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MagyarSamsung Galaxy A52 5G Smartphone Review - Another chapter in a success story
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G was introduced alongside the Galaxy A52 LTE und A72 LTE. Out of the three aforementioned smartphones, it is the only one that supports the latest mobile communications standard, as its name suggests.
Unlike the Galaxy A32 5G, the Galaxy A52 5G does not have any disadvantages when compared to the LTE model. As a matter of fact, it packs a screen with a higher refresh rate when compared to its 4G counterpart. The A52 5G costs 80 Euros (~$97) more than, but it offers these two additional features. In our opinion, this is a very fair trade.
When compared to last year’s model Galaxy A51, a lot of changes have been made. For instance, A52 models no longer use Samsung’s proprietary SoCs and instead rely on Qualcomm’s SoCs. The amount of RAM has been increased, the storage speeds have been improved, the battery capacity has been expanded and the resolution of the main camera has been bumped from 48 MP to 64 MP. In addition, the A52 has an IP67 certification and a new UWB chip.
Likely Competitors
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 % | 04/2021 | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 189 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 79.8 % | 01/2020 | Samsung Galaxy A51 Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3 | 172 g | 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 81.8 % | 10/2020 | Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC SD 732G, Adreno 618 | 215 g | 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | |
| 83.8 % | 11/2020 | Google Pixel 4a 5G SD 765G, Adreno 620 | 168 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.20" | 2340x1080 | |
| 82.5 % | 03/2021 | Oppo Find X3 Lite SD 765G, Adreno 620 | 172 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 |
Case - Galaxy A52 5G with Gorilla Glass 3 and an IP67 certification
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is thicker and heavier than its predecessor, because it has a bigger battery. With the 1.55-mm (0.06″) camera bump, the smartphone has a thickness of 9.95 mm (0.4″). When you put it on its back, the A52 is not flush with the table.
Visually, both the 5G model and the LTE model look identical. Both models also come in the same colour schemes (Black, White, Blue and Purple). The back and the mid-frame are made of plastic. The latter mimics a metallic surface and is very susceptible to fingerprints. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and has a 0.4-mm punch-hole (0.2″) for the front-facing camera. The build quality is on a very good level. The A52 5G did not make any sounds when we tried to bend it.
Positive: The A52 comes with an IP67 certification, which means that it is both water- and dustproof.
Connectivity - A-series smartphone now with UWB
In terms of connectivity options, the Galaxy A52 5G is very similar to its predecessor. However, unlike the Galaxy A51, the Galaxy A52 comes with the UWB chip, which unlocks the full functionality of Samsung’s SmartThings platform. The USB 2.0 port supports OTG functionality and can be used to output an audio signal. The A52 also features a headphone jack and a radio tuner, for which an optional headset can serve as an antenna.
Moreover, there is a variant of the A52 5G with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space. It costs 60 Euros (~$72) more.
Card Reader
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G comes with a hybrid slot, which can take two SIM cards or one SIM card and one microSD card. However, microSD cards cannot be used as internal storage. Moreover, applications cannot be installed on an SD card.
With our reference-grade microSD card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501, the Samsung smartphone manages to achieve acceptable read and write rates. Nevertheless, transfer rates could have been a little higher.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Android 11 and One UI 3.1 for the Galaxy A52
The Galaxy A52 5G runs Android 11 with a custom launcher known as One UI 3.1. At the time of writing, the security patches were still quite recent (February, 2021). We expect security updates on a quarterly basis. If past experience is any guide, buyers of the Samsung smartphone should get two major software updates. Even the Galaxy A50 got an Android 11 update.
Thanks to wide DRM support, users can steam video in HD quality with the A52 5G. In addition to Samsung’s proprietary applications and the Galaxy Store, the Android smartphone comes with various Microsoft applications, Facebook, Netflix and Spotify. Not all of the pre-installed applications can be completely removed from the device.
Communication and Geolocation - A lot of good and mediocre GNSS performance
Both the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy A51 support the same number of LTE bands. However, the A52 5G also supports 5G (there was a 5G variant of the A51 as well). We did not encounter any cellular connectivity issues during our review.
The Wi-Fi module supports Wi-Fi 5, but does not have a MIMO antenna array, which is why data transfer rates with our reference-grade router Netgear Nighthawk AX12 are not very impressive. However, the signal stability is on a very high level.
The Galaxy A52 5G also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC.
For geolocation, the Galaxy A52 5G relies on the following global navigation satellite systems: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo. Just like its predecessor, the Galaxy A52 5G has a single-band GNSS receiver. Outdoors, the Android smartphone establishes a connection with the satellites very quickly and has a margin of error of up to 3 metres. Indoors, the A52 5G has a higher margin of error.
In order to determine how accurate our review device is when it comes to navigation, we take it with us on a bike ride. During this ride, we are also accompanied by the professional navigator Garmin Edge 500. There is a 200-metre difference between the A52 5G and the Garmin Edge 500. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the Galaxy smartphone is not particularly accurate, because there are large deviations from the path we took. Nevertheless, these deviations are still within reasonable bounds.
Telephony and Call Quality
The quality of phone calls is on a good level, as long as you hold the smartphone close to your ear. The A52 5G manages to filter out most of the background noise. However, when there are loud noises, the user starts to sound somewhat muffled and tinny. The Samsung smartphone can be used without any issues in loudspeaker mode, as long as the user is close to the device. Even one metre away from the smartphone, the voice of the user starts to sound tinny and echoey.
The Galaxy smartphone supports Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE. Howbeit, it does not support eSIM functionality.
