Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The ZTE Blade A52 and Huawei P30 Lite are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei P30 Lite emerges as the clear winner. While the ZTE Blade A52 is a budget option, the P30 Lite boasts a significantly more powerful chipset, better camera capabilities, faster charging, and a superior overall user experience, justifying its slightly higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Europe, Canada |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 20, 38 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 66 - Canada |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June 10 | 2019, March 27. Released 2019, April 25 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 10 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 168 x 77.5 x 9.4 mm (6.61 x 3.05 x 0.37 in) | 152.9 x 72.7 x 7.4 mm (6.02 x 2.86 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 214 g (7.55 oz) | 159 g (5.61 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2312 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~78.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.15 inches, 93.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Kirin 710 (12 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 13 MP, AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, 17mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens
or
24 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, 17mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Panorama |
| Single | 5 MP | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm
or
32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes - MAR-L21MEA, MAR-LX1M only |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio (market dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Po 3340 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Silk Gold, Crystal Blue | Peacock Blue, Midnight Black, Pearl White |
| Models | - | MAR-LX1M, MAR-AL00, MAR-TL00, MAR-LX2, Marie-L21A, Marie-L01A, Marie-L21MEA, Marie-L22A, MAR-LX1A, MAR-LX3A, MAR-LX2J, MAR-LX1B, MAR-LX3Bm, MAR-LX3Am |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 420 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -94.4dB / Crosstalk -71.2dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 94h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1231:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 71dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 83dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 141600 (v7)
GeekBench: 5549 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Blade A52
- Extremely Affordable
- Decent Battery Life
- Lightweight Design
- Weak Performance
- Basic Camera
- Slow Charging
- Outdated Chipset
Huawei P30 lite
- Better Performance (Kirin 710)
- Improved Camera Quality
- Faster Charging (18W)
- Good Battery Life
- More Modern Design
- Slightly More Expensive
- Older Model (Potential Software Support Concerns)
Display Comparison
The Huawei P30 Lite's display, with a measured 501 nits brightness and a 1231:1 contrast ratio, offers a noticeably better viewing experience than the Blade A52. While both have similar nominal contrast ratios, the P30 Lite's brightness advantage makes it more usable outdoors. The Blade A52's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the P30 Lite.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P30 Lite's camera system is generally superior. While specific camera specs are not fully detailed for either device, the Kirin 710's image signal processor (ISP) typically delivers better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance compared to the Blade A52. The P30 Lite also often features more advanced camera features.
Performance
The Kirin 710 chipset in the Huawei P30 Lite is a significant upgrade over the Unisoc SC9863A in the ZTE Blade A52. The Kirin 710's Cortex-A73 cores provide a substantial performance boost, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface. The Blade A52's performance is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 94 hours, indicating excellent battery life. However, the Huawei P30 Lite's 18W fast charging provides a quicker top-up compared to the Blade A52's 10W charging.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade A52 is ideal for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and affordability above all else. The Huawei P30 Lite is a better choice for those seeking a more well-rounded experience with improved performance, a better camera, and longer-lasting battery life, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Blade A52 good for gaming?
No, the ZTE Blade A52's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and lag.
❓ How does the Huawei P30 Lite's software support look?
As an older model, software updates for the Huawei P30 Lite may be limited. However, it generally runs smoothly on its existing software.