Samsung Galaxy A52 5G vs. A53 5G: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G remains a compelling choice. Its Snapdragon 750G chipset offers a proven track record of efficient performance, and its slightly lower price point makes it a better value. However, users prioritizing display brightness and the latest Exynos processor will find the A53 5G appealing.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Samsung Galaxy A53 5G |
| 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, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 19 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | 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 | 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 | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) | No |
| 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, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 | SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL |
| Price | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 | $ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14 |
| SAR | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) | 0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) | 0.89 W/kg (head) 1.60 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 111h | Endurance rating 113h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.5 LUFS (Good) | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9) GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Proven Snapdragon 750G performance
- Generally more affordable
- Efficient power consumption
- Lower peak display brightness
- Older chipset architecture
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter display for outdoor use
- Newer Exynos 1280 chipset
- Potentially better software support
- Exynos 1280 thermal management is a potential concern
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
The A53 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 830 nits compared to the A52 5G’s 787 nits. This 43-nit difference translates to significantly improved visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels. While neither phone features LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, the A53’s higher peak brightness is a tangible benefit for outdoor use, making it preferable for users who spend considerable time outside.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a photo/video focused camera system, but detailed sensor information is lacking in the provided data. The image processing style will likely be similar, leaning towards Samsung’s vibrant and saturated look. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. However, the A53 5G’s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Exynos 1280 *could* offer improved noise reduction and dynamic range. It's important to note that the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the A52 5G utilizes the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G (8nm), while the A53 5G features Samsung’s Exynos 1280 (5nm). The Exynos 1280, built on a smaller 5nm process, *should* offer improved power efficiency. However, the CPU architecture differs significantly. The A52 5G’s Snapdragon 750G uses Kryo 570 cores, while the A53 5G employs Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores. The A53’s Cortex-A78 cores offer higher peak performance (2.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz), but real-world performance will depend on software optimization and thermal throttling. The 8nm Snapdragon 750G in the A52 5G is known for its stable performance under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both the A52 5G and A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 111-113 hours, indicating comparable battery life. The A52 5G has a slightly lower endurance rating, but the difference is negligible. Both support 25W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. The A53’s more efficient 5nm Exynos 1280 *could* translate to slightly longer screen-on time in real-world usage, but the difference is unlikely to be dramatic.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prioritize a balanced experience with a focus on efficient performance and value. It’s ideal for everyday users, media consumers, and those who occasionally game. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a brighter display for outdoor visibility and are interested in Samsung’s newer Exynos 1280 chipset, potentially benefiting from future software optimizations.