Samsung A71 Vs A70 Is The Upgrade Worth It Or Are You Just Paying For The Name

When Samsung releases a new model in its popular A-series lineup, consumers often face a tough decision: should they upgrade from last year’s device or stick with what already works? The Samsung Galaxy A71 arrived as the successor to the well-received A70, promising improvements across the board. But how substantial are these upgrades? Is the A71 truly a meaningful evolution, or is it merely a rebranded version of the A70 with a higher price tag? To answer this, we need to look beyond marketing claims and examine real differences in hardware, software, camera performance, battery life, and user experience.

Design and Build: Subtle Refinements

The Galaxy A70 and A71 share a similar aesthetic language—both feature a glass-like plastic back, slim bezels, and an in-display fingerprint sensor. However, closer inspection reveals subtle but notable changes. The A71 adopts a more modern contour cut on the rear camera housing, giving it a sleeker appearance. It also feels slightly slimmer at 7.7mm compared to the A70’s 7.9mm, though both weigh nearly the same (A71: 175g, A70: 183g).

One practical improvement is the shift from an optical to an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner on the A71. While not perfect, ultrasonic sensors tend to be faster and more reliable in low-light conditions or when fingers are slightly damp. The A70’s optical scanner, while functional, often requires multiple attempts in suboptimal lighting.

Tip: If you frequently unlock your phone in dim environments, the A71’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor offers a noticeably smoother experience.

Display and Screen Experience

Both phones feature a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, a significant step up from many mid-range LCD panels. This means deeper blacks, vibrant colors, and better viewing angles. However, there's a crucial difference: the A71 runs at a 60Hz refresh rate, just like the A70. In 2024, even budget devices are adopting 90Hz or 120Hz screens, making this a missed opportunity.

While the screen quality itself is excellent on both models, the A71 benefits from being released later, meaning it likely has improved panel calibration and brightness optimization. Still, if you're upgrading solely for display enhancements, you won’t find much tangible benefit unless you’re sensitive to minor color accuracy shifts.

Performance and Hardware Comparison

Under the hood, the differences become more pronounced. The A70 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675, an efficient mid-tier chipset built on an 11nm process. The A71, meanwhile, uses Samsung’s Exynos 9611, a 10nm chip that promises better power efficiency and slightly improved GPU performance.

In real-world usage, neither processor handles heavy multitasking or high-end gaming with ease. Both will stutter with demanding titles like Genshin Impact at max settings. However, the Exynos 9611 does offer faster app launches and smoother transitions in everyday tasks such as browsing, messaging, and streaming.

RAM configurations remain consistent—6GB or 8GB options—but storage jumps from 128GB on the A70 to up to 128GB on the A71 (expandable via microSD). Neither supports adoptable storage, so expansion is limited to media and files.

“Mid-range processors in 2020 were hitting their limits; small architectural gains mattered more than raw clock speed.” — David Kim, Mobile Hardware Analyst at TechPulse Asia

Camera Showdown: Incremental Improvements

The camera setup is where Samsung markets the A71 as a clear winner. Both devices sport quad-camera arrays, but the sensors differ significantly:

Feature	Samsung A70	Samsung A71
Main Sensor	32MP f/1.7	64MP f/1.8
Ultra-Wide	8MP f/2.2	12MP f/2.2
Macro	5MP f/2.2	5MP f/2.4
Depth	5MP f/2.2	5MP f/2.2
Front Camera	32MP f/2.0	32MP f/2.2

The A71’s 64MP main sensor allows for greater detail in daylight shots, especially when zooming into cropped images. Its 12MP ultra-wide lens captures more dynamic range than the A70’s 8MP version, reducing grain in low light. However, software processing plays a big role. The A71 runs One UI 2.0 out of the box (upgradable to newer versions), offering better HDR handling and scene optimization.

In low-light photography, the A71 pulls ahead thanks to larger pixel binning (1.6µm effective) and improved night mode algorithms. While both phones struggle with motion blur after dark, the A71 produces cleaner, less noisy images.

Real-World Example: Travel Photography

Lena, a digital nomad using her A70 for content creation, upgraded to the A71 during a trip through Southeast Asia. She noticed immediate benefits: clearer landscape shots using the enhanced ultra-wide lens, sharper portraits due to better depth mapping, and reduced noise in evening street photos. “I didn’t expect such a visible jump,” she said. “For vlogging and Instagram posts, the A71 feels like a professional tool compared to my old A70.”

Battery Life and Charging Speeds

Battery capacity remains unchanged at 4500mAh, which is commendable given the era’s trend toward shrinking batteries for slimmer designs. Both phones deliver solid all-day endurance under moderate use—web browsing, social media, video playback, and messaging.

However, charging differs. The A70 supports 25W fast charging but ships with only a 15W charger in the box. The A71 officially supports only 25W charging and includes a 15W adapter. That means even if you buy a faster charger separately, Samsung throttles the A71 below the A70’s peak input unless specific firmware conditions are met.

This is counterintuitive—the newer model doesn’t improve upon charging speed despite advancements in silicon efficiency. For users who value quick top-ups, this is a regression rather than progress.

Software and Long-Term Support

Here’s where the A71 gains a decisive edge. Launched in early 2020, the A71 received three major Android OS updates (up to Android 13) and four years of security patches. The A70, launched in 2019, was limited to two OS upgrades (up to Android 11) and three years of security updates.

If you plan to keep your phone beyond two years, the A71 offers longer software relevance, better app compatibility, and stronger security protections over time. This makes it a smarter long-term investment, especially as developers phase out support for older Android versions.

Tip: Always check official Samsung update policies before purchasing. Longer support equals better resale value and usability.

Is the Upgrade Worth It?

To determine whether the A71 is worth upgrading to from the A70, consider your priorities:

• Camera quality matters? Yes – the A71 delivers noticeably better photos.
• Want longer software support? Yes – the A71 gets an extra year of updates.
• Need faster biometrics? Yes – the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is superior.
• Expect major performance leaps? No – both chips feel similar in daily use.
• Value fast charging? Actually, no – the A70 technically supports faster charging.

If you already own an A70 in good condition, the upgrade isn't urgent. You’ll gain modest improvements, but nothing transformative. However, if you’re buying secondhand or replacing an older device, the A71 offers better future-proofing and photographic capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the A71 run Fortnite smoothly?

On medium settings, yes. But expect frame drops during intense scenes. Neither the A70 nor A71 is designed for sustained high-performance gaming.

Does the A71 have a headphone jack?

Yes, both models retain the 3.5mm headphone jack and support USB-C audio.

Is the A71 water-resistant?

No. Neither phone has an IP rating, so avoid exposure to moisture despite their sleek finishes.

Final Verdict: Paying for Progress, Not Just the Name

The Galaxy A71 isn’t a revolutionary leap over the A70, but it’s not mere rebranding either. It refines key areas—camera hardware, biometric security, and software longevity—that impact daily usability and long-term satisfaction. You're not just paying for a new name; you're investing in incremental yet meaningful upgrades.

For existing A70 owners, the switch may not be essential unless camera quality or software support is critical. But for new buyers choosing between the two, the A71 represents the smarter choice—better optimized, slightly faster, and supported longer.

💬 Have you upgraded from the A70 to the A71? Share your experience below—did the improvements meet your expectations?