Google Pixel 6a vs Samsung Galaxy A52: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 6a is the better choice. Its Google Tensor chip delivers significantly faster performance and superior image processing, despite slightly shorter battery life. The A52 remains a viable option for those prioritizing maximum battery endurance and a brighter display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| 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 | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89 | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 105h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.0 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy A52
- Exceptional battery life (105h endurance)
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Faster 25W wired charging
- Less powerful Snapdragon 720G chipset
- Slower overall performance compared to Pixel 6a
Google Pixel 6a
- Faster Google Tensor chip for smoother performance
- Superior camera image processing and features
- Guaranteed software updates from Google
- Shorter battery life (94h endurance)
- Slower 18W wired charging
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a brighter display, reaching 876 nits compared to the A52’s 794 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. While neither features a high refresh rate, the Pixel 6a’s superior brightness is a noticeable advantage for media consumption and general use. The A52’s brightness is still respectable, but the Pixel 6a offers a more vibrant viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are capable of taking good photos, but the Pixel 6a leverages Google’s computational photography expertise to deliver superior results. While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip enables features like Magic Eraser and Real Tone, enhancing image quality and versatility. The A52’s camera system is solid, but lacks the advanced processing capabilities of the Pixel 6a. Sensor sizes and lens apertures are not specified in the provided data, making a direct hardware comparison difficult, but the Pixel 6a’s image processing is the key differentiator.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Pixel 6a’s Google Tensor (5nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Galaxy A52’s Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The Tensor’s octa-core configuration, featuring Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.80 GHz and 2.25 GHz respectively, provides significantly faster processing speeds than the A52’s 2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold cores. This difference is most apparent in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. The 5nm fabrication process of the Tensor also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, though sustained performance will still be limited by the phone's cooling system. The A52 is adequate for everyday tasks, but the Pixel 6a offers a noticeably smoother and more responsive experience.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A52 holds a slight edge in battery endurance with a rating of 105 hours, compared to the Pixel 6a’s 94 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The A52 supports 25W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in 30 minutes, while the Pixel 6a is limited to 18W charging with PD3.0. While the A52 offers faster charging, the Pixel 6a’s more efficient Tensor chip partially offsets the smaller battery capacity. Users prioritizing all-day battery life will lean towards the A52, but the Pixel 6a’s performance benefits may be worth the trade-off for others.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you need exceptional battery life and a display that remains easily visible in direct sunlight. It’s ideal for users who prioritize longevity and don’t demand the absolute fastest performance. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prefer a smoother, more responsive user experience, exceptional camera capabilities powered by Google’s AI, and guaranteed software updates directly from Google.