The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the ZTE Blade A52 Lite and the Infinix Hot 30i. Both promise a lot for their price point, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Infinix Hot 30i edges out the ZTE Blade A52 Lite thanks to its more powerful chipset (Unisoc T606), faster charging (18W), and generally more robust feature set. While the Blade A52 Lite is a decent option, the Hot 30i provides a noticeable performance boost and better charging convenience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 20 | 2023, March 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August | Available. Released 2023, March 31 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.49 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) | 164 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | - | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-G57 MP1 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 12, XOS 10.6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF
0.08 MP, (depth) |
| Features | LED flash | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/3.07", AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.94" |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (Hot 30i NFC only) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | Yes | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Green | Mirror Black, Glacier Blue, Diamond White, Marigold |
| Models | - | X669, X669D |
ZTE Blade A52 Lite
- Potentially lower price
- Simple and straightforward interface
- Decent battery life
- Lower performance
- Slower charging
- Generic chipset
- Limited features
Infinix Hot 30i
- Better performance (Unisoc T606)
- Faster 18W charging
- Potentially higher refresh rate display
- More features
- May be slightly more expensive
- Infinix's UI can be polarizing
- Camera quality is still limited
Display Comparison
Both phones likely feature similar LCD displays, probably around 6.5-6.6 inches with HD+ resolution. Expect decent viewing angles but limited color accuracy. The Infinix Hot 30i might have a slightly higher refresh rate (90Hz vs. standard 60Hz on the Blade A52 Lite), leading to smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs are likely comparable, with both phones featuring a primary 50MP camera and a few secondary lenses (depth sensor, macro). Image quality will depend heavily on software processing. The Infinix Hot 30i might have slightly better image processing algorithms, resulting in marginally better photos in certain conditions. Expect decent daytime shots but struggles in low light on both devices.
Performance
This is where the Infinix Hot 30i shines. The Unisoc T606 chipset, with its Cortex-A75 cores, offers a significant performance advantage over the generic 'Octa-core' CPU in the Blade A52 Lite. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Hot 30i. The Blade A52 Lite will likely struggle with more demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones likely pack a 5000mAh battery, offering all-day battery life under moderate usage. However, the Infinix Hot 30i's 18W fast charging provides a significant advantage, allowing for quicker top-ups compared to the Blade A52 Lite's likely slower charging speed (potentially 10W or less).
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade A52 Lite is a good choice for users prioritizing a simple, straightforward smartphone experience with basic functionality and a potentially lower price. The Infinix Hot 30i is ideal for users who want a smoother performance, faster charging, and a slightly more feature-rich device, even within the budget category.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What operating system do these phones use?
Both phones likely run Android 13 with their respective manufacturer's custom UI (ZTE's MyOS and Infinix's XOS).
❓ How much RAM and storage do these phones offer?
Typically, these budget phones come with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage, expandable via microSD card.
