Huawei Y9a vs. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Huawei Y9a and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver a well-rounded experience, they take drastically different approaches under the hood, particularly in chipset choice. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best overall package.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides significantly better performance and efficiency, translating to smoother multitasking, gaming, and a more future-proof experience. While the Y9a offers a potentially lower price point, the A52s 5G’s advantages outweigh the cost savings.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Y9a Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - FRL-L221, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - FRL-L23-
Launch
Announced2020, September 07. Released 2020, September 122021, August 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, September 01
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions163.5 x 76.5 x 9 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight197 g (6.95 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~397 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.63 inches, 106.1 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G52 MC2Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesQuad-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens64 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging22.5W / 40W wired (region dependent)25W wired
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh or 4300 mAh (region dependent)Li-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace Silver, Sakura Pink, Midnight BlackAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
ModelsFRL-22, FRL-23, FRL-L22, FRL-L23SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
PriceAbout 200 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 Y9a

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Faster charging (40W in some regions)
  • Decent battery endurance

  • Inferior chipset performance (Helio G80)
  • Less efficient processor (12nm)
  • Likely lower display quality

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Superior performance (Snapdragon 778G)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display (800 nits)
  • More efficient processor (6nm)

  • Slightly slower charging (25W)
  • Potentially higher price
  • Similar battery endurance rating

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a clear advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 800 nits. This significantly surpasses what is typically found in the Y9a’s panel, making the A52s 5G far more usable outdoors. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the higher brightness of the A52s 5G contributes to a more vivid and engaging viewing experience. Details regarding the Y9a’s panel technology (LCD vs AMOLED) are missing, but given its price point, it’s likely an LCD, which generally offers less vibrant colors and narrower viewing angles than the A52s 5G’s Super AMOLED.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is expected to deliver superior image quality. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the Snapdragon 778G’s image signal processor (ISP) is more advanced, enabling better noise reduction, dynamic range, and overall image processing. The A52s 5G likely benefits from optical image stabilization (OIS), a feature often found in Samsung’s A-series phones, which helps reduce blur in low-light conditions. The Y9a’s camera system is likely more reliant on software processing to compensate for potentially smaller sensors and lack of OIS.

Performance

The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Huawei Y9a’s MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm). The Snapdragon 778G utilizes 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 – compared to the Y9a’s 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 configuration. The 6nm manufacturing process of the Snapdragon 778G also provides superior power efficiency, leading to less heat generation and sustained performance. This translates to smoother gaming, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the A52s 5G.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the Snapdragon 778G’s superior power efficiency in the A52s 5G could translate to slightly longer real-world battery life, especially during demanding tasks. The A52s 5G supports 25W charging, while the Y9a offers 22.5W or 40W depending on the region. The 40W option on the Y9a provides faster charging speeds, potentially offsetting the A52s 5G’s efficiency advantage, but the difference in chipset performance is more impactful overall.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Y9a if you prioritize a potentially lower upfront cost and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. The 40W charging (region dependent) is a plus. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value performance, 5G connectivity, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more refined camera experience. It’s the better investment for users who game, stream video, or demand a responsive user interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Y9a struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
Yes, the MediaTek Helio G80 in the Y9a is a mid-range chipset that will likely struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Call of Duty at higher settings. You may experience frame drops and lag, requiring you to lower the graphics settings for a smoother experience. The Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G handles these games with significantly more ease.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can be fun to experiment with, don't expect professional-quality macro photography from either the Y9a or the A52s 5G. The main camera on the A52s 5G will likely produce better close-up shots using digital zoom.
❓ How does the 5G performance differ between the Y9a and the A52s 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is built around the Snapdragon 778G 5G modem, offering robust 5G connectivity and support for a wider range of 5G bands. The Huawei Y9a’s 5G capabilities are dependent on the specific modem used with the Helio G80, and may have limitations in band support, potentially resulting in slower speeds or unreliable connections in certain areas.