The verdict
Neither runs away with it: each wins something.
| Category | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Design & display | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Performance & hardware | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| Camera | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Connectivity | 6.1 | 5.4 |
| Battery & charging | 5.7 | 5.1 |
Which one is for you?
Oppo A38, if you care about…
- RAM Capacity
- 6 GB
- against 4 GB
- Bluetooth Version
- Bluetooth 5.3
- against Bluetooth 5.1
- Display Pixel Density
- 269 ppi
- against 260 ppi
- Fast Charge Power
- 33 W
- against 10 W
TCL 505, if you care about…
- OS Version
- 14
- against 13
- Audio Features
- Stereo Speakers
- against aptX HD, Loudspeaker
Specification comparison
Performance
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Model | MediaTek Helio G85 | MediaTek Helio G36 |
| Processor Process Size | 12 nm | 12 nm |
| Graphics GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| Storage Type | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 2 GHz | 2.2 GHz Best value |
| Maximum Storage Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| AnTuTu Score | 225,154 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 424 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 1,322 | — |
| CPU Description | Octa-core processor with 2x Cortex-A75 at 2.0 GHz and 6x Cortex-A55 at 1.8 GHz. | Octa-core CPU with 4 Cortex-A53 cores at 2.2 GHz and 4 Cortex-A53 cores at 1.6 GHz. |
| Processor Type | Octa-Core | Octa-Core |
| 64-Bit Processor | Yes | — |
| RAM Capacity | 6 GB Best value | 4 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR4X | — |
| Expandable Storage | Yes | Yes |
| AnTuTu version | v10 | — |
Design
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Body Colors | Black, Gold | Blue, Grey |
| Body Thickness | 8.2 mm Best value | 8.3 mm |
| Body Width | 75 mm | 76.7 mm |
| Body Height | 163.7 mm | 168.3 mm |
| Weight | 190 g | 190 g |
| Usable Surface | 84.2 % | 85.2 % Best value |
| Body Materials | Plastic | — |
| Resistance Features | IP54, IP52 | — |
Battery
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,010 mAh Best value |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | — |
| Fast Charge Power | 33 W Best value | 10 W |
| Battery Features | Fast Charging, Non-Removable, Battery Level Indicator, Charger Included, Rechargeable | Fast Charging |
Display
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Display Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| Display Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Peak Display Brightness | 720 nits | — |
| Display Diagonal | 6.56″ | 6.75″ Best value |
| Display Horizontal Resolution | 720 px | 720 px |
| Display Vertical Resolution | 1,612 px Best value | 1,600 px |
| Display Pixel Density | 269 ppi Best value | 260 ppi |
| Display Refresh Rate | 90 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Touch Sampling Rate | 90 Hz | — |
| Display Features | Water Drop Notch, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Scratch Resistant, Curved Glass, DCI-P3, Frameless, IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
Sensors
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor Placement | Side | Side |
Sensor
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Features | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer |
Software
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 | Android 14 |
| OS Family | Android | Android |
| OS Version | 13 | 14 Best value |
| OS Update Support | 1 year | — |
| Google Services | Yes | — |
Connectivity
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| SIM Configurations | Dual Nano-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby | Single Nano-SIM, Dual Nano-SIM |
| Cellular Bands | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B850, 3G UMTS B900, 3G UMTS 1700 AWS, 3G UMTS 1900, 3G UMTS 2100, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B13, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B26, LTE B28, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B66 | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B850, 3G UMTS B900, 3G UMTS 1900, 3G UMTS 2100, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B26, LTE B28, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41 |
| Cellular Technologies | GSM, HSPA, UMTS, LTE | GSM, HSPA, LTE |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Wi-Fi Features | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 Best value | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, LE, aptX HD | A2DP, LE |
| Navigation Systems | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS Best value | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou |
| Connectivity Features | 3.5 mm Audio Jack, NFC, USB Type-C, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB OTG, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, VoLTE | 3.5 mm Audio Jack, Virtual Proximity Sensing, NFC, FM Radio, USB Type-C, USB 2.0, USB OTG |
| USB Version | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
| Max. download speed | 300 Mbps | — |
| Max. upload speed | 100 Mbps | — |
Audio
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Features | aptX HD, Loudspeaker | Stereo Speakers Best value |
Technical
| Specification | A38 | 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Model numbers | CPH2579 | T509K, T509A |
