Samsung Galaxy A52 vs A52s 5G: Which Mid-Range Samsung is Right for You?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the clear winner. The Snapdragon 778G offers a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in demanding tasks and gaming, and the slightly improved battery life is a bonus. While the A52 remains a capable device, the A52s 5G delivers a more future-proof experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 | Samsung Galaxy A52s 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, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 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 |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | 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 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB 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), 1/1.7", 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), 1/1.7", 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@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual Proximity Sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89 | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | - | 0.72 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | 0.88 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 105h | Endurance rating 113h |
| 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: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A52
- Generally more affordable
- Solid all-around performance for everyday tasks
- Good battery life for light usage
- Slower processor compared to the A52s 5G
- Less future-proof
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 778G)
- Improved battery life (113h endurance)
- Better performance for gaming and multitasking
- Typically more expensive
- May experience slightly more heat under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both the Galaxy A52 and A52s 5G feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, indicating excellent black levels typical of AMOLED panels. However, the A52s 5G edges out the A52 with a measured peak brightness of 800 nits compared to the A52’s 794 nits. While the difference isn’t massive, it translates to slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. Both phones share the same 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and animations, and neither specification details PWM dimming rates, making it difficult to assess potential flicker-related eye strain.
Camera Comparison
Both devices share the same 'Photo / Video' camera capabilities in their marketing, but the underlying hardware differences are subtle. While detailed sensor information is missing, the A52s 5G benefits from the more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor) within the Snapdragon 778G. This translates to potentially improved image processing, especially in low-light conditions. The A52’s Snapdragon 720G is still capable, but the 778G offers a more advanced computational photography pipeline. The lack of detail regarding sensor sizes and apertures prevents a more granular comparison, but the chipset upgrade is the key differentiator here.
Performance
The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The A52 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, built on an 8nm process, while the A52s 5G boasts the Snapdragon 778G 5G, fabricated on a more efficient 6nm node. This process shrink, combined with the 778G’s architectural improvements – featuring a Cortex-A78 prime core versus the 720G’s Kryo 465 Gold – results in a significant performance leap. The A52s 5G’s CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) is demonstrably faster than the A52’s (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver), leading to quicker app launches, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The 6nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A52 achieves an endurance rating of 105 hours, while the A52s 5G improves upon this with a rating of 113 hours. This 8-hour increase suggests better power efficiency, likely stemming from the more efficient Snapdragon 778G chipset. Both phones support 25W wired charging, with both achieving 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. The A52s 5G’s slightly longer endurance rating means users can expect a bit more screen-on time between charges, making it a better choice for heavy users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize maximizing value and are primarily focused on everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light photography. It’s a solid choice for budget-conscious users. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you demand smoother multitasking, enjoy mobile gaming, or want a device that will remain responsive for longer. The 778G chipset provides a tangible performance advantage that justifies the extra cost for power users.