The iQOO Neo5 SE and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. The iQOO Neo5 SE aggressively targets performance with its Snapdragon 870, while the Galaxy A52s 5G aims for a more balanced experience with the Snapdragon 778G, focusing on efficiency and Samsung’s established software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the iQOO Neo5 SE is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 870 delivers a noticeable edge in gaming and demanding tasks. However, the Galaxy A52s 5G offers a more refined software experience and comparable battery life, making it ideal for everyday users who value balance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 20 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 29 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 76.7 x 8.5 mm (6.48 x 3.02 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 |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 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 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10, 650 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS Ocean | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | 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 | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 | 55W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Aurora | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | V2157A | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 300 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 SE
- Significantly faster Snapdragon 870 processor
- Blazing-fast 55W wired charging
- Potentially better gaming performance
- Display details are lacking (potentially LCD)
- Camera specifications are unknown
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Bright and vibrant AMOLED display (800 nits)
- Reliable camera system with OIS
- Efficient Snapdragon 778G processor
- Slower 25W charging
- Less powerful processor compared to the iQOO Neo5 SE
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 800 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors, a specification the iQOO Neo5 SE’s display details lack. While the A52s 5G’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite (nominal)’ – typical for AMOLED panels – the iQOO Neo5 SE’s panel type isn’t specified, suggesting it may be LCD. This could translate to less vibrant colors and lower contrast. The absence of refresh rate information for the iQOO Neo5 SE is a notable omission, while the A52s 5G is known to have a 120Hz display, contributing to smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Galaxy A52s 5G benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, typically delivering vibrant and well-balanced photos. Without specific details on the iQOO Neo5 SE’s camera sensors and apertures, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The A52s 5G’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is a key advantage, resulting in sharper images and smoother videos, especially in low-light conditions. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A52s 5G is unlikely to significantly impact image quality, serving more as a novelty feature.
Performance
The iQOO Neo5 SE’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm) chipset is the star here, featuring a Kryo 585 core clocked at 3.2 GHz. This is a significant step up from the Galaxy A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). The 870’s architecture, with its faster core clock speeds, translates to superior CPU and GPU performance. The 6nm process of the 778G offers better power efficiency, but the 870’s raw power will be more noticeable in demanding applications. The iQOO Neo5 SE is likely to exhibit less throttling during sustained workloads. The A52s 5G’s Cortex-A78 cores are efficient, but can’t match the 870’s Kryo 585 in peak performance.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite the iQOO Neo5 SE lacking specific mAh details. However, the iQOO Neo5 SE’s 55W wired charging is a game-changer, significantly faster than the Galaxy A52s 5G’s 25W charging. This means the iQOO Neo5 SE can replenish its battery much quicker, minimizing downtime. While the A52s 5G’s efficiency might contribute to slightly longer screen-on time, the iQOO Neo5 SE’s charging speed provides a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO Neo5 SE if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, video editing, or other resource-intensive tasks, and value the speed of 55W charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you prefer a polished software experience, a reliable camera system, and a more energy-efficient processor for all-day use, even if it means sacrificing some peak performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 870 in the iQOO Neo5 SE get noticeably hotter than the Snapdragon 778G during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 870 is a more powerful chip and will generate more heat under sustained load. While the iQOO Neo5 SE likely has thermal management features, it's reasonable to expect some throttling after prolonged gaming. The Snapdragon 778G in the Galaxy A52s 5G will remain cooler, offering more consistent performance over longer periods, albeit at a lower overall performance level.
❓ How much faster is the 55W charging on the iQOO Neo5 SE compared to the 25W charging on the Galaxy A52s 5G in real-world use?
The iQOO Neo5 SE’s 55W charging can typically take a phone from 0% to 100% in around 35-45 minutes, depending on battery size. The Galaxy A52s 5G’s 25W charging will likely take closer to 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours for a full charge. This difference is substantial and provides a significant convenience factor for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications for the iQOO Neo5 SE a cause for concern?
Yes, it is. Without knowing the sensor size, aperture, and image processing capabilities, it’s difficult to assess the iQOO Neo5 SE’s camera performance. The Galaxy A52s 5G benefits from Samsung’s well-regarded camera technology, offering a more predictable and reliable experience.
