Samsung Galaxy A52 vs A52 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52 and A52 5G represent Samsung’s strong push into the mid-range market. While visually similar, these devices diverge under the hood, primarily in their chipsets and connectivity. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which A52 variant best suits your needs, focusing on real-world performance and battery implications.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is the better buy. Its Snapdragon 750G chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the A52’s Snapdragon 720G, and the slightly larger battery delivers a longer endurance rating. The price difference is often minimal, making the 5G model the more compelling option.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A52 Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, March 172021, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 26Available. Released 2021, March 19
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 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 lens64 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio (market/region dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired, 50% in 30 min25W wired, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome BlueAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
ModelsSM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DSSM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1
PriceC$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89$ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49
SAR-0.74 W/kg (head)     0.53 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.35 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)1.05 W/kg (head)     1.42 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 105h Endurance rating 111h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.0 LUFS (Good) -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9) GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A52

  • Proven reliability and established user base.
  • Excellent display quality with high brightness.
  • Capable camera system for everyday photography.

  • Slightly weaker performance compared to the A52 5G.
  • Shorter battery life than the A52 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

  • Improved performance with the Snapdragon 750G.
  • Longer battery life for all-day use.
  • Future-proof 5G connectivity.

  • May be slightly more expensive than the A52.
  • Performance gains may not be noticeable for basic users.

Display Comparison

Both the Galaxy A52 and A52 5G feature displays capable of reaching approximately 790 nits of peak brightness (A52: 794 nits, A52 5G: 787 nits), ensuring excellent visibility even outdoors. Both share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels. While both offer a 120Hz refresh rate, the subtle difference in peak brightness is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. The focus here isn't on display quality, but on the consistent experience across both models.

Camera Comparison

Both devices share a similar camera setup, focusing on photo and video capabilities. Detailed sensor information is not provided, but the image processing is likely identical. The real-world photographic experience will be very similar, with both phones capable of producing good quality images in various lighting conditions. The absence of detailed sensor specs prevents a deeper analysis of low-light performance or dynamic range.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A52 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver cores. The A52 5G, however, boasts the Snapdragon 750G 5G (8nm) with a slightly tweaked CPU configuration of 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 cores. While the core count is the same, the Kryo 570 architecture in the 750G offers a modest performance improvement, particularly in GPU-intensive tasks. This translates to smoother multitasking and gaming experiences on the A52 5G.

Battery Life

The A52 offers an endurance rating of 105 hours, while the A52 5G extends this to 111 hours. This 6-hour difference, while not massive, indicates a tangible improvement in battery life on the 5G model. Both support 25W wired charging, achieving a 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. The A52 5G’s slightly larger battery capacity, combined with the more efficient Snapdragon 750G, contributes to its longer endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize a proven track record and are less concerned with 5G connectivity or demanding applications. It remains a capable device for everyday tasks and media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you want a smoother experience with more demanding apps, future-proof 5G support, and slightly improved battery life, all for a potentially small price premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will I notice a significant performance difference between the Snapdragon 720G and 750G in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging, the difference will be minimal. However, the Snapdragon 750G in the A52 5G will provide a smoother experience with more demanding apps, multitasking, and graphically intensive games.
❓ Does the A52 5G's 5G connectivity actually matter if 5G coverage is limited in my area?
Even with limited 5G coverage, the A52 5G still supports 4G LTE. The 5G modem offers improved efficiency and future-proofing, ensuring you're ready for wider 5G availability. It also benefits from improved modem technology even on 4G networks.
❓ Is the battery life difference between the two phones substantial enough to make a difference in daily use?
The 6-hour endurance rating difference is noticeable, especially for heavy users. The A52 5G is more likely to comfortably last a full day on a single charge, while the A52 might require a top-up for power users.