The Tecno Camon 16 Premier and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Camon 16 Premier, while older, boasts fast charging and a high contrast display, while the A52s 5G leverages the more efficient Snapdragon 778G and a brighter screen. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset, built on a 6nm process, provides a noticeable performance advantage and better thermal management compared to the Tecno’s Helio G90T. While the Camon 16 Premier offers faster wired charging, the A52s 5G’s overall refinement and efficiency win out.
| 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 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 |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - India | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 04. Released 2020, September 04 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 170.6 x 77.2 x 9.1 mm (6.72 x 3.04 x 0.36 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 |
| Weight | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10+, 480 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, HIOS 6.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Penta-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (dedicated video camera)
Auxiliary lens | 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 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm
8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 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 | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 70% in 30 min (International)
18W wired (India) | 25W wired |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glacial Silver | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | CE9, CD6j | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 230 EUR | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | 1.25 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body) | 0.72 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.88 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 118h |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1896:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.1 LUFS (Average) |
-27.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 283847 (v8)
GeekBench: 6692 (v4.4), 1672 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9)
GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Tecno Camon 16 Premier
- Faster wired charging (33W international)
- High contrast display (1896:1)
- Potentially lower price point
- Less efficient chipset (Helio G90T)
- Lower peak display brightness
- Potentially less refined software experience
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- More powerful and efficient chipset (Snapdragon 778G)
- Brighter and more vibrant AMOLED display
- Superior image processing capabilities
- Slower wired charging (25W)
- Potentially higher price point
- No expandable storage (typical for Samsung)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s display immediately stands out with its measured peak brightness of 800 nits, significantly exceeding the Tecno Camon 16 Premier’s 400 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While Tecno advertises a 1896:1 contrast ratio, Samsung’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (typical of AMOLED panels) delivers deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. Both devices offer adequate viewing angles, but the A52s 5G’s AMOLED technology provides a richer, more immersive visual experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable camera systems, but details matter. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the A52s 5G benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise. Without specific sensor size data for the Camon 16 Premier, it’s difficult to make a definitive statement, but the A52s 5G’s likely larger sensor and optimized software will result in better low-light performance and dynamic range. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests limited utility; focusing on the main sensor quality is more important.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is architecturally superior to the Tecno Camon 16 Premier’s MediaTek Helio G90T (12nm). The Snapdragon 778G features a Cortex-A78 prime core, offering a substantial performance uplift over the G90T’s Cortex-A76. The 6nm fabrication process also contributes to significantly improved power efficiency, reducing thermal throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. While both phones are capable of handling everyday tasks, the A52s 5G will deliver a smoother experience in demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve similar endurance ratings – 118 hours for the Tecno and 113 hours for the Samsung – despite differing battery capacities (not specified in the provided data). However, the Tecno Camon 16 Premier boasts significantly faster wired charging at 33W (international) or 18W (India) compared to the A52s 5G’s 25W. The Tecno can reach 70% charge in 30 minutes (international), a substantial advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups. The Snapdragon 778G’s efficiency, however, mitigates the battery capacity difference, providing comparable real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Camon 16 Premier if you prioritize extremely fast wired charging (especially in international markets) and a high contrast display are paramount, and you’re willing to accept slightly lower performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value a smoother, more responsive user experience, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and the benefits of a more efficient 5G chipset for longer gaming sessions and better battery longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio G90T in the Camon 16 Premier struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Helio G90T is capable of running these games, but you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The 12nm process and less powerful GPU compared to the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G mean it's more prone to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, leading to performance drops.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Tecno Camon 16 Premier consistently available, or is the 18W version common in India?
The 33W charging is primarily available in international markets. The Indian variant of the Camon 16 Premier is limited to 18W charging, which significantly increases the time required to fully charge the device. Check the specific model number before purchasing to confirm the charging speed.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 778G's 5G modem compare to the Helio G90T's 5G capabilities?
The Snapdragon 778G features a more advanced 5G modem, offering broader network compatibility and potentially faster download speeds. While the Helio G90T supports 5G, the Snapdragon 778G's modem is generally considered more reliable and efficient.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the 400 nits of the Camon 16 Premier can struggle in bright outdoor conditions, requiring you to increase brightness and drain battery faster. The A52s 5G's 800 nits provides excellent visibility even under direct sunlight, making it a more comfortable experience for outdoor use.
