Motorola Edge 20 vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Deep Dive into Battery, Display, and Performance

Both the Motorola Edge 20 and the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both leverage the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, they diverge significantly in battery performance and display brightness, making the choice dependent on individual priorities. This comparison will dissect these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the clear winner. Its significantly superior endurance rating of 113 hours, compared to the Motorola Edge 20’s 86 hours, translates to a tangible difference in daily usage. While the Edge 20 offers a slightly brighter display, the A52s 5G’s battery advantage is more impactful for most.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 20 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, 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, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 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 (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass 3)Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions163 x 76 x 7 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.28 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
Weight163 g (5.75 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 Water-repellent designIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning 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 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 642L
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS-
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone 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/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm, AF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps, 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 NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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 4000 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsFrosted Grey, Frosted White, Frosted EmeraldAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
ModelsXT2143-1SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
PriceAbout 140 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 86h Endurance rating 113h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.7 LUFS (Average) -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 424031 (v8), 488574 (v9) GeekBench: 2550 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 20

  • Slightly brighter display (650 nits)
  • Faster wired charging (30W)
  • Potentially sleeker design (unconfirmed)

  • Significantly lower battery endurance (86h)
  • Camera details are unknown, making a comparison impossible

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Superior battery endurance (113h)
  • Brighter display for outdoor use (800 nits)
  • Generally more readily available and often cheaper

  • Slower wired charging (25W)
  • Camera details are unknown, making a comparison impossible

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 800 nits, exceeding the Motorola Edge 20’s 650 nits. This 12.5% increase in brightness will be noticeable in direct sunlight, making the A52s 5G more readable outdoors. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting similar black levels and overall image quality. However, without knowing the panel technology (OLED vs LCD) or refresh rate for either device, a definitive judgment on color accuracy and viewing angles is impossible. The Edge 20’s lower brightness may necessitate higher screen brightness settings, potentially impacting battery life.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight into their camera systems. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, a meaningful comparison is difficult. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is unlikely to significantly impact image quality, serving primarily as a marketing feature. Image processing styles will likely differ, with Samsung typically favoring more saturated and vibrant colors, while Motorola often aims for a more natural look. Further analysis requires detailed camera specifications.

Performance

Both the Motorola Edge 20 and the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G are powered by the Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) chipset, featuring an identical CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This means raw processing power will be virtually indistinguishable between the two devices. Performance will be limited more by RAM and storage speeds, which are not specified in the provided data. Thermal management is also unknown, but the 6nm process node suggests both phones should handle sustained loads reasonably well without excessive throttling.

Battery Life

The most significant difference lies in battery endurance. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 113 hours, substantially outperforming the Motorola Edge 20’s 86 hours. This 31% increase in endurance translates to nearly a full day of additional usage. While the Edge 20 supports 30W wired charging, compared to the A52s 5G’s 25W, the larger battery capacity of the A52s 5G means it will still likely take a comparable amount of time to fully recharge, and the extra endurance will outweigh the slightly faster charging speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Edge 20 if you prioritize a slightly brighter display for outdoor visibility and prefer a potentially sleeker design (though this isn't specified in the data). Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value all-day battery life and want a phone that can reliably last through heavy usage without needing a midday charge. The A52s 5G is the better choice for travelers or those frequently away from power outlets.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 778G is a capable chipset, but demanding titles like Genshin Impact will likely require reduced graphics settings for a smooth experience on both devices. Neither phone's thermal management is specified, so sustained performance may be affected by throttling. However, the A52s 5G's superior battery life will allow for longer gaming sessions overall.
❓ Does the difference in charging wattage (30W vs 25W) mean the Motorola Edge 20 will charge significantly faster?
While the Motorola Edge 20 supports 30W charging compared to the A52s 5G’s 25W, the A52s 5G has a larger battery capacity. This means the actual time to fully charge both devices will likely be similar. The 5W difference in wattage is unlikely to result in a substantial time saving.
❓ Are there any known overheating issues with the Snapdragon 778G in either of these phones?
The Snapdragon 778G is generally known for its efficiency, and overheating is not a widespread issue. However, without specific thermal testing data for these models, it's impossible to definitively say. The 6nm process node should help mitigate thermal throttling during prolonged use.