The vivo S1 Prime and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The S1 Prime, powered by the Snapdragon 665, aims for affordability, while the A52s 5G, with its Snapdragon 778G, prioritizes performance and 5G connectivity. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides a substantial performance uplift over the S1 Prime’s Snapdragon 665, translating to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a better gaming experience. While both offer similar battery endurance, the A52s 5G’s faster 25W charging is a significant advantage.
| 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, 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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 12. Released 2020, August 12 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.2 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.34 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 | 190.2 g (6.70 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 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.2 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
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 | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 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, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue, Jade Black | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | V1937 | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 240 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 S1 Prime
- More affordable price point
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks
- Potentially lighter and more compact design (speculation)
- Significantly slower performance
- Less capable camera system
- Slower charging speed
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Much faster performance with Snapdragon 778G
- Brighter and potentially higher-quality display
- Faster 25W charging
- 5G connectivity
- Higher price tag
- Potentially larger and heavier design
- May require more frequent software updates
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 800 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the vivo S1 Prime. This makes the A52s 5G far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays are likely to have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for AMOLED/OLED panels), the A52s 5G’s higher brightness is a key differentiator. Details regarding the S1 Prime’s panel technology (LCD vs AMOLED) are missing, but given its price point, it’s likely an LCD, which generally offers less vibrant colors and narrower viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a precise comparison. However, the Snapdragon 778G’s image signal processor (ISP) in the A52s 5G is significantly more advanced than the ISP in the Snapdragon 665, enabling better image processing, noise reduction, and dynamic range. The A52s 5G is likely to capture sharper, more detailed photos and videos, particularly in low-light conditions. The presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A52s 5G (likely, given Samsung’s mid-range camera strategy) would further enhance image quality and video stability.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the vivo S1 Prime’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm). 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 – compared to the S1 Prime’s 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver configuration. The 6nm process node of the 778G also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. This translates to a noticeably faster and smoother user experience on the A52s 5G, especially in demanding applications and games.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s 25W wired charging is considerably faster than the vivo S1 Prime’s 18W charging. This means the A52s 5G can be topped up from 0-100% much quicker, minimizing downtime. While battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the faster charging speed of the A52s 5G provides a practical advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S1 Prime if you need a basic, functional smartphone for everyday tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and your budget is extremely limited. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you prioritize performance for gaming, streaming, and photography, and want a device that will remain responsive for years to come. The A52s 5G also offers the benefit of 5G connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 778G in the Galaxy A52s 5G powerful enough for demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Snapdragon 778G is a capable chipset for gaming. It can handle PUBG and Genshin Impact at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. The 6nm process and improved thermal management help prevent significant throttling during extended gaming sessions, providing a smoother experience than the Snapdragon 665.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G support VoLTE and VoWiFi on all carriers?
Support for VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) varies by carrier and region. It's crucial to check with your specific carrier to confirm compatibility before purchasing the A52s 5G. Samsung generally provides good carrier support, but it's not universal.
❓ How does the camera processing differ between the vivo S1 Prime and the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G benefits from a more sophisticated image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 778G. This results in better noise reduction, improved dynamic range, and more accurate color reproduction. The S1 Prime’s camera processing is likely to be less refined, leading to softer images and less detail, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
❓ What type of storage does the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G use, and is it expandable?
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G utilizes UFS 2.2 storage, which is faster than the eMMC storage commonly found in budget smartphones like the vivo S1 Prime. It also supports microSD card expansion up to 1TB, allowing you to increase storage capacity if needed.
