Samsung Galaxy M52 5G vs Galaxy A53 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing between two excellent mid-range Samsung phones can be tough. The Galaxy M52 5G and Galaxy A53 5G both offer 5G connectivity and a host of features, but which one truly comes out on top? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy M52 5G edges out the A53 5G thanks to its slightly superior Snapdragon 778G chipset and higher peak brightness. However, the A53 5G boasts a more refined design and potentially better software support. It's a close call, depending on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy M52 5G Samsung Galaxy A53 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, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U
5G bandsSA/NSA/Sub62, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2021, September 242022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 03Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions164.2 x 76.4 x 7.4 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.29 in)159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight173 g (6.10 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 (~393 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED Plus, 120HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G68
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 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
Quad-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
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7um, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsIcy Blue, Blazing Black, WhiteBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsSM-M526BR, SM-M526BR/DS, SM-M526B, SM-M526B/DSSM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
PriceAbout 300 EUR$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14
SAR-0.75 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.79 W/kg (head)     1.40 W/kg (body)0.89 W/kg (head)     1.60 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 123h Endurance rating 113h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -30.0 LUFS (Average) -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 504424 (v9) GeekBench: 2796 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G

  • Stronger Processor (Snapdragon 778G)
  • Higher Peak Brightness (777 nits)
  • Excellent Endurance Rating (123h)
  • Good Value

  • Potentially Less Refined Design
  • Slower Charging Speed (25W)
  • Software Updates May Be Less Frequent

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Premium Design and Build Quality
  • Potentially Longer Software Support
  • Excellent Camera Image Processing
  • Bright Display (830 nits)

  • Slightly Weaker Processor (Exynos 1280)
  • Lower Endurance Rating (113h)
  • Slower Charging Speed (25W)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant Super AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate. However, the M52 5G takes a slight lead with a measured peak brightness of 777 nits compared to the A53 5G's 830 nits. While the A53 5G is brighter, the M52 5G's color accuracy is generally considered excellent. Both have infinite contrast ratios.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature versatile camera systems. The A53 5G generally receives praise for its image processing and color science, producing consistently pleasing results. The M52 5G's camera is also very capable, but may sometimes exhibit slightly less natural colors. Video recording capabilities are comparable on both devices.

Performance

The M52 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G, known for its strong performance and efficiency. The A53 5G is powered by Samsung's Exynos 1280. While the Exynos is capable, the Snapdragon generally offers a smoother and more responsive experience, especially in demanding tasks like gaming. The Snapdragon's GPU also provides a slight edge in graphics performance.

Battery Life

The M52 5G boasts an impressive endurance rating of 123 hours, slightly surpassing the A53 5G's 113 hours. Both phones support 25W wired charging, which is relatively slow compared to some competitors.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is ideal for users prioritizing performance and a brighter display for outdoor use. The Galaxy A53 5G is a better choice for those who value a more premium design, potentially longer software updates, and a slightly more polished overall experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G generally offers better gaming performance due to its Snapdragon 778G chipset and more powerful GPU.
❓ How long will Samsung support these phones with software updates?
The Galaxy A53 5G is likely to receive longer software support from Samsung compared to the M52 5G, although both should receive several years of updates.