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Processor | Exynos 7880 (Octa-Core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 (Octa-Core) |
| CPU Details | 1.9 GHz Cortex-A53 | 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Mali-T830MP3 | Adreno 506 |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 32/64 GB | 64 GB |
| External Storage | 256 GB external SD card support | 256 GB external SD card support |
| Back Camera | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Front Camera | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Battery | 3000 mAh | 2600 mAh |
Both of these phones came in 2017 and they have few similarities. The main similarity that we see in Galaxy A5 (2017) vs Galaxy C5 Pro is in displays. Both smartphones have the same AMOLED screen, resolution, and protective glass. On the inside, C5 Pro comes with Snapdragon 626 processor, 4 GB RAM, 16 MP cameras, and a 2600 mA battery. Similarly, A5 2017 comes with Exynos 7880 processor, 3 GB RAM, 16 MP cameras, and a 3000 mAh battery. So in the case of memory, processor, and storage, C5 Pro is the clear winner. On top, it also has the same cameras so the only perk of the A5 2017 is a 3000 mAh battery.
A7 vs C7
The Galaxy C7 series and Galaxy A7 series phones are one of the most popular upper mid-range phones, These are common choices for people who want more and who want bigger displays. All the new generation A series and C series phones are luxury devices and they have features such as fingerprint scanning, fast charging, and dual SIM. These phones also use the core building material of their family which is metal (Aluminum). However, the A family also has a glass cover at the back and front but the C family is just a pure metal body just like the original A 2015 series. This construction makes C7 and A7 very premium. So these devices have a premium design, build, look, and powerful specifications to make for the complete package.
Galaxy C7 vs Galaxy A7 (2016)
| Galaxy A7 (2016) | Galaxy C7 | |
| Display | 5.5” Super AMOLED | 5.7” Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | N/A |
| Processor | Exynos 7580 (Octa Core)/ Snapdragon 615 (Octa-Core) | Snapdragon 625 (Octa-Core) |
| CPU Details | 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 / 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 and 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 Quad-Core sets | 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 / Adreno 405 | Adreno 506 |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 16 GB | 32/64 GB |
| External Storage | 256 GB external SD card support | 128 GB external SD card support |
| Back Camera | 13 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Front Camera | 5 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 8 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Battery | 3300 mAh | 3300 mAh |
These smartphones were launched in 2016 and they have quite different hardware. At first, the construction is different because we can see in the photo that C7 is made up of metal all around while A7 2016 is made of glass in front and back. In the Galaxy A7 (2016) vs Galaxy C7 comparison, it can be seen that Galaxy A7 2016 has a 5.5″ AMOLED display with FHD resolution, Gorilla Glass 4, 3 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, 3300 mAh battery, and 13 MP main camera at back.
Similarly, Galaxy C7 has a 5.7″ AMOLED screen with FHD resolution, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage for the base, 3300 mAh battery, and 16 MP main camera. For the processor, Samsung Galaxy C7 has Snapdragon 625 processor which is better than the Snapdragon 615 or Exynos 7580 that is found in Galaxy A7 (2016). So in overall comparison, Galaxy C7 is a much better smartphone option.
Galaxy C7 Pro vs Galaxy A7 (2017)
| Galaxy A7 (2017) | Galaxy C7 Pro | |
| Display | 5.7” Super AMOLED | 5.7” Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Processor | Exynos 7880 (Octa-Core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 (Octa-Core) |
| CPU Details | 1.9 GHz Cortex-A53 | 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Mali-T830MP3 | Adreno 506 |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| External Storage | 256 GB external SD card support | 256 GB external SD card support |
| Back Camera | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Front Camera | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Battery | 3600 mAh | 3300 mAh |
In the discussion of the Galaxy C series vs A series, we have the 2017 phones which include Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro and Galaxy A7 (2017). These are very similar phones and the main differences only come in design and processor. Both phones have a 5.7″ AMOLED screen, FHD resolution, Gorilla Glass 4 protection, and 16 MP with an f/1.9 aperture camera on both sides.
In the Galaxy C7 Pro, there is Snapdragon 626 processor, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, and a 3300 mAh battery. On the other hand, Galaxy A7 2017 has Exynos 7880 processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, and a 3600 mAh battery. So basically they are almost the same but if we really have to choose for power, C7 Pro is better due to more RAM, storage, and Snapdragon processor. Else both have similar hardware and if the decision depends on price, it is better to take the cheapest among these.
