Apple iPhone 8 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy A05s
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 8 Plus commands a significant premium at $799 versus Samsung's Galaxy A05s at just $159. Quality differences are substantial: the iPhone delivers a brighter 625-nit display with 1920x1080 resolution, faster A11 Bionic processing, superior optical zoom via its dual 12MP telephoto lens, and wireless charging. Battery capacity favors the A05s with 5000mAh versus 2691mAh, though the iPhone's efficiency provides comparable real-world endurance. Camera specs appear deceptive since the A05s boasts 50MP resolution, but the iPhone's larger sensor, f/1.8 aperture with OIS, and 4K@60fps video significantly outperform the A05s's 1080p@30fps capability. Build quality differs markedly: IP67 water resistance and aluminum frame versus plastic construction lacking water resistance. Software experience strongly favors iOS 11's optimized ecosystem over the Galaxy's Snapdragon 680 performance. Budget conscious users gain decent battery life with the A05s, but the iPhone 8 Plus's superior camera, display quality, and performance justify the investment for serious mobile photography and demanding applications.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 8 Plus if…
- →Wireless charging added to iPhone for the first time
- →Portrait Lighting effects for depth photography
- →Powerful A11 Bionic chipset
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A05s if…
- →Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- →Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Pros
- Wireless charging added to iPhone for the first time
- Portrait Lighting effects for depth photography
- Powerful A11 Bionic chipset
- True Tone display technology
- Touch ID still preferred by many users
Cons
- Dated thick-bezel home button design
- Large bezels waste screen real estate
- Glass back cracks easily
- No headphone jack
- Overshadowed by iPhone X launch
Samsung Galaxy A05s
Pros
- Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
- 25W charging is decent for the budget segment
Cons
- HD+ resolution is noticeably pixelated on the 6.7-inch screen
- No 5G — 4G LTE only
- Snapdragon 680 is slow for multitasking
- No NFC — no contactless payments
- Plastic build feels fragile and cheap
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 8 Plus | Samsung Galaxy A05s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 13 (One UI Core 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 194 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP67 | None |
| Dimensions | 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm | 167.0 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.8, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2691 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.5 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Adreno 610 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 8 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy A05s.
Press ? for keyboard shortcuts