The Realme Narzo 30 and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. The Narzo 30 aims for aggressive value with its MediaTek Helio G95, while the A52s 5G leverages the more advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides a significant performance advantage, particularly in sustained workloads and gaming, and its brighter display enhances outdoor visibility. While the Narzo 30 offers faster charging, the A52s 5G’s overall refinement and processing power justify the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 18 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 20 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 75.4 x 9.4 mm (6.39 x 2.97 x 0.37 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 | 192 g (6.77 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 (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 580 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 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) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, 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 | 16 MP, f/2.1, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 100% in 65 min | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Racing Blue, Racing Silver | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | RMX2156 | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 460 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) |
Realme Narzo 30
- Faster 30W charging
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Good battery endurance (113h)
- Less powerful chipset (Helio G95)
- Likely inferior display quality
- Limited information on camera specs
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 778G
- Brighter and higher-quality display (800 nits)
- Superior thermal management
- Slower 25W charging
- Potentially higher price
- Similar battery endurance to Narzo 30
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured peak brightness of 800 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in bright sunlight – a crucial factor for outdoor use. While the Narzo 30’s display specifications are not provided, it’s unlikely to match the A52s 5G’s brightness. The A52s 5G’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The lack of detailed display specs for the Narzo 30 makes a direct comparison difficult, but Samsung’s display technology generally provides a superior viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing for the Narzo 30. The A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, potentially delivering more refined and consistent results. Without knowing the main sensor size or aperture on the Narzo 30, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The A52s 5G’s camera system, while not specified in detail here, typically includes features like optical image stabilization (OIS) which the Narzo 30 may lack, resulting in sharper images and smoother videos.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is architecturally superior to the Realme Narzo 30’s MediaTek Helio G95 (12nm). The 778G features a Cortex-A78 prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz, alongside three additional A78 cores, offering a substantial leap in both single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Narzo 30’s two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.05 GHz. The 6nm process node of the Snapdragon 778G also translates to better thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during prolonged gaming or demanding tasks. This means the A52s 5G will maintain higher sustained performance levels.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Realme Narzo 30 supports 30W wired charging, reaching 100% in 65 minutes, while the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is limited to 25W. This means the Narzo 30 offers a faster top-up time, which is beneficial for users who frequently need to quickly recharge their device. The equal endurance rating suggests efficient power management on both sides, mitigating the impact of the slower charging on the A52s 5G.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme Narzo 30 if you prioritize maximizing value and require the fastest possible charging speeds. It’s a solid option for casual users who don’t heavily rely on demanding applications. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value smoother performance, a brighter and more enjoyable display, and a more polished software experience, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G95 in the Narzo 30 struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
The Helio G95 is capable of running Genshin Impact, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to maintain a stable frame rate. The Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G will provide a significantly smoother experience at higher settings due to its more powerful GPU and efficient architecture.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G slow compared to other phones in this price range?
While 25W isn't the fastest charging available, it's still reasonably quick and will fully charge the phone overnight. The Narzo 30's 30W charging is faster, but the difference in real-world usage isn't massive. The A52s 5G’s efficient power management helps mitigate the slower charging speed.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 778G handle multitasking and app switching compared to the Helio G95?
The Snapdragon 778G excels at multitasking thanks to its more powerful CPU cores and ample RAM bandwidth. App switching will be noticeably smoother and faster on the A52s 5G, especially when running multiple demanding applications simultaneously. The Helio G95 may exhibit some lag or stuttering under heavy multitasking loads.
