Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy S20 FE 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing between two excellent Samsung phones can be tough. The Galaxy A52s 5G offers incredible value, while the S20 FE 5G packs flagship power. This comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide which one best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The S20 FE 5G generally wins thanks to its superior chipset and faster performance, especially with higher RAM configurations. However, the A52s 5G provides excellent value and a slightly brighter display, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub62, 5, 41, 66, 71 Sub6 - USA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 Sub6 - International
Launch
Announced2021, August 172020, September 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 01Available. Released 2020, October 02
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
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 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 650
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
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 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
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 lens-
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm2 MP
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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 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), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
Browser-HTTP / WAP 2.0
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 Virtual Proximity SensingVirtual proximity sensing Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-by-Up to 300 h
Talk time-Up to 5 h
TypeLi-Ion 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome MintCloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange
ModelsSM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528NSM-G781B, SM-G781B/DS, SM-G781U, SM-G781U1, SM-G781W, SM-G7810, SM-G781N, SM-G781V
Price£ 112.98 / € 249.47$ 137.00 / C$ 531.23 / £ 169.00 / € 199.00
SAR0.72 W/kg (head)0.70 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.88 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)0.50 W/kg (head)     1.35 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 361.99
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 589.97
256GB 8GB RAM-$ 769.99
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 113h Endurance rating 110h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.5 LUFS (Good) -26.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 543986 (v8) GeekBench: 3296 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Excellent Value
  • Bright AMOLED Display
  • Reliable Performance
  • OIS for Video Recording
  • IP67 Water and Dust Resistance

  • Slightly Slower Performance than S20 FE 5G
  • No Wireless Charging

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

  • Flagship Performance (Snapdragon 865)
  • Wireless Charging (Qi)
  • Reverse Wireless Charging
  • Slightly Brighter Display
  • Multiple RAM/Storage Options

  • Higher Price (especially for higher RAM/storage)
  • No IP Rating

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with excellent contrast. The S20 FE 5G edges out the A52s 5G with a slightly higher peak brightness (822 nits vs 800 nits), resulting in better visibility in direct sunlight. Both offer a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fluid scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems. The S20 FE 5G generally captures slightly more detailed photos, especially in good lighting conditions. The A52s 5G excels in video recording with its OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) providing smoother footage. Low-light performance is comparable.

Performance

The S20 FE 5G boasts a significant performance advantage thanks to its Snapdragon 865 chipset. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance compared to the A52s 5G's Snapdragon 778G. The S20 FE 5G's CPU also has slightly higher clock speeds.

Battery Life

Battery life is remarkably similar between the two phones, with both achieving an endurance rating of around 110-113 hours. Both support 25W wired charging, but the S20 FE 5G adds the convenience of 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is ideal for users prioritizing value, a vibrant display, and reliable performance for everyday tasks. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is best for gamers, power users, and those who want flagship-level performance and features without the premium price tag of the latest flagships.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the S20 FE 5G still worth buying in [current year]?
Yes, the S20 FE 5G remains a compelling option due to its powerful processor and feature set, especially at its current price point. It offers flagship performance at a mid-range price.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Both phones receive regular software updates from Samsung. However, the S20 FE 5G might receive updates for a slightly longer period due to being a higher-tier device.