Huawei nova 8 SE vs. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Charging

Both the Huawei nova 8 SE and the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G occupy a competitive space in the mid-range 5G smartphone market. The nova 8 SE aggressively targets charging speed, while the A52s 5G prioritizes a more refined chipset and established software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and consistent performance, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 778G offers superior efficiency and a more stable software experience, despite the nova 8 SE’s impressive 66W charging.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei nova 8 SE	Samsung Galaxy A52s 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, 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 & TD-SCDMA	-

Launch
Announced	2020, November 06. Released 2020, November 11	2021, August 17
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2021, September 01

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions	161.1 x 74.8 x 7.5 mm (6.34 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	178 g (6.28 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 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 (~85.4% 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 (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - standard modelOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - premium model	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) - standard modelMediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) - premium model	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC3	Adreno 642L
OS	Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6

Memory
Card slot	No	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	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), 1/1.7", 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	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	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, 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	25W wired
Type	Li-Po 3800 mAh	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Deep Blue, Blue, Silver	Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
Models	JSC-AN00	SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
Price	About 330 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)

Huawei nova 8 SE

Blazing-fast 66W charging
Potentially vibrant display (based on Huawei’s typical design)
Competitive price point (likely)

Software concerns with EMUI and potential lack of Google Mobile Services
Chipset efficiency lags behind Snapdragon 778G

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

Efficient Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
Samsung’s One UI software with guaranteed updates
Bright and vibrant AMOLED display

Slower 25W charging
May be slightly more expensive than the nova 8 SE

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 800 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the nova 8 SE’s display specifications aren’t provided, Huawei typically focuses on color vibrancy. The A52s 5G’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a strong AMOLED panel, likely offering deeper blacks than an LCD panel potentially found in the nova 8 SE. The A52s 5G’s display is a clear advantage for media consumption in bright environments.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but specifics are limited. The A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms. Without sensor size details for the nova 8 SE, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, Samsung’s tendency to include Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) in its A-series phones suggests a potential advantage in low-light photography and video stabilization. The absence of details regarding the nova 8 SE’s camera system makes a definitive assessment challenging, but Samsung’s track record in this segment is strong.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) utilizes a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core alongside 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This configuration, built on a more efficient 6nm process, provides a significant performance and efficiency advantage over the Huawei nova 8 SE’s Mediatek Dimensity 720 or 800U (7nm). The Snapdragon 778G’s architecture, with its higher-performing A78 cores, translates to smoother multitasking and better sustained performance in demanding games. The Dimensity 800U variant of the nova 8 SE offers a slight CPU boost (2.4 GHz vs 2.0 GHz), but the Snapdragon 778G’s superior architecture and process node still give it the edge.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the nova 8 SE). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Huawei nova 8 SE’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. While the A52s 5G’s more efficient Snapdragon 778G may contribute to comparable endurance, the nova 8 SE’s charging speed is a significant convenience factor for users who prioritize quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 SE if you absolutely need the fastest possible charging speeds and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software. This phone is ideal for users who frequently find themselves needing to top up quickly. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value a balanced experience with a more efficient processor, a well-regarded camera system, and the assurance of Samsung’s software updates and broader app compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei nova 8 SE’s EMUI software have full Google Mobile Services (GMS) support?

The Huawei nova 8 SE, depending on the region and model, may not have full Google Mobile Services (GMS) support. This means access to apps like Gmail, YouTube, and the Google Play Store may be limited, requiring users to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and alternative methods for installing apps.

❓ How does the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G handle graphically intensive games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?

The Snapdragon 778G in the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is capable of running PUBG and Genshin Impact at high settings with stable frame rates. Its Adreno 642L GPU provides ample graphical power for smooth gameplay, and the 6nm process helps prevent excessive throttling during extended gaming sessions.

❓ Is the 66W charging on the nova 8 SE compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?

While the nova 8 SE supports 66W charging, it's best to use the charger included in the box to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. Compatibility with third-party Power Delivery (PD) chargers may vary, and you might not achieve the full 66W charging speed.

❓ What is the long-term software support outlook for the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G?

Samsung typically provides three years of Android OS updates and four years of security updates for its A-series devices. This means the Galaxy A52s 5G is likely to receive updates through Android 15 and beyond, offering a longer software support lifespan compared to many Huawei devices.