Samsung Galaxy A71 5G vs. A52 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Samsung's Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G emerges as the better choice. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G provides a more efficient and generally smoother experience than the Exynos 980 in the A71 5G, despite both utilizing an 8nm process. The A52 5G’s brighter display further enhances its usability.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A71 5G | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A716B | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - SM-A716B | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A716B | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 41, 66, 71 mmWave/Sub6 - SM-A716U | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 08 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 15 | Available. Released 2021, March 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.97 x 0.32 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 | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED Plus | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP5 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; 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@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| ANT+ | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube Sliver, Prism Cube Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | SM-A716F, SM-A716F/DS, SM-A716F/DSN, SM-A7160, SM-A716B/DS, SM-A716U, SM-A716B, SM-A716U1 | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 |
| SAR | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.53 W/kg (body) | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 111h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9) GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
- Potentially lower price point.
- Samsung Exynos 980 offers 5G connectivity.
- 25W fast charging support.
- Exynos 980 chipset may exhibit throttling under sustained load.
- Display brightness likely lower than A52 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G provides smoother performance.
- Brighter display (787 nits) for better outdoor visibility.
- Faster charging (50% in 30 minutes).
- May be slightly more expensive than the A71 5G.
- Battery life is comparable, not superior, to the A71 5G.
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A52 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 787 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the A71 5G. While both feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (a marketing term), the higher peak brightness of the A52 5G translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The A52 5G’s panel technology is likely Super AMOLED, common in this price range, while the A71 5G’s panel type isn’t specified, potentially indicating a slightly older generation AMOLED. Both likely feature a 120Hz refresh rate, though this isn't explicitly stated in the provided data.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the image processing capabilities of the Snapdragon 750G’s ISP are generally considered superior to the Exynos 980’s. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a camera winner. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) would be a significant advantage, but this isn’t specified for either device. The 2MP macro cameras often found in these devices are unlikely to provide substantial image quality improvements.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A71 5G utilizes Samsung’s in-house Exynos 980, while the A52 5G employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G. Both are 8nm chips, but the Snapdragon 750G’s Kryo 570 cores offer a more modern architecture than the Exynos 980’s Cortex-A77/A55 configuration. While both CPUs share a 2x2.2 GHz and 6x1.8 GHz core arrangement, the Snapdragon’s architecture generally delivers better sustained performance and efficiency. The A52 5G benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized GPU, likely providing a smoother gaming experience. RAM speed isn't specified, but the Snapdragon 750G typically pairs with faster LPDDR4X RAM, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
Both the A71 5G and A52 5G achieve an endurance rating of 111 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite unspecified mAh capacities. However, the A52 5G supports 25W wired charging with a claimed 50% charge in 30 minutes, while the A71 5G also supports 25W charging but lacks a specified charging time. The Snapdragon 750G’s improved efficiency in the A52 5G could translate to slightly longer real-world battery life, even with similar battery capacities.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G if you prioritize a potentially lower price point and are willing to accept some performance trade-offs. It’s a viable option for basic smartphone tasks and media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you value a more responsive user experience, a brighter and more vibrant display, and potentially better long-term software support, making it ideal for gamers and power users.