Samsung Galaxy A51 or A71 as a Xiaomi Mi 9 SE Replacement

cc1122 on 15/05/2020 - 01:03
Last edited 17/05/2020 - 18:22

Hi Guys,

With the recent Samsung Education Store prices I'm considering replacing my Xiaomi Mi 9 SE with either a Samsung Galaxy A51 or A71. I'm not really looking for an upgrade but rather I have a few really annoying gripes about my Mi 9 SE that I can no longer stand.

  1. Fingerprint scanner is pretty bad
    -Not sure if it's my cheap ebay tempered glass screen protector but it works 80% of the time after registering a fingerprint then just doesn't recognise it anymore. I've now given up and input a 4 digit code to unlock every single time…
  2. Weak vibration (calls, notifications etc)
  3. Poor image stabilisation when taking pictures
  4. A lot of fiddling to get notifications to show

I mainly use my phone for browsing (I keep around 100 tabs open at any given time), youtube, checking emails, alarms, listening to music and just basic every use apps like google maps, checking train times, banking, ebay, amazon etc. I don't mind how the phone performs as long as it performs at least similarly to my Mi 9 SE. If the phone has better battery life it would be great but not too fussed.

I've only experienced ios, one ui and miui so would like to go back to one ui as the miui notifications really annoyed me.

So I'm currently considering the Galaxy A51 ($369.30) or the A71 ($474.30). Can anyone who has used any or all of these phones please recommend which one would suit my needs? I'm especially concerned about the on screen fingerprint sensors; I'll be applying a cheap tempered glass screen protector.

Alternatively, if there's another suitable phone I'm all ears, as long as it suits all my needs, doesn't have a curved display like the Galaxy s8/s9, and has at least a 5.97" screen. Price wise it needs to be sub $500, but would prefer to pay less e.g. the Galaxy A51.

TL;DR Should I get the A51 or the A71 to replace my Xiaomi Mi 9 SE?

Edit: Thanks for the input guys! I've decided not to go with either or them due to the in screen fingerprint sensor

Mobile Mobile Phone Samsung Android

Comments

  • ToiletKitchen on 15/05/2020 - 07:28

    Been testing a71 for last 3 weeks to replace my galaxy j8. Happy with Samsung's UI and wanted dual sim plus memory slot, nfc & secure folder. Can confirm fingerprint scanner is good but will fail if fingers on too much of an angle, a bit of water still on finger after washing hands or sweaty. I dont know if these affect other phones…..I cannot confirm how it performs with doo many tabs open as you seem to need. It comes with a screen protector already applied. Hopes this helps

    • JimmyF on 15/05/2020 - 09:00

      a bit of water still on finger after washing hands or sweaty. I dont know if these affect other phones

      I've got pixel and they suffer the same issues with wet fingers.

      • cc1122 on 15/05/2020 - 17:26

        Yep, I would say almost all phones are like that. My experience with an iPhone 7 is that they'll also have trouble if your finger is still wet/moist.

    • cc1122 on 15/05/2020 - 17:24

      Right. Thanks for your input. I'm not too worried about performance but like you said I'm not too sure if there'll be lagging with the 100 or so tabs. Except for my Mi 9 SE, I've mainly only used flagship phones in the past so not quite sure about Samsung's mid range. My mum has an A20 but that's like the lowest end and performs quite poorly

      • ToiletKitchen on 15/05/2020 - 18:42

        Go to officeworks and try an a71 out for a week. If no good return it. They are really good on returns.

        • cc1122 on 15/05/2020 - 18:57

          Really? You can return something you've used?? Never heard of that before. Anyway I'm looking at getting it from the Samsung education store as it's a much better price so wouldn't work out.

          • ToiletKitchen on 16/05/2020 - 09:18

            @cc1122: Darn tootin… OW are fantastic like that. Just make sure you factory reset before returning within 30 days. So get one from OW, make sure you are happy with performance, etc, then if happy, return it and buy from ed portal. If not happy return it and find another….

