iQOO Neo5 S vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The iQOO Neo5 S and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. The Neo5 S aggressively targets performance with a flagship Snapdragon 888, while the A52s 5G focuses on a balanced experience with the efficient Snapdragon 778G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and fast charging, the iQOO Neo5 S is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 delivers significantly more processing power. However, the Galaxy A52s 5G offers excellent battery life and a more refined software experience, making it ideal for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Neo5 S Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2021, December 202021, August 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 25Available. Released 2021, September 01
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions163.2 x 76.4 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 3.01 x 0.33 in)159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.62 inches, 105.8 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 11, OriginOS OceanAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED 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
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired, 70% in 18 min25W wired
Type4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsOrange, Blue, BlackAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
Models-SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
PriceAbout 380 EUR£ 112.98 / € 249.47
SAR-0.72 W/kg (head)
SAR EU-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)

vivo iQOO Neo5 S

  • Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 888)
  • Ultra-fast 66W charging
  • Potentially higher gaming performance

  • Potential for thermal throttling
  • Battery life may be lower than A52s 5G
  • Camera details are unknown

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Excellent battery life (113h endurance)
  • Bright 800 nit display
  • Balanced performance with Snapdragon 778G

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
  • May not be ideal for hardcore gamers

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 800 nits, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the iQOO Neo5 S’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s likely to be comparable. The A52s 5G’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks. The lack of LTPO technology in either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on higher-end phones, but both likely offer a 120Hz panel. The A52s 5G’s brightness advantage is a key differentiator for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, potentially delivering more consistent results in various lighting conditions. Without knowing the main sensor size on the iQOO Neo5 S, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The presence of OIS on either device is unknown, but would be a significant advantage for video stabilization. It's safe to assume both phones include a standard suite of camera modes, but the iQOO Neo5 S’s processing may lean towards more vibrant colors, typical of vivo’s image style.

Performance

The iQOO Neo5 S’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Galaxy A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G (6nm). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a significant performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks. While the 778G’s Cortex-A78 cores are capable, they operate at a lower 2.4 GHz. The 5nm process node of the 888 also offers better thermal efficiency, though the 888 is known to throttle under sustained load. The 6nm node of the 778G provides a good balance of performance and efficiency. The iQOO Neo5 S will excel in demanding games and applications, while the A52s 5G will handle everyday tasks and moderate gaming with ease.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A52s 5G boasts an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The iQOO Neo5 S’s battery capacity is not specified, but its more powerful processor will likely consume more power. However, the Neo5 S’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 70% charge in just 18 minutes. The A52s 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower. This means the iQOO Neo5 S can quickly top up its battery, mitigating the impact of potentially higher power consumption.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo5 S if you need uncompromising gaming performance, rapid 66W charging, and don't mind potential thermal throttling under sustained load. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you prefer a more balanced device with excellent battery endurance, a bright and vibrant display, and a reliable camera system for everyday photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 888 in the iQOO Neo5 S overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load. While the iQOO Neo5 S may have thermal management features, some throttling is likely during extended gaming. This could result in slightly reduced frame rates over time, but shouldn't cause complete performance collapse.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 778G in the Galaxy A52s 5G handle graphically intensive games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 778G is capable of running PUBG and Genshin Impact at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. While it won't match the performance of the Snapdragon 888, it provides a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for most users. Expect to adjust graphics settings for optimal performance.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Galaxy A52s 5G slow compared to the 66W on the iQOO Neo5 S?
Yes, 25W charging is significantly slower than 66W. The iQOO Neo5 S can reach 70% charge in 18 minutes, while the A52s 5G will take considerably longer to fully charge. This difference is crucial for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
❓ Does the Galaxy A52s 5G support software updates for a long period?
Samsung generally provides good software support for its A-series devices. The A52s 5G is likely to receive at least two major Android updates and several years of security patches, ensuring a relatively future-proof experience.