The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the ZTE Blade A52 and the Samsung Galaxy A23. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A23 is the clear winner. While the ZTE Blade A52 is a budget option, the A23 boasts a significantly more powerful processor, a brighter display, faster charging, and a generally more polished experience. The A23's superior specs justify 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 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June 10 | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 10 | Available. Released 2022, March 25 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 168 x 77.5 x 9.4 mm (6.61 x 3.05 x 0.37 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 214 g (7.55 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~78.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Triple | 13 MP, AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| 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 | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Silk Gold, Crystal Blue | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A235F, SM-A235F/DS, SM-A235F/DSN, SM-A235M, SM-A235M/DS, SM-A235N |
| Price | About 90 EUR | £ 99.00 / ₹ 14,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.48 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.36 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 130h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1241:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 273554 (v9)
GeekBench: 1632 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Blade A52
- Very affordable
- Basic functionality
- Decent build quality (assumed)
- Weak processor
- Slow charging
- Likely lower display quality
- Limited camera capabilities
- Unspecified display brightness
Samsung Galaxy A23
- Powerful processor
- Fast charging (25W)
- Bright display
- Good camera performance
- Long battery life
- Samsung brand reliability
- Slightly more expensive
- May lack some niche features
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A23 takes the display crown. Its 464 nits of brightness offer better visibility in sunlight compared to the Blade A52 (brightness data unavailable, assumed lower). Both offer a 1241:1 contrast ratio, indicating good image depth, but the A23's overall quality is superior.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A23 is expected to deliver better image quality due to its superior processing power and likely better sensor technology (specific camera specs for the Blade A52 are unavailable). Expect more detail, better dynamic range, and improved low-light performance from the A23.
Performance
The Snapdragon 680 in the Galaxy A23 is a substantial upgrade over the Unisoc SC9863A in the Blade A52. The A23's Kryo 265 cores provide significantly faster processing speeds, resulting in smoother multitasking, gaming, and app performance. The Blade A52 will likely feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an endurance rating of 130 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Galaxy A23's 25W charging is a significant advantage over the Blade A52's 10W charging, allowing for much faster top-ups.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the ZTE Blade A52? Those on the absolute tightest budget who prioritize basic functionality and a very low price point. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A23? Anyone seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with good performance, a decent camera, and a longer lifespan, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Blade A52 worth buying?
The Blade A52 is a viable option if you're on a very tight budget and only need basic smartphone functionality. However, the Samsung Galaxy A23 offers significantly better value for a slightly higher price.
❓ How does the Galaxy A23's camera compare to other phones in its price range?
The Galaxy A23's camera is competitive within its price range, offering good image quality and features. It's not a flagship camera, but it's a solid performer for everyday photography.
