The Realme Q3s and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. Both devices center around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, promising strong performance. However, key differences in display technology, charging speeds, and battery endurance create distinct user experiences, making a direct comparison crucial for informed buyers.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the slightly better all-rounder. While the Realme Q3s offers faster 30W charging, the A52s 5G’s brighter 800 nit display and proven endurance rating provide a more consistently satisfying experience, justifying its often-higher price.
| 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 19 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, November 01 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 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 | 199 g (7.02 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 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, 600 nits | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | 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 | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB 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, 26mm (wide) | 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@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | 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@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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, 50% in 25 min | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora, Dark Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | - | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 200 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 Q3s
- Faster 30W charging for quick top-ups
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Snapdragon 778G offers excellent performance
- Display brightness likely lower than A52s 5G
- Camera performance potentially inferior to A52s 5G
- Battery endurance rating unavailable
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Brighter 800 nit display for outdoor visibility
- Proven 113-hour battery endurance
- Likely superior camera image processing
- Slower 25W charging
- Potentially higher price
- May not be as readily available in all markets
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured peak brightness of 800 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. While the Realme Q3s’ display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it falls short of this peak brightness. The A52s 5G also benefits from an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks. The lack of detailed display specs for the Q3s makes a precise comparison difficult, but the A52s 5G’s brightness is a clear win for outdoor users.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS). Given Samsung’s history of strong camera performance in the A-series, it’s likely the A52s 5G benefits from more sophisticated image processing algorithms and potentially a larger primary sensor. The absence of details on the Realme Q3s’ camera system makes it difficult to assess its capabilities, but it’s unlikely to surpass the A52s 5G without significant hardware advantages. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely inconsequential for most users.
Performance
Both the Realme Q3s and 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 nearly indistinguishable between the two. Performance will largely depend on RAM configuration and software optimization, areas where detailed data is currently unavailable. However, the 6nm process node ensures efficient power consumption and thermal management in both devices, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Realme Q3s doesn’t have a published endurance rating, it compensates with faster 30W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 25 minutes. The A52s 5G is limited to 25W charging. This difference in charging speed is a key differentiator; users prioritizing quick top-ups will favor the Q3s, while those seeking all-day battery life and less frequent charging will appreciate the A52s 5G’s endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme Q3s if you prioritize rapid charging and are comfortable with a potentially less vibrant display. This phone is ideal for users who frequently top up their battery throughout the day and don't heavily rely on outdoor visibility. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value a brighter, more easily visible screen, and longer sustained battery life. This is the better choice for media consumption, outdoor photography, and users who prefer less frequent charging cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G in either phone struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 778G is a capable chipset, but Genshin Impact will require medium settings for a consistently smooth experience on both the Realme Q3s and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G. Thermal throttling may occur during extended gaming sessions, but the 6nm process node helps mitigate this.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G slow compared to the Realme Q3s' 30W?
While 30W is faster on paper, the difference in real-world charging times isn't massive. The A52s 5G's larger battery and efficient power management mean it still provides a usable charge in a reasonable timeframe, and the longer battery life offsets the slower charging for many users.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Realme UI and Samsung's One UI?
Samsung's One UI is generally considered more polished and feature-rich, with a stronger emphasis on customization. Realme UI is lighter and faster, but may include more pre-installed bloatware. Software preference is subjective, but Samsung typically offers longer software support.
