Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs. Galaxy A52: Which Samsung Phone Wins?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset provides significantly faster performance, making it ideal for demanding tasks and gaming. While the A52 boasts better battery endurance, the S21 FE’s faster charging and overall responsiveness outweigh this advantage for power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 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 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| 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 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-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 | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, 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), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, 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, proximity, compass |
| - | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89 | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 105h | Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.0 LUFS (Good) | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A52
- Exceptional battery endurance (105h)
- More affordable price point
- Solid all-around performance for everyday tasks
- Significantly slower processor than S21 FE
- Lacks wireless charging
- Less capable camera system
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Much faster processor (Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100)
- 120Hz display for smoother visuals
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Shorter battery life (92h)
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- Higher price (though decreasing)
Display Comparison
Both the Galaxy A52 and S21 FE 5G feature displays capable of reaching approximately 792-794 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even outdoors. Both also share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels. However, the S21 FE’s display benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to the A52’s 90Hz panel. While both are excellent, the S21 FE’s higher refresh rate provides a more premium visual experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the S21 FE has an edge. While both capture photo and video, the S21 FE’s image processing benefits from the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100. Details regarding sensor sizes are missing, but the S21 FE’s overall image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, is noticeably superior. The A52’s camera is still competent, but the S21 FE offers more dynamic range and sharper details. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the A52 is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical benefit compared to the S21 FE’s more refined camera experience.
Performance
The performance gap is the most significant differentiator. The Galaxy A52 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm), a capable mid-range chip. In contrast, the S21 FE 5G comes in two variants: one with the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) and another with the Exynos 2100 (5nm). The Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 represent a substantial leap in processing power, thanks to their more advanced architectures (Cortex-X1 prime core) and smaller 5nm fabrication process. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and significantly improved gaming performance. The A52’s Kryo 465 cores simply cannot compete with the Cortex-X1 and A78 cores found in the S21 FE. The 5nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, though the S21 FE can still experience throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A52 boasts an endurance rating of 105 hours, significantly outperforming the S21 FE’s 92 hours. This is due to the A52’s more efficient processor and potentially a larger battery capacity (specific mAh not provided). However, the S21 FE compensates with faster charging – both support 25W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes), but the S21 FE adds 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the A52. While the A52 lasts longer on a single charge, the S21 FE’s faster charging and wireless convenience offer a more flexible experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize exceptional battery life above all else and operate on a tighter budget. It’s a solid all-rounder for everyday tasks and media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you demand faster performance for gaming, multitasking, or content creation, and value features like wireless charging and a more powerful processor, even at the cost of some battery life.