The Realme Q3i 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive budget 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, they take different approaches to achieving this, particularly in chipset choice and display technology. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and slightly faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is the better choice. However, the Realme Q3i 5G offers a competitive package, and its Dimensity 700 chipset provides solid performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 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 / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 22 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 22 | Available. Released 2021, March 19 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.33 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 | 185 g (6.53 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 (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 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/2.1, 26mm (wide) | - |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) | 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 |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| 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, 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 | 18W wired | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Supersonic Blue, Supersonic Black | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | RMX3042 | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 |
| Price | About 130 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) |
Realme Q3i 5G
- Competitive price point
- Solid 5G performance for everyday tasks
- Reliable Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset
- Slower 18W charging
- Likely inferior display quality compared to A52 5G
- Limited camera details available
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant display (787 nits)
- Faster 25W charging with 30-minute 50% boost
- Potentially better camera performance
- Higher price compared to Realme Q3i 5G
- Snapdragon 750G may not offer a massive performance leap
- Endurance rating is the same as the Q3i
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 787 nits. This is a crucial difference for outdoor visibility, where the Realme Q3i 5G’s display specifications are not provided, suggesting a lower peak brightness. While the A52 5G’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite (nominal)’ – typical for AMOLED panels – the Realme Q3i 5G likely utilizes an LCD, resulting in less vibrant colors and deeper blacks. The A52 5G’s larger display size (not specified in the data, but generally known) also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Given Samsung’s established camera expertise, the Galaxy A52 5G likely offers more refined image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The absence of sensor size or aperture information for either device makes a precise comparison difficult, but Samsung’s tendency to include Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) in its A-series phones could give it an edge in video recording stability. The Realme Q3i 5G’s camera system is likely more focused on affordability, potentially sacrificing some image quality for cost savings.
Performance
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is powered by the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm), while the Realme Q3i 5G utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm). Both chipsets feature octa-core CPUs with similar high-performance core configurations (2x2.2 GHz). However, the Snapdragon 750G’s 8nm process node generally offers better power efficiency than the Dimensity 700’s 7nm node, potentially leading to slightly improved battery life during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 750G also benefits from Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU, which typically delivers superior graphics performance compared to the Mali-G52 MC2 found in the Dimensity 700, making the A52 5G a better choice for mobile gaming.
Battery Life
Both the Realme Q3i 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G achieve an endurance rating of 111 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G supports 25W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes. In contrast, the Realme Q3i 5G is limited to 18W wired charging, resulting in a slower charging experience. This faster charging capability gives the A52 5G a practical advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme Q3i 5G if you need a reliable 5G phone for basic tasks, social media, and occasional gaming, and are on a very tight budget. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prioritize a superior viewing experience with its brighter display, faster charging, and a more established brand reputation, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 750G in the Galaxy A52 5G get noticeably warmer than the Dimensity 700 during extended gaming sessions?
While both chipsets are efficient, the Snapdragon 750G’s 8nm process and Qualcomm’s thermal management features generally result in slightly better heat dissipation. However, the difference is unlikely to be dramatic, and both phones may experience some throttling during prolonged, demanding gaming.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Realme Q3i 5G slow enough to be a significant inconvenience?
For casual users, 18W charging is adequate. However, compared to the Galaxy A52 5G’s 25W charging, it will take considerably longer to fully charge the device. If you frequently find yourself needing a quick top-up, the A52 5G’s faster charging is a worthwhile advantage.
❓ Given the similar endurance ratings, will I notice a real-world difference in battery life between these two phones?
The 111-hour endurance rating suggests similar overall battery life. However, the Snapdragon 750G’s potentially better power efficiency could translate to slightly longer screen-on time during moderate usage. The difference is likely to be subtle, and usage patterns will have a greater impact.