            • cc1122 on 16/05/2020 - 14:15

              @ToiletKitchen: Hmm…that's something interesting. Unfortunately I think it'll eat on my conscience if I buy something knowing that I'm going to return it after using it. Thanks anyway for the suggestion

  • JimmyF on 15/05/2020 - 08:59

    Fingerprint scanner is pretty bad -Not sure if it's my cheap ebay tempered glass screen protector

    Take it off and see?

    considering the Galaxy A51 ($369.30) or the A71 ($474.30)

    For the small price increase, I would go A71 for a couple of reasons, its using a Qualcomm vs the Exynos, and it has better cameras. I assume you are looking at the 128gb/6gb RAM versions? Plus the A71 is a 'higher' tier range.

    • cc1122 on 15/05/2020 - 17:32

      Take it off and see?

      The thing is I'm very bad at keeping dust etc from getting under the screen protector. I honestly don't want to remove it and put on another one. Also, I wouldn't use it without a glass screen protector so not much point.

      For the small price increase, I would go A71

      Yep, I'm also considering the A71 for the points you mentioned but the size is a bit too much for me and I'm not sure if the performance that'll I'll experience will justify the cost and size.

      I assume you are looking at the 128gb/6gb RAM versions?

      Yep

  • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 15/05/2020 - 20:28

    I have the a70. It's a great phone, I only have 2 complaints (as someone who came from the s7)

    1. No water proofing. It obviously hasn't effected me yet, but the anxiety that comes from this whenever there's rain or anything is just annoying. Really wish they would have given water proofing - even if there wasn't an IP rating. This is an issue on both models though.

    2. I hate how big it is. Not in the sense I want my s7 back, I've found I like the bigger screens. But 6.7" is just insane. All my cases eventually end up bending a bit around the ends and it gets pretty obnoxious to handle at times. It makes me wish I would have bought the a50 with its 6.4" screen. The a51 is "only" 0.2" smaller though (6.5"), so I'm not sure if you would feel the difference as much there.

    Overall, I think the a51 is a good bet to save some cash. I don't think the a71 is better by enough to warrant the extra cash.

    *That said, I'm assuming the processor difference doesn't amount to much in real world terms. Maybe look in to that.

    • cc1122 on 15/05/2020 - 21:28

      I hate how big it is.

      Yep, that's what I'm worried about. I've finally gotten used to my 5.97" screen.

      I don't think the a71 is better by enough to warrant the extra cash.

      I think I've come to that conclusion as well. I just found out about the LG G8S sale at JB Hi Fi so might consider that as well.

      *That said, I'm assuming the processor difference doesn't amount to much in real world terms. Maybe look in to that.

      Tried that but most reviews, youtube etc mainly focus on performance in relation to gaming performance

      • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 15/05/2020 - 23:01

        Another option I've come across looking for cheaper high refresh rate phones is the realme 6.

        https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/realme-6-128gb-comet-whit…

        Looks like a neat phone, might be worth considering. Pretty much the a51 with a chip equivalent to the a71, with some basic "splash proofing". Not an OLED screen, it's IPS, but it's also 90hz.

        • cc1122 on 16/05/2020 - 02:08

          Thanks for the suggestion, but after my experience of the MIUI, I'm a bit wary of Chinese phone UI's; just not for me I think.

      • Jethro1 on 18/05/2020 - 20:23

        Been doing some research on the A51. Unfortunately most youtube reviews are the U.S version which only has 4GB of ram compared to the 6GB we get here in Aus, so performance should be better with a local model. However, the one thing they all mention is how bad the finger print sensor is

        • cc1122 on 19/05/2020 - 19:40

          Yep I figured. I'm thinking about waiting for any EOFY deals for smartphones with fingerprint readers at the back of the phone and hopefully a 3.5mm jack :)

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