Realme 9 Pro+ vs Samsung Galaxy A52: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme 9 Pro+ emerges as the stronger choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Snapdragon 720G in the A52, and the significantly faster 60W charging (fully charging in 44 minutes) is a game-changer. While the A52 boasts a proven track record, the 9 Pro+ offers a more compelling package for power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 | Realme 9 Pro+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 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, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2022, February 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Available. Released 2022, February 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| 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 (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| 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, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, 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 | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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/6, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min | 60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition |
| Models | SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS | RMX3392, RMX3393 |
| Price | C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89 | € 289.90 / $ 390.00 / ₹ 25,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 105h | Endurance rating 117h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.0 LUFS (Good) | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 495096 (v8), 416031 (v9) GeekBench: 2335 (v5.1) GFXBench: 27fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A52
- Proven reliability and brand reputation
- Higher peak display brightness for outdoor use
- Established software ecosystem
- Older chipset with less processing power
- Slower 25W charging
- Potentially less efficient battery performance
Realme 9 Pro+
- Faster Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset
- Significantly faster 60W charging
- Slightly better battery endurance rating
- Realme's software update commitment is less established than Samsung's
- Potential for more aggressive battery optimization
Display Comparison
Both the Samsung Galaxy A52 and Realme 9 Pro+ feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. However, the A52 boasts a measured peak brightness of 794 nits, which will provide a more visible experience outdoors in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the A52's higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor visibility. Details regarding refresh rate and panel technology (LTPO) are missing for both, but given the market segment, 90Hz is a likely commonality.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but specific sensor details are lacking. Without knowing megapixel counts or sensor sizes, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Realme 9 Pro+’s newer chipset likely incorporates more advanced image signal processing (ISP) capabilities, potentially leading to better low-light performance and dynamic range. The absence of details regarding Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device makes it impossible to assess stabilization performance. It's reasonable to assume both phones will include a standard suite of camera modes, but the Realme 9 Pro+ has the potential for more sophisticated computational photography.
Performance
The Realme 9 Pro+’s Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Samsung Galaxy A52’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The Dimensity 920 utilizes Cortex-A78 performance cores clocked at 2.5 GHz, compared to the A52’s Kryo 465 Gold cores at 2.3 GHz. This translates to faster application loading times and smoother multitasking. The 6nm process node of the Dimensity 920 also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature octa-core CPUs, the Dimensity 920’s core design and fabrication process give it a clear edge.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Pro+ boasts an endurance rating of 117 hours, slightly exceeding the Samsung Galaxy A52’s 105-hour rating. This suggests the 9 Pro+ is more efficient, or has a slightly larger battery capacity (details missing). More crucially, the 9 Pro+ supports 60W wired charging, promising a full charge in just 44 minutes (advertised), while the A52 is limited to 25W, taking 30 minutes to reach 50%. This difference in charging speed is a major convenience factor, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize a well-established brand with a history of software support and a consistently reliable experience, and aren't heavily reliant on demanding applications. Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you value faster performance for gaming and multitasking, and appreciate the convenience of incredibly rapid charging, even if it means potentially less long-term software commitment.