Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy A52: The Ultimate Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy A52 and A52s 5G were popular mid-range contenders, offering a blend of features and affordability. But with the 's' variant, Samsung upped the ante. This comparison dives deep into their differences to help you determine which phone is the better choice for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A52s 5G is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, brighter display, and slightly better battery endurance. While the A52 remains a solid option, the A52s 5G delivers a noticeable performance boost and future-proof 5G connectivity.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G Samsung Galaxy A52
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 bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2021, August 172021, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 01Available. Released 2021, March 26
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic backGlass 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)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 (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 618
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6Android 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 6GB 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), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single32 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@30/60fps4K@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, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 wired25W wired, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome MintAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
ModelsSM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528NSM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS
Price£ 112.98 / € 249.47C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89
SAR0.72 W/kg (head)-
SAR EU0.88 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)0.35 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 113h Endurance rating 105h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.5 LUFS (Good) -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Faster Snapdragon 778G 5G Chipset
  • Brighter Display (800 nits)
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Slightly Better Battery Life
  • Improved Image Processing

  • Potentially slightly more expensive
  • Design is very similar to A52

Samsung Galaxy A52

  • More Affordable
  • Compact Design (slightly)
  • Good Value for Money
  • Decent Camera Performance

  • Slower Snapdragon 720G Chipset
  • Lower Peak Brightness
  • No 5G Connectivity
  • Slower Performance

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a FHD+ resolution, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. However, the A52s 5G edges out the A52 with a slightly higher peak brightness of 800 nits versus 794 nits, resulting in better visibility in direct sunlight. Both have excellent contrast ratios.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a versatile quad-camera setup: a 64MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. Image quality is generally comparable in good lighting conditions. However, the A52s 5G's improved processor allows for better image processing and potentially slightly better low-light performance. Video recording capabilities are similar on both.

Performance

This is where the A52s 5G truly shines. Its Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset is a substantial upgrade over the A52's Snapdragon 720G. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the A52s 5G. The A52 can still handle everyday tasks, but it will struggle with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The A52s 5G offers a slightly better endurance rating (113h vs 105h), translating to marginally longer battery life. Both phones support 25W fast charging, with the A52 claiming 50% charge in 30 minutes, which is a useful detail. Real-world battery performance will depend on usage patterns.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is ideal for users who prioritize performance, 5G connectivity, and a smoother overall experience. The Galaxy A52 is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers who don't heavily rely on demanding apps or 5G networks and prefer a slightly more compact design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the A52s 5G worth the extra money?
If you value performance and 5G connectivity, the A52s 5G is definitely worth the upgrade. The improved chipset makes a noticeable difference in everyday use.
❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?
The A52s 5G likely has slightly better low-light camera performance due to its more powerful processor and improved image processing capabilities.