OnePlus Nord CE5 vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord CE5 emerges as the winner. Its Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset offers a substantial performance uplift over the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G, coupled with blazing-fast 80W charging. While the A52s 5G has a proven track record, the Nord CE5’s advancements make it the more future-proof choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord CE5 | 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 - International | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, July 08 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, July 08 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 76 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.32 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 | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 1430 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3x3.20 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.20 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Apex (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali G615-MC6 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 15, ColorOS 15 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | LED flash, Ultra HDR, panorama | LED 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 |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps (HDR), 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 23mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | 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 | 80W wired Bypass charging | 25W wired |
| Type | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 7100 mAh (India) | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Marble Mist, Black Infinity, Nexus Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | CPH2719 | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | € 279.99 / £ 229.00 / ₹ 24,998 | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | 1.20 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) | 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) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 61:48h endurance, 1200 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class A | - |
| Free fall | Class A (300 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
OnePlus Nord CE5
- Significantly faster 80W charging
- More powerful Mediatek Dimensity 8350 chipset
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Long-term software support is less established than Samsung
- Camera specs are less detailed in available data
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Proven track record and reliable performance
- Established brand with strong software support
- Good camera performance
- Slower Snapdragon 778G chipset
- Significantly slower 25W charging
- Dimmer display
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord CE5 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1231 nits compared to the Galaxy A52s 5G’s 800 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the A52s 5G claims an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, this is a marketing term; both displays are likely to be AMOLED with excellent contrast. The Nord CE5’s higher peak brightness is the key differentiator, offering a more vibrant and usable experience in bright environments.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited for the Nord CE5. The A52s 5G’s camera is well-regarded for its consistent image quality and video stabilization. Without specific sensor details for the Nord CE5, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the newer chipset likely provides improved image signal processing capabilities, potentially leading to better low-light performance and dynamic range. We'll assume both offer similar photo/video capabilities without further data.
Performance
The chipset is where the Nord CE5 truly shines. The Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Apex (4nm) is architecturally superior to the Snapdragon 778G (6nm) in the A52s 5G. The Dimensity 8350’s Cortex-A715 cores, clocked up to 3.35 GHz, provide a noticeable performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The 4nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during extended use. The A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G is still capable, but it’s demonstrably outmatched by the newer Dimensity chip.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE5 delivers a remarkable 61:48 hours of endurance, with 14:42 hours of active use, while the Galaxy A52s 5G manages 113 hours of endurance. This difference is partially attributable to the more efficient Dimensity 8350 chipset. However, the Nord CE5’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The A52s 5G’s 25W charging is comparatively slow. The Nord CE5 also boasts 1200 charge cycles, suggesting a longer lifespan for the battery itself.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord CE5 if you prioritize raw performance for gaming and demanding apps, and value incredibly fast charging. The 80W charging is a game-changer for minimizing downtime. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you prefer a more established brand with a history of software support, and are content with a more moderate performance level and slower charging speeds. The A52s 5G is a solid all-rounder, but the Nord CE5 offers a more compelling upgrade.