Motorola Edge 20 Lite vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders

The Motorola Edge 20 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this goal, primarily through chipset choice and display implementation. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in sustained workloads, and its brighter 800 nit display enhances outdoor visibility. While the Edge 20 Lite offers faster 30W charging, the A52s 5G’s overall refinement and processing power make it the more well-rounded device.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 20 Lite Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 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, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 66 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, July 292021, August 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 16Available. Released 2021, September 01
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions165.9 x 76 x 8.3 mm (6.53 x 2.99 x 0.33 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
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 Water-repellent designIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC3Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 11, planned upgrade to Android 13Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED 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
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm32 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
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB 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
Charging30W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsElectric Graphite, Lagoon GreenAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
ModelsXT2139-1SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
PriceAbout 160 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)

Motorola Edge 20 Lite

  • Faster 30W wired charging
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Lightweight design (assumed based on market positioning)

  • Less powerful Mediatek Dimensity 720 chipset
  • Likely lower display brightness
  • Inferior thermal management

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • More powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
  • Brighter 800 nit display
  • Superior image processing capabilities

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Potentially higher price point
  • May be slightly heavier

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured peak brightness of 800 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. While the Motorola Edge 20 Lite’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to fall short of this figure. The A52s 5G’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a Super AMOLED panel, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, a contrast to the likely LCD panel in the Edge 20 Lite. Bezels are comparable, but the superior panel technology on the A52s 5G delivers a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms. Without sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Samsung typically prioritizes image quality in this segment, and the Snapdragon 778G’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is more advanced than the Dimensity 720’s. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the A52s 5G, a common feature in Samsung’s A-series, would further enhance image and video stability, a feature likely absent on the Edge 20 Lite.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) is built on a more efficient 6nm process compared to the Motorola Edge 20 Lite’s Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm). The Snapdragon 778G’s CPU configuration – a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core alongside 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – is architecturally superior to the Edge 20 Lite’s 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 setup. This translates to faster application loading times and smoother multitasking. The 6nm node also contributes to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing charging speeds. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G offers 25W wired charging, while the Motorola Edge 20 Lite supports 30W. While the Edge 20 Lite charges faster on paper, the A52s 5G’s more efficient chipset may offset this difference in real-world usage. The similar endurance ratings indicate that both devices can comfortably last a full day of moderate use, but the Edge 20 Lite will reach 100% charge slightly quicker.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 20 Lite if you prioritize faster charging speeds and are primarily focused on everyday tasks like social media and light browsing. Its Mediatek Dimensity 720 is sufficient for these use cases. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you demand smoother performance in demanding apps, enjoy mobile gaming, or frequently consume content outdoors, benefiting from the brighter display and more powerful Snapdragon 778G.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 720 in the Motorola Edge 20 Lite struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Dimensity 720 is capable of running these games, but you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G offers a significantly smoother experience at higher settings, with less frame rate fluctuation.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G noticeably slower than the 30W charging on the Motorola Edge 20 Lite in real-world use?
While the Edge 20 Lite charges slightly faster on paper, the A52s 5G’s more efficient chipset means it consumes less power during charging. This can minimize the difference in overall charge times, and the A52s 5G’s better thermal management prevents charging slowdowns due to heat buildup.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 778G handle prolonged gaming sessions compared to the Dimensity 720?
The Snapdragon 778G, built on a 6nm process, exhibits superior thermal efficiency. This translates to less throttling during extended gaming, maintaining higher and more consistent frame rates over longer periods compared to the Dimensity 720.