The Oppo A94 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. Both aim to deliver a balance of features and performance without breaking the bank, but they achieve this through different approaches to chipset selection and feature prioritization. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device offers the best value for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing display quality and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G emerges as the better choice. While the Oppo A94 5G boasts faster 30W charging, the A52 5G’s brighter 787 nit display and established brand reputation provide a more polished overall experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 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, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 16 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 03 | Available. Released 2021, March 19 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 73.4 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.89 x 0.31 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 | 173 g (6.10 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 (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 800 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, ColorOS 11.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| 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, 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 | 30W wired, PD, QC | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4310 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Fluid Black, Space Silver, Cosmo Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | CPH2211 | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 |
| Price | About 280 EUR | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 111h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9)
GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Oppo A94 5G
- Faster 30W charging with PD/QC
- Potentially higher burst CPU performance
- Competitive 5G connectivity
- Display brightness data unavailable, likely lower than A52 5G
- Less established brand reputation
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Brighter 787 nit display for better outdoor visibility
- More refined software experience (Samsung One UI)
- Potentially better power efficiency with Snapdragon 750G
- Slower 25W charging
- May experience more throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G immediately stands out with its measured peak brightness of 787 nits, significantly enhancing outdoor visibility compared to the Oppo A94 5G (brightness data unavailable). While both feature similar 'infinite' contrast ratios (nominal), the A52 5G’s Super AMOLED panel likely delivers superior color accuracy and viewing angles. The lack of refresh rate information for the A94 5G suggests the A52 5G may offer a smoother experience if it supports a higher refresh rate, though this is not confirmed in the provided data.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are absent. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, Samsung generally excels in image processing, and the A52 5G likely benefits from this expertise. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests these are largely marketing features with limited practical utility. A deeper analysis would require sample images and detailed camera specifications.
Performance
Under the hood, the Oppo A94 5G utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7nm), featuring a dual-cluster CPU configuration with 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is powered by the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8nm), employing 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 cores and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 cores. The 8nm process of the Snapdragon 750G generally offers better power efficiency than the 7nm Dimensity 800U, potentially leading to improved sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, the higher clock speeds of the A76 cores in the Dimensity 800U may provide a slight edge in burst performance.
Battery Life
Both the Oppo A94 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G achieve an endurance rating of 111 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging capabilities differ significantly. The Oppo A94 5G supports 30W wired charging with PD and QC, promising faster top-ups. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G offers 25W charging, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes. While the A52 5G’s charging isn’t *slow*, the A94 5G’s faster charging is a clear advantage for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo A94 5G if you need the fastest possible charging speeds and are comfortable with Oppo’s ColorOS. Its 30W charging with PD and QC support will get you back up and running quicker. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prioritize a brighter, more color-accurate display, a more established brand ecosystem, and a potentially longer software support lifecycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 750G in the Galaxy A52 5G struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 750G is capable of running PUBG and Genshin Impact, but you may need to lower graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience. The 8nm process helps with thermal management, but sustained gaming will still generate heat, potentially leading to some throttling. The A94 5G's Dimensity 800U may offer similar performance, but potentially with more noticeable throttling.
❓ How significant is the charging speed difference between 25W and 30W, and will I notice it in daily use?
The difference between 25W and 30W charging is noticeable, especially for quick top-ups. The Oppo A94 5G’s 30W charging will replenish the battery faster, saving you time. While the A52 5G’s 25W isn’t slow, the A94 5G provides a more convenient charging experience for users who frequently need to charge their phone on the go.
❓ Is the camera on either phone suitable for serious photography, or are they primarily for casual snapshots?
Based on the limited information, both cameras appear geared towards casual photography. The lack of details regarding sensor size and OIS suggests they won't compete with flagship-level camera performance. Samsung's image processing typically delivers pleasing results, but don't expect professional-grade image quality.
