Huawei nova 8 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and incredibly fast charging, the Huawei nova 8 5G emerges as the winner. Its Kirin 985 5G chipset and 66W charging significantly outperform the Snapdragon 750G and 25W charging of the Galaxy A52 5G. However, Samsung's software ecosystem and established brand recognition remain strong advantages.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 8 5G | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 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, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 80, 83, 84 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 23. Released 2021, January 05 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, March 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 74.1 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.92 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 | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Kirin 985 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 (8-core) | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| 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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, White | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | ANG-AN00 | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 |
| Price | About 410 EUR | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 111h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9) GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 8 5G
- Significantly faster 66W charging
- Potentially higher CPU performance with Kirin 985
- Integrated 5G modem for potentially better connectivity
- Lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS)
- Limited software update support compared to Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Established Samsung software ecosystem
- Good battery endurance (111h)
- Higher peak display brightness (787 nits)
- Slower 25W charging
- Less powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset
- Potentially less optimized software
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 787 nits, a significant advantage for outdoor visibility compared to the nova 8 5G (brightness data unavailable). While both likely utilize AMOLED panels given the 'infinite' contrast ratio claimed by Samsung, the A52 5G's higher peak brightness is a tangible benefit. The lack of refresh rate information for the nova 8 5G suggests it may not match the smooth scrolling experience potentially offered by a higher refresh rate A52 5G panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the nova 8 5G. The Galaxy A52 5G likely features a more versatile camera system, typical of Samsung's A-series. Without specific details on the nova 8 5G's main sensor size and aperture, it's difficult to assess its low-light performance. The A52 5G's image processing is known for vibrant colors, while Huawei often leans towards a more natural look. The absence of details on OIS for either phone makes it hard to compare stabilization.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. Huawei's Kirin 985 5G, built on a 7nm process, features a more complex CPU configuration – a mix of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores – suggesting a focus on sustained performance. Samsung's Snapdragon 750G (8nm) utilizes Kryo 570 cores. While the Snapdragon 750G is efficient, the Kirin 985's architecture and node size potentially translate to superior multi-core performance, particularly in tasks demanding consistent processing power. The Kirin 985's integrated 5G modem also offers a direct hardware advantage.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 111 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (data unavailable for nova 8 5G). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Huawei nova 8 5G's 66W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 60% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Galaxy A52 5G's 25W charging takes 30 minutes to reach 50%, making the nova 8 5G significantly faster for topping up.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 8 5G if you need a phone that charges incredibly quickly, offers a noticeable performance edge for demanding apps, and aren't heavily reliant on Google Mobile Services. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prefer a more mainstream software experience, value a proven track record of software updates, and prioritize a balanced overall package with good battery endurance.