Old Phone, New Tracks: Samsung A73 5G vs iPhone SE2 — Which is Better for a Portable Home Studio?

I’ve been using my Samsung A73 5G as my BandLab device and I’m very happy to say that it gets the job done.

But I’m also curious why so many people keep telling me to use an iOS device for portable home studio purposes.

And as I am still in the process of completing my portable home studio on a budget build, I find myself asking: Can an older phone be a real recording tool?

Short answer: yes—sometimes—but which one depends on the model and the app you want to run.

So I made a small comparison between my current phone which is the Samsung a73 5G VS an iPhone SE2 because they say it’s the most affordable. For a little below Php 10,000 I can have a used one that’s in fairly good condition that’s perfect for what I intend to use it for.

Disclaimer: I’ve never owned an iPhone or iPad or MacBook so I’m really an iOS noob.

Quick Comparison Between the Samsung A73 5G VS the iPhone SE2

Feature	Samsung Galaxy A73 5G (2022)	iPhone SE2 (2020)
SoC / Performance	Snapdragon 778G (mid-high tier, good for mobile DAWs).	SE2 (2020) A13 — solid performance
RAM / Storage	6–8GB RAM, microSD option (handy).	3–4GB RAM and fixed storage (no microSD).
OS Support / App compatibility	Android 12 at launch, upgradable (depends on Samsung update window). BandLab Android supported from 8.1+.	iOS support varies: SE2 supports modern iOS and Apple apps like GarageBand (SE2 originally shipped with GarageBand). GarageBand increasingly requires recent iOS to install.
Audio apps (BandLab)	Runs BandLab smoothly;	This should run BandLab fine.
GarageBand	Not available on Android	Native to iOS but requires a recent iOS version.
Ports & audio I/O	USB-C (easier class-compliant audio interfaces)	Lightning (need adapters for many class-compliant USB audio interfaces)
Battery & screen	Big 5000mAh battery, large screen (6.7″)—good for long sessions	Small form factor (SE models): very portable but smaller screen and smaller battery
Price (used)	Often affordable used; great value for specs	Costs more at Php 10,000 or less

Performance (as Recording Devices)

Samsung A73 (Android) — the Practical Choice
The A73 has a roomy screen, big battery (5,000 mAh), and a modern mid-range Snapdragon chip that handles mobile DAWs like BandLab with ease.

Android’s strength here is flexibility: plenty of USB-C audio interfaces are class-compliant and plug-and-play on recent Android builds, so you can use simple USB audio interfaces without weird adapters.

BandLab itself supports Android (Android 8.1+), and on an A73 you should be able to record multiple takes, edit, and export without hiccups. If your workflow is BandLab-centric, this Android phone is a solid, cost-efficient choice.

iPhone SE2 Chic, Slick and Sleek
The SE2 (2020) and SE3 (2022) use modern Apple silicon (A13 / A15) and can run contemporary iOS versions and Apple’s own GarageBand—something Android can’t offer.

GarageBand is a very polished mobile DAW with built-in instruments, amp sims, easy exporting, and tight audio performance on iOS hardware.

However, GarageBand sometimes requires fairly recent iOS versions to install updates, so older SE hardware may be excluded depending on current App Store requirements.

Pros & Cons — Practical Points for Home Studio Use

Android (A73) Pros

• USB-C and larger screen make interfacing easier.
• Flexible with third-party audio interface drivers and storage (microSD).
• Excellent battery life for long sessions. Wikipedia

Android (A73) Cons

• Some audio apps are iOS-first; GarageBand isn’t available.
• Latency and driver behavior can vary by device and Android version.

iPhone SE2 Pros

• If you get SE2/SE3: outstanding single-core performance for audio apps and guaranteed GarageBand support (and other iOS-exclusive music apps).
• Tight, low-latency audio performance on iOS.
• Simpler, stable app ecosystem (less fragmentation).

iPhone SE2 Cons

• Small screen and Lightning port mean more adapters and a cramped UI.
• No microSD expansion.

Note to Self

• You already have the A73 and mainly just use BandLab, stick with it. It’s practical, powerful enough, and easier to pair with USB-C audio interfaces.
• Repeat after me: You don’t need a new phone, you don’t need a new phone, You don’t need a new phone, you don’t need a new phone, you don’t need a new phone… yet.
• But… if you can get an iPhone SE 2 or 3 cheaply and you want GarageBand and iOS-only music tools, well… repeat after me: You don’t need a new phone, you don’t need a new phone, You don’t need a new phone, you don’t need a new phone, you don’t need a new phone… yet.
• Or if you can spare a little more cash, consider a tablet for a better mixing/editing experience.

If your budget stretches to a tablet, I’d say yes—especially if you plan longer editing sessions, multi-track mixing, or using touch instruments.

Tablets give a bigger workspace and better battery life for the same price you’d spend on a newer phone.

An iPad (even a used iPad Air or mini) paired with GarageBand or other iOS music apps is a fantastic portable DAW. On Android, larger tablets are available, but the app ecosystem for music is still generally stronger and more consistent on iPad/iOS.

And now I just introduced another thing to consider which just adds to the confusion about what to get…

Sigh…