A8 vs C8
Here in the comparison of Galaxy A series vs C series phones, we also have A8 and C8. We can’t compare the original Galaxy A8 because that came in 2015 and at that time there was no C8. So we have to compare the Galaxy A8 2018 with the Galaxy C8 from 2018. After these two phones, Samsung stopped continuing the C series and also rebranded the A series phones with a dual number naming scheme.
Galaxy C8 vs Galaxy A8 (2018)
| Galaxy A8 (2018) | Galaxy C8 | |
| Display | 5.6” Super AMOLED | 5.5” Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×2220 | 1080×1920 |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Processor | Exynos 7885 (Octa-Core) | MediaTek MT6757 (Octa-Core) |
| CPU Details | 2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 Dual Core and 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 Hexa-Core sets | 2.3 GHz, Cortex A53 |
| GPU | Mali-G71 | Mali-T880 MP2 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 3/4 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB |
| External Storage | 256 GB external SD card support | 256 GB external SD card support |
| Back Camera | 16 MP with f/1.7 aperture | 13 MP with f/1.7 aperture |
| Front Camera | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture and 8 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 5 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Battery | 3000 mAh | 3000 mAh |
These two smartphones are very different in design and specification. The only thing that is the same on both phones is the 3000 mAh battery. At first Galaxy C8 has a 5.5″ AMOLED screen, FHD resolution, Gorilla Glass 4, and an octa-core MediaTek MT6757 processor. For RAM and storage, there are 3/32 GB and 4/64 GB options. In the case of optics, there is a 13 MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture and a 5 MP front camera with f/1.9 aperture.
Similarly, Galaxy A8 2018 has a bigger 5.6″ AMOLED screen, FHD+ resolution, Gorilla Glass 4, octa-core Exynos 7885 processor, and 4 GB RAM. For storage, there is 32 and 64 GB option. The front side of the A8 (2018) comes with an 8 MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture and the backside comes with a 16 MP f/1.7 aperture camera. So overall specifications wise Galaxy A8 2018 has a better camera, a bigger screen with a new taller screen, a nice look with thinner bezels, and a smaller forehead.
A9 vs C9
Both Galaxy C9 and Galaxy A9 are top-end phones in their respective lineup. These are the biggest and most expensive offerings in their family from Samsung. The A9 and C9 are most probably the mid-range phones that are closest to the flagship S series. So these devices are very powerful.
Galaxy C9 Pro vs Galaxy A9 Pro (2016)
| Galaxy A9 Pro (2016) | Galaxy C9 Pro | |
| Display | 6.0” Super AMOLED | 6.0” Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (Octa-Core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (Octa-Core) |
| CPU Details | 1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & and 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 Quad-Core sets | 1.95 GHz Cortex-A72 and 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 Quad-Core sets |
| GPU | Adreno 510 | Adreno 510 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 6 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| External Storage | 128 GB external SD card support | 256 GB external SD card support |
| Back Camera | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Front Camera | 8 MP with f/1.9 aperture | 16 MP with f/1.9 aperture |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
In the case of C9 and A9, we have 2016 models for both series. At first, there is Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro, then there is Galaxy A9 Pro (2016). These phones are very similar in terms of main hardware but there are some differences as well. Both C9 Pro and A9 Pro 2016 have a 6.0″ AMOLED screen with 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass 4, Snapdragon 652 processor, and a 16 MP back camera. One of the key differences between both is the design of phones. Some people like metal bodies while some people like glass bodies. So both of these phones give different options to users.
In the case of other unique specs, Galaxy A9 Pro 2016 comes with a large 5000 mAh battery, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, and an 8 MP front camera. Similarly, the C9 Pro has a 4000 mAh battery, 6 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, and a 16 MP front camera. So in direct comparison, Galaxy C9 Pro has better hardware.
Conclusion
In the Galaxy C series vs A series comparison, we can see that there are many models with similar names. There are many models with matching names and specifications too. However, there are small differences such as design, launch date, software support difference, and mainly pricing. All these models do have a good price gap between them. So it is very important to choose according to the budget.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy On series vs J series
If the phones of the same range have almost the same core specs such as processor, RAM, and camera then it is better to choose the cheaper alternative. On the other hand, if the price difference is less and you can get better hardware by adding a little more then it is beneficial to pay more and get more. Keep your priority at the top. If overall experience and longer life is your need then pick the phone with the latest processor and more RAM. If you need better selfies, photos, and videos then pick a model with the best camera. So it all depends on your need and budget.
