The Xiaomi Poco X3 and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Poco X3 aggressively targets gamers with its Snapdragon 732G, while the A52s 5G aims for a more balanced experience powered by the more advanced Snapdragon 778G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G offers a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in sustained workloads, and its brighter 800 nit display enhances outdoor visibility. While the Poco X3 offers a lower price, the A52s 5G’s overall refinement justifies the premium.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 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 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 22 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, September 29 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.3 x 76.8 x 10.1 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.40 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 | 225 g (7.94 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | 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 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7150-AC Snapdragon 732G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
13 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | 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 | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Cobalt Blue, Shadow Gray | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | MZB07Z0IN, MZB07Z1IN, MZB07Z2IN, MZB07Z3IN, MZB07Z4IN, MZB9965IN, M2007J20CI | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 230 EUR | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.61 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 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) |
Xiaomi Poco X3
- Aggressive pricing makes it very accessible.
- 33W fast charging offers quicker top-ups.
- Potentially optimized for gaming with Snapdragon 732G.
- Likely inferior display quality compared to the A52s 5G.
- Older chipset may struggle with demanding tasks over time.
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 778G offers superior performance.
- Brighter 800 nit display enhances outdoor visibility.
- Generally more refined software experience.
- Slightly slower 25W charging.
- Higher price point than the Poco X3.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured peak brightness of 800 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. While the Poco X3’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s likely lower, making it less usable outdoors. The A52s 5G’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior AMOLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the likely IPS LCD on the Poco X3. The lack of refresh rate information for the Poco X3 means the A52s 5G likely has a smoother experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the specifics are missing. However, given Samsung’s image processing expertise, the A52s 5G is likely to deliver more refined and consistent image quality. The A52s 5G likely benefits from a more advanced ISP within the Snapdragon 778G. Without sensor size details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Samsung typically employs larger sensors in its A-series phones. The Poco X3’s camera system is likely geared towards delivering vibrant, social media-ready images, while the A52s 5G aims for a more natural and detailed look.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Poco X3 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G (8nm), while the A52s 5G features the Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). The 778G’s 6nm process and newer Cortex-A78 cores provide a substantial performance advantage, particularly in GPU-intensive tasks. The A52s 5G’s CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) is architecturally superior to the Poco X3’s (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver), translating to faster app loading and smoother multitasking. The 6nm node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite the Poco X3’s 33W charging versus the A52s 5G’s 25W. The Snapdragon 778G’s 6nm efficiency likely offsets the Poco X3’s faster charging. While the Poco X3 charges faster on paper, the A52s 5G’s optimized power management ensures similar real-world usage. The lack of battery capacity information for the Poco X3 makes a direct comparison difficult, but the A52s 5G’s overall efficiency is a key advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 if you prioritize raw gaming performance on a strict budget and don't mind potential compromises in display quality and camera versatility. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value a more well-rounded experience with a brighter display, a more capable chipset for everyday tasks and gaming, and a generally more polished software experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G experience thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 778G’s 6nm process and efficient design significantly mitigate thermal throttling. While some heat generation is inevitable during extended gaming, the A52s 5G is generally well-equipped to maintain consistent performance for longer periods compared to the Poco X3’s Snapdragon 732G.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Poco X3 significantly faster in real-world use than the A52s 5G’s 25W charging?
While the Poco X3 charges at a higher wattage, the difference in 0-100% charge times is likely minimal. The A52s 5G’s optimized power management and battery efficiency contribute to comparable overall charging speeds, and the difference won't be noticeable in everyday use.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the Poco X3 and the A52s 5G?
Samsung’s image processing typically prioritizes a more natural and detailed look, while Xiaomi often leans towards vibrant, social media-optimized images. The A52s 5G is likely to produce more accurate colors and better dynamic range, while the Poco X3 may offer more immediately appealing, albeit less realistic, photos.
