The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the HTC Desire 22 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G. Both promise 5G connectivity and a solid experience, but which one truly reigns supreme?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the stronger contender, boasting a more powerful processor, faster charging, and a brighter display. While the Desire 22 Pro offers a unique design and reverse wireless charging, the A52s 5G provides a more well-rounded and polished experience.
| 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 20, 28, 41, 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June 28 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 10 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 166.3 x 76.9 x 9.4 mm (6.55 x 3.03 x 0.37 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 | 205.5 g (7.27 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB 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 | - | 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 |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
13 MP, f/2.4, 118˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 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 | 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 | Unspecified | 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
Wireless
Reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4520 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Wave Gold, Starry Night Black | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | - | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 460 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 22 Pro
- Unique design
- Reverse wireless charging
- 5G connectivity
- Decent price
- Less powerful processor
- Slower charging
- Potentially less vibrant display
- Limited software support
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G
- Faster 25W charging
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Excellent camera
- Samsung's software support
- Slightly higher price
- Design less distinctive than HTC
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G takes the display crown with its measured 800 nits peak brightness, offering significantly better visibility in sunlight. While the Desire 22 Pro's display is likely adequate, it lacks the A52s 5G's impressive contrast ratio (nominally infinite) and brightness. Expect a more immersive and vibrant viewing experience on the Samsung.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable cameras, the Galaxy A52s 5G generally delivers better image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Samsung's image processing is typically more refined, resulting in more vibrant and detailed photos and videos. The A52s 5G also likely offers more advanced camera features.
Performance
The Snapdragon 778G 5G in the Galaxy A52s 5G is noticeably faster than the Snapdragon 695 5G in the Desire 22 Pro. This translates to smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance. The A52s 5G's CPU architecture also contributes to its superior efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an endurance rating of 113h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Galaxy A52s 5G's 25W wired charging is faster than the Desire 22 Pro's 18W, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The HTC Desire 22 Pro is a good choice for users prioritizing a distinctive design and reverse wireless charging on a tighter budget. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is ideal for those seeking a balance of performance, camera quality, and a vibrant display, and are willing to spend a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Desire 22 Pro worth buying?
It's a decent option if you're on a tight budget and appreciate its unique design and reverse wireless charging. However, be aware of its performance limitations compared to other mid-range phones.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides longer software update support than HTC, making the Galaxy A52s 5G a more future-proof choice.
