ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders

The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly crowded mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at accessible price points, they take different approaches to chipset selection and feature prioritization. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offers the best overall value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing display quality and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G emerges as the stronger choice. However, the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G offers a competitive chipset and potentially lower price, making it attractive for budget-conscious consumers focused on raw performance.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 -
Launch
Announced2020, November 30. Released 2021, January 042021, March 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, March 19
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back
Dimensions159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 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
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLEDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 619
OSAndroid 10, MiFavor 10Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens64 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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio (market/region dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC425W wired, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlueAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
Models-SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1
PriceAbout 350 EUR$ 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)

ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Snapdragon 765G offers strong processing power
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower 18W charging
  • Display specs are less detailed, suggesting lower quality
  • Less refined software experience (likely)

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

  • Brighter and higher quality display (787 nits)
  • Faster 25W charging with 30-minute 50% boost
  • More polished software experience

  • Snapdragon 750G is slightly less powerful than 765G
  • Potentially higher price
  • Similar battery life despite slower chipset

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 787 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G. This higher peak brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays share an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the A52 5G’s superior brightness is a clear advantage. The lack of detailed display specs for the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G suggests a more basic panel, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the camera experience is likely to be a key differentiator. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. Samsung generally excels in image processing, offering vibrant and shareable photos. The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G may rely more on software enhancements to compensate for potentially less advanced hardware. The absence of details regarding Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device suggests a reliance on digital stabilization, which can introduce artifacts in low-light conditions.

Performance

Both phones utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, but differ in their generation and model. The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G features the Snapdragon 765G (7nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G uses the Snapdragon 750G (8nm). The 8nm process of the 750G generally offers improved power efficiency, potentially leading to better battery life. The 765G’s CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) is similar to the A52 5G’s (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570, 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570), but the Kryo 570 cores in the A52 5G represent a newer architecture, potentially offering incremental performance gains. The 765G's Adreno 620 GPU is a capable performer, but the 750G's Adreno 619 is likely to be slightly less powerful.

Battery Life

Both the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G achieve an endurance rating of 111 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G benefits from 25W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes, while the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G is limited to 18W charging with QC4 support. This faster charging speed provides a significant convenience advantage for A52 5G users.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G if you need a phone that prioritizes raw processing power for demanding tasks and potentially offers significant cost savings. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prefer a brighter, more vibrant display, a more polished user experience, and faster charging capabilities, even if it means a slightly less powerful chipset.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 750G in the Galaxy A52 5G struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
While not a flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 750G is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty at medium to high settings. Expect some frame drops during intense action, but the overall experience should be playable. The 8nm process helps with thermal management, reducing throttling compared to older chipsets.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G noticeably slower than the 25W charging on the Galaxy A52 5G in real-world use?
Yes, the difference is significant. The Galaxy A52 5G's 25W charging can add approximately 50% charge in 30 minutes. The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G's 18W charging will take considerably longer to achieve the same level of charge, potentially over an hour.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G?
Samsung's One UI is a mature and feature-rich software experience, offering a polished interface and regular updates. ZTE's software is typically more basic, with fewer pre-installed apps and a less refined user interface. Samsung generally provides longer software support.