The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they diverge significantly in chipset architecture and display technology, creating distinct strengths for different user profiles. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset, built on a more efficient 6nm process, delivers noticeably better performance and future-proofing compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G. While the Redmi Note 9 Pro boasts 30W charging, the A52s 5G’s performance advantage outweighs this difference.
| 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, 28, 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, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 30 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, May 05 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.53 x 3.02 x 0.35 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 | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | 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 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 11 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF
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@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 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 |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, 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 | 30W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Tropical Green, Glacier White, Interstellar Gray | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | M2003J6B2G | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | € 136.00 / £ 164.28 | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) | 0.72 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.66 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) | 0.88 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 123h |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1285:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.6 LUFS (Average) |
-27.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 279625 (v8)
GeekBench: 1785 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9)
GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Slightly longer battery endurance rating
- Potentially lower price point
- Less powerful Snapdragon 720G chipset
- Less advanced display technology
- Potentially slower software updates
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
- Brighter and potentially more color-accurate display
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Slower 25W wired charging
- Slightly lower battery endurance rating
- Potentially higher price point
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 800 nits. This contrasts with the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s nominal 1285:1 contrast ratio, which doesn’t specify peak brightness. The A52s 5G’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a superior AMOLED panel, likely offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. While both displays are adequate, the A52s 5G provides a more immersive and visible experience, especially outdoors. The lack of specific refresh rate data for either device means we can't compare smoothness, but the A52s 5G's panel tech is generally superior.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. However, given Samsung’s image processing expertise and the A52s 5G’s more powerful chipset, it’s likely to deliver superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The A52s 5G’s processing power allows for more sophisticated computational photography features. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the A52s 5G’s overall hardware advantage suggests a better camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The 778G features a more modern CPU configuration – a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core, 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 performance cores, and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores – compared to the 720G’s 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the A52s 5G. The 6nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro has an endurance rating of 123 hours, while the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G has 113 hours. While the Redmi Note 9 Pro has a slightly better endurance rating, the A52s 5G’s 25W charging is slower than the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s 30W charging. However, the Snapdragon 778G’s 6nm process is more power-efficient, potentially mitigating the difference in battery capacity. The faster charging of the Redmi Note 9 Pro is a benefit, but the A52s 5G’s efficiency and performance trade-off is worthwhile for many users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro if you prioritize maximizing battery endurance and are comfortable with a slightly less powerful processor for everyday tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value smoother performance for gaming and demanding applications, a brighter and potentially more color-accurate display, and the benefits of 5G connectivity. The A52s 5G is the better choice for users who want a phone that will remain responsive for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G in the A52s 5G get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 778G is built on a 6nm process, which is more efficient than the 8nm process used in the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G. This translates to better thermal management. While some heat is inevitable during prolonged gaming, the A52s 5G is less prone to significant throttling compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro, maintaining higher frame rates for longer periods.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Redmi Note 9 Pro a significant advantage over the A52s 5G’s 25W charging?
While 30W is faster than 25W, the difference in charging speed isn’t massive in real-world usage. Both phones will take around 1-1.5 hours to fully charge. The A52s 5G’s more efficient chipset and overall performance benefits arguably outweigh the slightly slower charging speed.
❓ How does the camera performance differ between these two phones in low-light conditions?
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is expected to perform better in low-light scenarios due to its more powerful image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 778G. This allows for more effective noise reduction and detail preservation in dark environments. While both phones can take photos in low light, the A52s 5G will likely produce cleaner and more detailed images.
