Samsung Galaxy A52 vs A51: Which Samsung Mid-Ranger Reigns Supreme?

The Samsung Galaxy A51 was a dominant force in the mid-range market, but the A52 arrived to build upon its foundation. With a newer chipset, brighter display, and improved battery endurance, the A52 presents a compelling upgrade. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine if the A52 justifies the cost for existing A51 owners or those new to the Samsung ecosystem.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52 is the superior choice. Its brighter 794-nit display, significantly improved battery life (105h vs 86h), and more efficient Snapdragon 720G chipset offer a noticeably better experience. While the A51 remains a viable option at a lower price point, the A52 delivers a more modern and refined package.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A52	Samsung Galaxy A51

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 / 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, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A515U

Launch
Announced	2021, March 17	2019, December 12. Released 2019, December 16
Status	Available. Released 2021, March 26	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)	158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	189 g (6.67 oz)	172 g (6.07 oz)

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 (~405 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)	Exynos 9611 (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 618	Mali-G72 MP3
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1	Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	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	48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; 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	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
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
	-	Virtual proximity sensing ANT+

Battery
Charging	25W wired, 50% in 30 min	15W wired
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue	Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink
Models	SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS	SM-A515F, SM-A515F/DSN, SM-A515F/DS, SM-A515F/DST, SM-A515F/DSM, SM-A515F/N, SM-A515U, SM-A515U1, SM-A515W, SM-A515X, SM-S515DL
Price	C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89	About 100 EUR
SAR	-	0.80 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body)	0.37 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body)

Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM	-	$ 299.99
128GB 6GB RAM	-	$ 674.99
64GB 4GB RAM	-	$ 211.50
RENEWED	-	£ 179.00

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -87.3dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 105h	Endurance rating 86h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-27.0 LUFS (Good)	-28.6 LUFS (Average)
Performance	AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 113051 (v7), 175363 (v8) GeekBench: 5401 (v4.4), 1294 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A52

Brighter and more vibrant display
Longer battery life and faster charging
More efficient and powerful Snapdragon 720G chipset

Potentially higher price point
Camera specs lack detailed information

Samsung Galaxy A51

Lower price (especially older models)
Still a functional and capable smartphone
Wide range of storage/RAM configurations available

Dimmer display, less visible outdoors
Shorter battery life and slower charging
Less powerful and efficient Exynos 9611 chipset

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A52 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 794 nits compared to the A51’s 636 nits. This translates to much better visibility in direct sunlight. Both phones share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting similar black levels and color reproduction, but the A52’s higher brightness provides a more dynamic and engaging viewing experience. While both likely use AMOLED panels, the A52’s increased brightness suggests potential improvements in panel technology or backlighting efficiency.

Camera Comparison

Both the A51 and A52 feature capable camera systems, but detailed specifications beyond 'Photo / Video' are lacking. However, the A52’s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 720G likely provides improved image processing capabilities, resulting in better dynamic range and noise reduction. The A51’s price variations (ranging from $211.50 to $674.99) suggest different camera configurations were available, but without specific sensor details, a direct comparison is difficult. We can assume the A52 benefits from Samsung’s latest software optimizations for its camera.

Performance

The shift from the Exynos 9611 in the A51 to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G in the A52 represents a key upgrade. The Snapdragon 720G, built on an 8nm process versus the A51’s 10nm Exynos, offers improved power efficiency and thermal management. While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon’s Kryo 465 cores (2x2.3 GHz Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Silver) generally outperform the A51’s Cortex-A73 (4x2.3 GHz) and Cortex-A53 (4x1.7 GHz) cores in both single-core and multi-core tasks. This results in smoother app launches, faster multitasking, and a more responsive overall user experience.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A52’s endurance rating of 105 hours is a substantial improvement over the A51’s 86 hours. This increased battery life, coupled with the Snapdragon 720G’s efficiency, means the A52 can comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use. Furthermore, the A52 supports 25W wired charging, allowing for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes, significantly faster than the A51’s 15W charging. This faster charging capability minimizes downtime and provides greater convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize a brighter, more vibrant display for outdoor use, longer battery life for all-day usage, and a more responsive user experience thanks to the Snapdragon 720G. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 if you are on a very tight budget and primarily need a functional smartphone for basic tasks, and are willing to compromise on display quality and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the A51 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?

The Exynos 9611 is known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly during graphically intensive games. While not a crippling issue, users may experience frame rate drops after extended gaming. The Snapdragon 720G in the A52, with its more efficient 8nm process, is less prone to overheating.

❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?

Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range are limited in their capabilities. Image quality is often soft and lacks detail. They can be fun for experimentation, but don't expect professional-level macro photography. The A52's improved ISP might offer slightly better results, but the low resolution remains a significant constraint.

❓ Can the Galaxy A52 handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile at high frame rates (90fps)?

While the Snapdragon 720G is capable, achieving a consistent 90fps in PUBG Mobile will likely require lowering the graphics settings. The A52's display doesn't have a 90Hz refresh rate, so the benefit of higher frame rates will be limited. The A51 will struggle to maintain even 60fps at higher settings.

❓ What is the real-world difference in charging time between the A51's 15W charging and the A52's 25W charging?

The A52's 25W charging can take the phone from 0% to 50% in approximately 30 minutes. The A51's 15W charging will take considerably longer – likely over an hour to reach 50%. A full charge on the A52 will take around 1 hour 45 minutes, while the A51 will require over 2.5 hours.