The Samsung Galaxy A72 5G and A52 5G represent Samsung’s strong push into the mid-range 5G market. While both devices share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset, key differences in display brightness and subtle design choices cater to slightly different user needs. This comparison dives deep into those nuances to help you determine which A-series phone best fits your lifestyle.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G offers a more compelling package. Its significantly brighter 787 nit display provides a superior viewing experience, especially outdoors, and the identical performance from the Snapdragon 750G means no compromises in speed. The A72 5G remains a viable option if a larger form factor is preferred, but the A52 5G’s display advantage is decisive.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, March 19 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 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 |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | 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 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, One UI 4.1 | 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, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) | 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@30/120fps; 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | SM-A726B, SM-A726B/DS | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 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 A72 5G
- Potentially larger screen size (unconfirmed, but typical of A72 series)
- Identical Snapdragon 750G performance
- 25W fast charging support
- Likely lower peak display brightness
- May be bulkier than the A52 5G
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Significantly brighter 787 nit display
- Faster charging (50% in 30 minutes)
- More compact form factor
- Identical Snapdragon 750G performance
- May not appeal to users who prefer larger screens
Display Comparison
The most significant difference between these two phones lies in their displays. The A52 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 787 nits, a substantial advantage over the A72 5G (brightness data unavailable, but expected to be lower based on market positioning). This higher brightness translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. Both feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels, providing deep blacks and vibrant colors. While both likely utilize a 120Hz refresh rate (not explicitly stated in the data, but standard for this series), the A52 5G’s brighter panel will make that smoother scrolling more impactful.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are equipped with a photo/video camera system, but specific sensor details are missing. Given their market segment, we can expect similar camera performance, relying heavily on Samsung’s software processing. The absence of specific sensor size or aperture information makes a detailed comparison difficult. However, it’s likely both phones feature a primary wide-angle lens, an ultrawide lens, and potentially a macro or depth sensor. The image processing algorithms will likely be tuned similarly, resulting in comparable photo and video quality. The usefulness of any included 2MP macro lens should be considered minimal.
Performance
Both the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G and A52 5G are powered by the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration of 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 cores. This means performance will be virtually identical in day-to-day tasks and even in moderately demanding games. The 8nm process node offers a good balance of power efficiency and performance. RAM configurations are likely similar across both models, further minimizing performance discrepancies. Thermal throttling should be comparable, with the Snapdragon 750G generally managing heat well within the confines of these mid-range devices.
Battery Life
Both the A72 5G and A52 5G share an endurance rating of 111 hours, suggesting comparable battery life. Both support 25W wired charging, with the A52 5G claiming a 50% charge in 30 minutes. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the similar endurance rating suggests they are closely matched. The Snapdragon 750G’s efficiency contributes to solid battery performance on both devices. The faster charging speed on the A52 5G provides a slight convenience advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G if you prioritize a larger screen real estate and don't mind a slightly less vibrant display. It's ideal for media consumption where sheer size outweighs peak brightness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you value a brighter, more visually appealing display for everyday use, especially in outdoor environments, and prefer a more compact form factor. It’s the better all-rounder for most users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 750G in either phone struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 750G is a capable mid-range chipset. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it can handle PUBG and Genshin Impact at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. Expect some frame drops during intense scenes, but the experience should be generally playable. Both phones will perform similarly in gaming due to the identical chipset.
❓ Is the 25W charging speed truly fast, or is it just marketing?
25W charging is a decent speed for a mid-range phone. The A52 5G specifically claims 50% charge in 30 minutes, which is a practical and useful charging time. While not as fast as some flagship phones with 65W or 80W charging, it's sufficient for quickly topping up the battery when needed. Both phones share this charging capability.
❓ How does the display quality on the A52 5G compare to more expensive Samsung phones?
While the A52 5G's display isn't quite on par with Samsung's flagship AMOLED panels, it's still excellent for its price range. The 787 nit peak brightness is a significant improvement over older A-series models and provides a vibrant and clear viewing experience. It lacks features like LTPO for adaptive refresh rates found in higher-end devices, but the 120Hz refresh rate (likely) still delivers smooth scrolling and animations.
