Xiaomi Redmi K40 vs Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The K40, with its flagship-adjacent Snapdragon 870, aims for near-premium performance at a more accessible price. Conversely, the A52s 5G focuses on a well-rounded experience, balancing performance with battery life and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw processing power and gaming performance, the Xiaomi Redmi K40 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 870 delivers a noticeable performance edge. However, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G offers a more balanced package with comparable battery life and a potentially more polished software experience, making it ideal for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K40 Samsung Galaxy A52s 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, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 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, February 252021, August 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 04Available. Released 2021, September 01
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 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
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED 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
Single20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min25W wired
TypeLi-Po 4520 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, AuroraAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint
ModelsM2012K11ACSM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N
PriceAbout 280 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)

Xiaomi Redmi K40

  • Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 870)
  • Faster charging speed (33W)
  • Potentially better gaming performance

  • Potentially less efficient chipset (7nm vs 6nm)
  • Limited display details available

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Bright and vibrant display (800 nits)
  • Efficient chipset (Snapdragon 778G, 6nm)
  • Samsung’s One UI software experience

  • Slower processor compared to the K40
  • Slower charging speed (25W)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 800 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. While the Redmi K40’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, Xiaomi typically utilizes high-quality AMOLED panels. The A52s 5G’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a true black level characteristic of OLED technology. The lack of detailed display specs for the K40 makes a direct comparison difficult, but the A52s 5G’s brightness advantage is a significant point for outdoor usability.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, known for vibrant and shareable photos. Without specific sensor size or aperture details for the K40, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device is unknown, but would be a significant advantage for video recording and low-light photography. The A52s 5G’s camera system is likely tuned for a wider audience, while the K40 may offer more manual control options.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Redmi K40 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), while the A52s 5G utilizes the Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). The 870, with its Kryo 585 cores clocked up to 3.2 GHz, offers a substantial performance uplift over the 778G’s Cortex-A78 cores peaking at 2.4 GHz. The 7nm process of the 870 is less efficient than the 6nm process of the 778G, potentially leading to higher temperatures under sustained load. However, the architectural advantage of the 870 generally translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and higher frame rates in demanding games. The K40’s superior CPU and GPU will benefit users engaged in resource-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

Both the Redmi K40 and Galaxy A52s 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the K40’s 33W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC3 support) is faster than the A52s 5G’s 25W charging. The K40 can reach 100% charge in approximately 52 minutes, while the A52s 5G will take longer. This faster charging speed provides a convenience advantage for K40 users, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K40 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, or future-proofing. Its Snapdragon 870 will handle intensive tasks with ease. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you prefer a more balanced experience with excellent battery life, a bright and vibrant display, and Samsung’s One UI software ecosystem. It’s the better choice for everyday use and media consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 870 in the Redmi K40 get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 870 is a powerful chip, and while it's generally well-managed, it can generate heat during prolonged gaming. The Redmi K40's thermal solution will play a crucial role, but users may experience some throttling after extended periods of intense gameplay. The 6nm Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G is inherently more thermally efficient.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Galaxy A52s 5G slow compared to other phones in this price range?
While 25W isn't the fastest charging available, it's still respectable and will fully charge the A52s 5G in a reasonable timeframe. The Redmi K40’s 33W charging is faster, but the A52s 5G’s comparable battery life mitigates the charging speed difference for most users.
❓ Will the Redmi K40 run graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 870 is capable of running Genshin Impact at high settings, though you may need to adjust some settings for optimal frame rates and thermal management. The Adreno 660 GPU provides a significant performance boost over the Adreno 642L in the A52s 5G.