Honor Play5 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset, built on a more efficient 6nm process, provides noticeably better performance and future-proofing than the Honor Play5 5G’s Dimensity 800U. While the Honor Play5 boasts incredibly fast 66W charging, the A52s’ overall package is more balanced.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Play5 5G | Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 18 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 26 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 74.8 x 7.5 mm (6.36 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation Up | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 4.0, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual Proximity Sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Violet, Light Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | HJC-AN90 | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 270 EUR | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | - | 0.72 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.88 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 113h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play5 5G
- Incredibly fast 66W charging
- Competitive battery endurance (113h)
- Potentially lower price point
- Less powerful Dimensity 800U chipset
- Limited performance headroom for demanding tasks
- Camera performance likely inferior to A52s
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Superior Snapdragon 778G performance
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- More refined software experience
- Slower 25W charging
- Potentially higher price point
- Similar battery endurance to Play5
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a peak brightness of 800 nits, a significant advantage over the Honor Play5 5G (brightness data unavailable). This higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both phones likely utilize AMOLED panels (based on market segment), Samsung’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The A52s’ display is likely to offer a more visually immersive experience, especially for media consumption. Bezels are expected to be comparable, given the similar price points.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Honor Play5 5G. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G likely features a more refined camera system, benefiting from Samsung’s image processing expertise. While sensor size and aperture data are unavailable for either, the A52s’ reputation suggests a focus on delivering consistent image quality across various lighting conditions. It’s reasonable to assume the A52s offers better video stabilization and potentially more advanced features like Pro mode. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely inconsequential; image quality from such sensors is typically poor.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is a clear step up from the Honor Play5 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 800U (7nm). The 778G features a more modern CPU architecture – a 1x Cortex-A78 prime core versus the Play5’s 2x Cortex-A76 cores – and a more powerful Adreno 642L GPU. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance. The 6nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature octa-core CPUs, the A52s’ configuration is optimized for performance.
Battery Life
Both the Honor Play5 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Honor Play5 5G’s 66W wired charging is a standout feature, capable of reaching 60% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower. This means the Play5 is ideal for users who need a quick power boost, while the A52s requires more time to fully recharge. The similar endurance ratings suggest the more efficient Snapdragon 778G in the A52s offsets the slower charging to some extent.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play5 5G if you absolutely prioritize charging speed and frequently find yourself needing to top up your battery quickly. It’s ideal for users who are always on the go and can’t afford downtime. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value a smoother, more responsive user experience, better gaming performance, and a more established software ecosystem. It’s the better all-rounder for everyday use and content consumption.