Poco M3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at accessible price points, they diverge significantly in their approach to chipset choice, display technology, and overall feature set. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more color-accurate display and a slightly more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is the better choice. However, the Poco M3 Pro offers a competitive performance profile thanks to its Dimensity 700 and represents a stronger value proposition for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro Samsung Galaxy A52 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, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 661, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, May 192021, March 17
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2021, March 19
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.96 x 0.35 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
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ), 500 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED 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
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio (market/region dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired25W wired, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsPoco Yellow, Power Black, Cool BlueAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
Models-SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1
Price-$ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49
SAR-0.74 W/kg (head)     0.53 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.42 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 111h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9) GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro

  • Competitive performance with Dimensity 700
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Decent battery life (111h endurance)

  • Likely inferior display quality compared to A52 5G
  • Slower 18W charging
  • Less established brand reputation

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

  • Brighter and more vibrant display (787 nits)
  • Faster 25W charging (50% in 30 min)
  • Potentially better camera image processing

  • May be more expensive than Poco M3 Pro
  • Snapdragon 750G may throttle under heavy load
  • Similar battery life to Poco M3 Pro despite faster charging

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 787 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a scenario where the Poco M3 Pro’s display specifications are not available for comparison, but likely falls short. While the A52 5G’s contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite (nominal)', this is typical of AMOLED panels and provides deep blacks. The lack of detailed display specs for the Poco M3 Pro suggests a more standard LCD panel, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The A52 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms, potentially delivering more consistent and pleasing results. The Poco M3 Pro, while capable, may require more user intervention to achieve optimal image quality. The absence of sensor size or aperture details makes a definitive comparison impossible, but the A52 5G’s brand reputation suggests a more refined camera experience. We can assume both phones include a variety of shooting modes, but the quality of those modes will depend heavily on the underlying hardware and software.

Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy A52 5G utilizes the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G (8 nm), while the Poco M3 Pro features the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm). Both are octa-core CPUs with similar core configurations (2x2.2 GHz high-performance cores and 6x lower-power cores). However, the Snapdragon 750G’s 8nm process *should* offer slightly better power efficiency. The Dimensity 700, while competitive, may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load. The A52 5G’s potential for smoother multitasking is also influenced by RAM configurations, which are not specified in the provided data, but are a key consideration.

Battery Life

Both the Poco M3 Pro and Galaxy A52 5G achieve an endurance rating of 111 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, charging speeds differ significantly. The A52 5G supports 25W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes, while the Poco M3 Pro is limited to 18W. This means the A52 5G offers a faster top-up time, a crucial advantage for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro if you need a highly capable 5G phone for gaming and everyday tasks, and are willing to compromise slightly on display quality and camera refinement. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prefer a brighter, more vibrant display, a more established brand reputation, and a potentially smoother camera experience, even if it means paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 750G in the Galaxy A52 5G experience significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 750G is a capable chip, its thermal performance can be a concern under sustained load. Reports suggest it can throttle during extended gaming, potentially leading to frame rate drops. The Poco M3 Pro's Dimensity 700 may also throttle, but the 7nm process could offer slightly better thermal headroom.
❓ How does the 18W charging on the Poco M3 Pro compare to the 25W charging on the Galaxy A52 5G in real-world usage?
The Galaxy A52 5G's 25W charging significantly reduces charging time, reaching 50% in just 30 minutes. The Poco M3 Pro's 18W charging will take considerably longer to achieve the same level of charge, making the A52 5G a better option for users who need a quick power boost.
❓ Is the lack of detailed display specifications for the Poco M3 Pro a major drawback?
Yes, the absence of information like panel type (LCD vs AMOLED), color gamut coverage, and PWM dimming frequency suggests the Poco M3 Pro's display is likely inferior to the Galaxy A52 5G's. Users sensitive to screen flicker or prioritizing color accuracy should strongly consider the A52 5G.