Samsung Galaxy A73 5G vs A52: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52 was a standout mid-range device, lauded for its balanced feature set and impressive display. Now, the A73 5G arrives as its successor, promising improvements in performance and connectivity. But with the A52 often available at discounted prices, is the A73 5G a worthwhile upgrade, or does the older model still hold its own?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G represents a solid upgrade, primarily due to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset. While the A52 boasts excellent battery endurance, the A73’s performance gains are noticeable in demanding tasks and gaming, making it the better choice for power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A52 Samsung Galaxy A73 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, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, March 172022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 26Available. Released 2022, April 22
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back-
Dimensions159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)163.7 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)181 g (6.38 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 (~393 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED Plus, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, 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 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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 lens108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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 YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
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, QZSS
RadioFM radioUnspecified
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging25W wired, 50% in 30 min25W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome BlueGray, Mint, White
ModelsSM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DSSM-A736B, SM-A736B/DS
PriceC$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89About 600 EUR
SAR-1.14 W/kg (head)
SAR EU0.35 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)1.28 W/kg (head)     1.42 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 105h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display 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)
  • Proven reliability and software support
  • Lower price point due to age

  • Older Snapdragon 720G chipset
  • Less future-proof 4G connectivity

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G

  • Significantly faster Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
  • 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
  • Improved image processing capabilities

  • Battery life may be slightly lower than A52
  • Potentially higher price tag

Display Comparison

Both the A52 and A73 5G feature displays aiming for vibrant visuals, but key differences exist. The A52 achieves a measured peak brightness of 794 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the A73 5G’s peak brightness isn’t specified, it’s reasonable to expect similar or slightly improved performance given the generational leap. Both displays boast an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (Samsung’s marketing term for high contrast), but the A73 5G’s panel technology isn’t detailed, potentially lacking the color accuracy refinements found in higher-end Samsung displays. Bezels are likely comparable, focusing on maximizing screen real estate within the mid-range segment.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The A73 5G’s advantage likely stems from improved image signal processing (ISP) within the Snapdragon 778G 5G, leading to better dynamic range and low-light performance. Without specific sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to quantify the difference, but the A73 5G’s newer chipset provides a computational photography edge. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the primary sensor (likely on both models, based on Samsung’s A-series tradition) will contribute to sharper images and smoother videos. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are likely to offer limited practical benefit.

Performance

The core difference between these two devices lies in their chipsets. The A52 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver configuration. The A73 5G steps up to the Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). This represents a significant architectural improvement; the 778G 5G features a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core, 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 performance cores, and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The move to a 6nm process also enhances thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The A73 5G will demonstrably outperform the A52 in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 105 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The A73 5G’s battery capacity isn’t specified, but given the more power-efficient chipset, it’s likely to offer comparable, if not slightly improved, endurance. Both phones support 25W wired charging, with the A52 achieving 50% charge in 30 minutes. While faster charging technologies exist, 25W remains a standard offering in this price segment. The A73 5G’s 6nm chipset will reduce power consumption, potentially offsetting any difference in battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize exceptional battery life and are looking for a reliable, well-rounded phone at a lower price point. It’s ideal for everyday users who don’t heavily rely on mobile gaming or intensive applications. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G if you value faster performance, 5G connectivity, and a more future-proof experience. This phone is best suited for users who enjoy gaming, streaming, and multitasking.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G 5G in the A73 5G get noticeably warmer than the 720G in the A52 during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 778G 5G is more powerful, its 6nm process and improved thermal design should mitigate significant overheating. However, expect some warmth during prolonged, graphically intensive gaming. The A52’s 8nm chip will likely run cooler, but at the cost of performance.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the A73 5G worth the extra cost if I don't have widespread 5G coverage in my area?
If 5G coverage is limited, the immediate benefit of the A73 5G’s 5G modem is minimal. However, 5G networks are expanding, and the A73 5G offers future-proofing. The 778G 5G also includes improved 4G LTE capabilities, potentially offering faster speeds even on 4G networks.
❓ How does the image stabilization compare between the A52 and A73 5G when recording video while walking?
Both phones likely feature Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which significantly improves video stability. The A73 5G’s newer ISP and potentially more advanced OIS algorithms should result in slightly smoother footage, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.