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 Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport edges out the ZTE Blade A52 Lite thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset (Helio G25), 10W charging, and generally better software support. While both are budget options, the Redmi 9A Sport provides a more polished and feature-rich experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 20 | 2021, September 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August | Available. Released 2021, September 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.49 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) | 164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | - | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) |
| GPU | - | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | Yes | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Green | Carbon Black, Coral Green, Metallic Blue |
| Price | - | About 100 EUR |
ZTE Blade A52 Lite
- Affordable
- Decent battery life
- Simple and easy to use
- Underpowered processor
- Slow charging
- Basic camera
Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport
- Better performance (Helio G25)
- 10W charging
- Slightly better software support
- Good battery life
- Still a budget phone with limitations
- Camera is adequate, not exceptional
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.53-inch HD+ display, offering decent viewing angles for their price range. Color accuracy and brightness are typical for budget devices, so don't expect vibrant visuals. The Redmi 9A Sport might have slightly better color reproduction due to Xiaomi's generally more refined display calibration.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi 9A Sport typically features a 13MP main camera with a depth sensor, while the Blade A52 Lite has a similar setup. Image quality is comparable in good lighting conditions, but the Redmi 9A Sport's software processing might offer slightly better results. Low-light performance will be weak on both.
Performance
The Redmi 9A Sport's Mediatek Helio G25 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the ZTE Blade A52 Lite's generic octa-core processor. Expect smoother multitasking and slightly better gaming performance on the Redmi 9A Sport. Both phones will struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
Both phones pack a 5000mAh battery, promising all-day battery life. However, the Redmi 9A Sport's inclusion of 10W wired charging gives it an edge in charging speed compared to the Blade A52 Lite, which likely lacks fast charging.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade A52 Lite is a good choice for users prioritizing a simple, straightforward phone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media. The Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport is ideal for those needing a bit more performance for casual gaming, multitasking, and appreciate faster charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport is better for gaming due to its more powerful Helio G25 chipset. However, don't expect high-end gaming performance from either phone.
❓ Does the ZTE Blade A52 Lite support fast charging?
It's unlikely the ZTE Blade A52 Lite supports fast charging. The Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport includes 10W wired charging.
