The HTC Desire 20+ and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent different approaches to the mid-range 5G market. The Desire 20+ aims for affordability, while the A52s 5G prioritizes performance and a more refined user experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides a substantial performance advantage over the Desire 20+'s Snapdragon 720G, translating to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming. While both offer similar battery endurance, the A52s 5G’s faster 25W charging is a significant convenience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A, Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 19 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, October 22 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.9 x 75.7 x 9 mm (6.49 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
5 MP, f/2.4, (depth) | 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 | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC4 | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dawn Orange, Twilight Black, Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | - | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 250 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) |
HTC Desire 20+
- More affordable price point
- Simple and clean Android experience (likely)
- Decent battery endurance
- Significantly weaker performance
- Lower display brightness
- Limited camera capabilities (assumed)
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 778G
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster 25W charging
- Slightly higher price
- Samsung’s One UI can be resource intensive
- Potential for bloatware
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 800 nits measured peak brightness compared to an unspecified brightness for the Desire 20+. This makes the A52s 5G far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays are likely to have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for AMOLED/OLED panels), the A52s 5G’s higher brightness is a key advantage. Details regarding the Desire 20+'s panel type and resolution are missing, suggesting a potentially lower-quality display experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking for the Desire 20+. The A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms. Without sensor size or aperture information for the Desire 20+, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, given Samsung’s camera expertise, the A52s 5G is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A52s 5G (likely) further enhances image clarity and video stability.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the HTC Desire 20+'s Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The 778G features a more modern CPU architecture – a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core alongside 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – versus the 720G’s 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver. This translates to approximately a 40% performance increase in CPU benchmarks and a significantly faster GPU. The 6nm process node of the 778G also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The A52s 5G is the clear winner for gamers and power users.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G offers significantly faster 25W wired charging compared to the Desire 20+'s 15W charging with QC4 support. This means the A52s 5G can be topped up much quicker, reducing downtime. While the Desire 20+ might last a similar amount of time on a single charge, the convenience of faster charging gives the A52s 5G an edge.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Desire 20+ if you prioritize absolute affordability and a simple, uncluttered Android experience. It’s a viable option for basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you demand a more responsive and capable device for gaming, photography, and demanding applications. The A52s 5G offers a superior overall experience justifying its slightly higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 778G is built on a 6nm process, which offers excellent thermal efficiency. While it will get warm during prolonged gaming, the A52s 5G is designed to manage heat effectively, minimizing throttling and maintaining consistent performance. It's less prone to overheating than older 8nm chips like the 720G.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the Desire 20+ slow compared to modern standards?
Yes, 15W charging is relatively slow compared to the 25W charging on the A52s 5G and many other phones in this price range. Expect a significantly longer time to fully charge the Desire 20+, potentially taking over 2 hours from 0 to 100%.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Desire 20+ and the A52s 5G?
The Desire 20+ likely runs a near-stock version of Android, offering a cleaner and more minimalist experience. The A52s 5G runs Samsung’s One UI, which is feature-rich but can be more resource-intensive and include pre-installed apps (bloatware). Preference here is subjective.
