The ZTE S30 and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity and a solid user experience, they diverge significantly in their core hardware, particularly in their respective Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This comparison will dissect those differences, helping you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset, built on a more efficient 6nm process, delivers noticeably better performance than the ZTE S30’s Snapdragon 720G. While the ZTE S30 offers 30W charging, the A52s 5G’s overall package provides a more refined and capable experience.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 31 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 03 | Available. Released 2021, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 76.4 x 7.9 mm (6.49 x 3.01 x 0.31 in) | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 11, MyOS 11 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Pink/Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome Mint |
| Models | 9030N | SM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528N |
| Price | About 290 EUR | £ 112.98 / € 249.47 |
| SAR | - | 0.72 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.88 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9)
GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE S30
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Potentially lower price point
- 5G connectivity
- Less powerful Snapdragon 720G chipset
- Likely lower display brightness
- Limited camera information
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
- Brighter 800 nit display
- Established Samsung camera processing
- Slower 25W wired charging
- Potentially higher price
- Similar battery endurance to ZTE S30
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 800 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a scenario where the ZTE S30’s display specifications are not provided, suggesting a likely lower peak brightness. While both displays have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for AMOLED panels), the higher brightness of the A52s 5G translates to a more vivid and engaging viewing experience. The absence of refresh rate data for the ZTE S30 further highlights the A52s 5G’s potential for smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the ZTE S30. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing pipeline. Without sensor size or aperture information for the ZTE S30, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, given the A52s 5G’s position in the market, it’s reasonable to assume a more sophisticated camera system with features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) which is common in this price range.
Performance
The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the ZTE S30’s Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The 778G features a more modern CPU architecture – a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core alongside 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores – compared to the 720G’s 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver configuration. This translates to faster application loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the A52s 5G. The 6nm process node of the 778G also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both the ZTE S30 and Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G achieve an Endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the ZTE S30 offers 30W wired charging, while the A52s 5G is limited to 25W. This suggests the S30 can potentially charge faster from 0-100%, but the A52s 5G’s more efficient chipset may offset this advantage in real-world usage, delivering comparable daily battery performance despite the lower charging wattage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE S30 if you prioritize a slightly faster charging speed and are on a very tight budget, accepting a performance compromise. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G if you value smoother multitasking, better gaming performance, and a brighter, more vibrant display, even if it means a slightly slower charging rate. The A52s 5G is the better all-rounder.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 720G in the ZTE S30 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Snapdragon 720G is a mid-range chipset and will likely require significant graphics settings reductions to achieve playable frame rates in demanding titles like Genshin Impact. The A52s 5G’s Snapdragon 778G offers a much smoother gaming experience with higher graphical fidelity.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G noticeably slower than the 30W charging on the ZTE S30?
While the ZTE S30 has a higher charging wattage, the difference in real-world charging times may not be substantial. The A52s 5G’s more efficient chipset and power management could offset the wattage difference, resulting in comparable overall charging speeds.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 778G handle multitasking compared to the Snapdragon 720G?
The Snapdragon 778G’s more modern CPU architecture and increased processing power allow for significantly smoother multitasking. You’ll experience fewer stutters and delays when switching between apps on the A52s 5G compared to the ZTE S30.
