Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G vs. Galaxy M21s: Which Samsung Phone Delivers the Best Value?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset delivers substantially better performance, while the 25W charging significantly reduces downtime. While the M21s remains a viable option for basic tasks, the A52s 5G offers a more future-proof and enjoyable user experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M21s | Samsung Galaxy A52s 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, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, November 06. Released 2020, November 06 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.35 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 | 191 g (6.74 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 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, One UI 2.5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual Proximity Sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | SM-F415F, SM-F415F/DS | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 230 EUR | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | 0.38 W/kg (head) | 0.72 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.48 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) | 0.88 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 113h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy M21s
- Excellent battery life (113h endurance)
- Large display for media consumption
- Very affordable price point
- Outdated Exynos 9611 chipset
- Slow 15W charging
- Limited performance for demanding tasks
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
- Fast 25W wired charging
- Brighter and potentially more accurate display
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Slightly higher price than the M21s
- Battery life is comparable, not superior, to the M21s
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 800 nits compared to the M21s’ unspecified brightness. This translates to better visibility outdoors. While both displays share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (typical for Samsung AMOLED panels), the A52s 5G’s superior brightness makes a tangible difference in real-world usage. The A52s 5G also benefits from a potentially higher quality panel, though specific panel type details aren't provided, suggesting a more vibrant and accurate color reproduction.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the A52s 5G likely benefits from a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 778G. While sensor details are missing, the A52s 5G’s chipset allows for faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The M21s’ Exynos 9611 ISP is older and less capable. It's crucial to note that the presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing tactic; image quality from these sensors is typically underwhelming. Focus should be on the main sensor performance, where the A52s 5G is expected to excel.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A52s 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G (6nm) is a significant leap over the M21s’ Exynos 9611 (10nm). The 778G features a more modern CPU architecture – a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core alongside 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores – versus the M21s’ 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 configuration. This architectural advantage, coupled with the smaller 6nm process, results in substantially improved CPU and GPU performance, and better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during extended gaming sessions. The A52s 5G is expected to handle demanding games and applications with ease, while the M21s may struggle with more intensive tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life despite the A52s 5G’s more powerful processor. However, the A52s 5G’s 25W wired charging is a game-changer. This allows for significantly faster charging times compared to the M21s’ 15W charging. While both may last a full day on a single charge with moderate use, the A52s 5G can quickly top up its battery when needed, minimizing downtime. The efficiency gains from the 6nm Snapdragon 778G also contribute to maintaining battery life despite the increased performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M21s if you prioritize maximizing battery life on a very tight budget and primarily use your phone for basic communication and media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value faster performance for gaming and multitasking, require 5G connectivity, and appreciate quicker charging speeds, even at a slightly higher price point.