Cameras - 64 MP and a dollop of software processing should suffice
The front-facing camera of the A52 5G has a 32-MP image sensor. In standard mode, the camera takes 8-MP selfies, due to 4-1 pixel binning. However, pixel binning can be disabled. The front-facing shooter can record 1080p video at 60 FPS and 2160p video at 30 FPS. Under good lighting conditions, photographs look very good. The photo quality is significantly worse under poor lighting conditions, though.
The main camera has a 64-MP image sensor and also uses pixel binning, which is why it produces decent photographs even in low-light conditions. In night mode, the main shooter takes even better pictures. It is also worth mentioning that the camera software brings a lot to the table. For instance, in addition to the single take feature, which was introduced alongside the S21 series, there are also various AR filters from Snapchat under the Fun tab. Unfortunately, there are not many filters, and to get more you will have to download Snapchat.
The three remaining cameras of the A52 5G are identical to the those of the predecessor. While the depth sensor and the micro lens offer only marginal benefits in day-to-day use, the ultra wide-angle shooter will certainly be used much more frequently. We were expecting to see better ultra wide-angle shots given the price tag and the 12-MP image sensor. There is just too much blurriness around the edges.
The main camera can record video at the same resolutions and frame rates as the front-facing shooter. However, the main camera supports optical image stabilisation.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Wide-angleUltra wide-angle5X zoomLow-light photography
Under controlled lighting conditions, the photographs taken with the Galaxy A52 5G appear blurry. This is why it is sometimes hard to tell objects apart. Furthermore, there is a lot of chromatic aberration around the edges.
The Samsung smartphone produces very colour-accurate images. However, the colour temperature tends to be on the warmer side.
Accessories and Warranty - Not a lot in the box, but optional Samsung Care+ warranty
Besides the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G itself, the box contains a modular 15-W charger (Type-A), a USB cable (Type-A to Type-C) a SIM card removal tool, a Quick Start Guide and warranty information. There is no headset now, and the 80-cm USB cable is rather short. The A72 comes with the faster 25-W charger.
The Galaxy A52 5G has a 2-year warranty, which can be extended with a Care+ warranty package. A 2-year package costs 79 Euros (~$95). Alternatively, users can pay for the warranty package in 4.49-Euro (~$5.4) installment over a 2-year period.
At the time of writing, Samsung offered no accessories designed specifically for the Galaxy A52. However, plenty of accessories from Samsung and other manufacturers should be released in the near future.
Input Devices and Handling - A52 with an in-display fingerprint sensor
The capacitive touchscreen reacts reliably and promptly to inputs. It has a smooth surface and can recognise up to 10 inputs at the same time. The Galaxy A52 5G comes with the pre-installed Samsung keyboard, which is usually replaced by almost everyone with Gboard.
The optical in-display fingerprint sensor unlocks the smartphone reliably, but it is not particularly fast. The face unlock works faster. However, it is less secure.
The hardware buttons, which are located on the right side, have a clear actuation point and sit firmly in their cutouts.
Furthermore, the A52 5G can be controlled via various gestures. It also offers a customisable one-handed mode and Always-on-Display functionality.
Display - Samsung smartphone with a bright Super AMOLED screen
The 6.5-inch IPS display of the A52 5G has a native resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. The predecessor model had a screen with the same resolution and size.
The screen of the A52 5G is brighter than that of its predecessor. However, with the brightness set to 100% and the light sensor enabled, the panel was not able to crack the 800-nit mark when displaying pure white. Samsung specifies a maximum brightness of 800 cd/m² for the A52 5G. In manual mode, the brightness maxes out at only 354 cd/m². In the APL50 test, we measured a maximum brightness of 1109 cd/m², which is why the A52 5G is suitable for displaying HDR content.
You can set the refresh rate either to 60 or 120 Hz. An adaptive refresh rate is not supported. The OLED panel flickers at all brightness levels. The PWM frequencies range from 231.5 Hz to 250 Hz. In eye comfort mode, the smartphone simply adjusts the colour temperature.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 98 %
Center on Battery: 744 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.2 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.06
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.50 | Samsung Galaxy A51 AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.50 | Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67 | Google Pixel 4a 5G OLED, 2340x1080, 6.20 | Oppo Find X3 Lite OLED, 2400x1080, 6.43 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -15% | -8% | 22% | -31% | |
| Brightness middle | 744 | 589 -21% | 623 -16% | 669 -10% | 569 -24% |
| Brightness | 749 | 589 -21% | 600 -20% | 671 -10% | 572 -24% |
| Brightness Distribution | 98 | 94 -4% | 93 -5% | 94 -4% | 97 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.54 | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.2 | 2.22 -1% | 1.8 18% | 1 55% | 3.2 -45% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7 | 8.24 -18% | 4.7 33% | 1.8 74% | 6 14% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.1 | 2.6 -24% | 3.3 -57% | 1.5 29% | 4.3 -105% |
| Gamma | 2.06 107% | 2.111 104% | 2.26 97% | 2.25 98% | 2.23 99% |
| CCT | 6516 100% | 6508 100% | 6712 97% | 6685 97% | 6607 98% |
| Contrast | 1154 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 250 Hz | ≤ 100 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 250 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 250 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
OLED panels can display pure black, because each pixel can be switched off completely. This is why the contrast ratio tends to infinity.
Our CalMAN analysis reveals good colour and grayscale performance in natural mode, in which the colour space is clamped to sRGB. In vivid screen mode, the colour temperature is cooler and the colour space is clamped to DCI-P3, which is wider than sRGB. With the colour temperature set to its warmest setting, the colour reproduction is as good in this mode as in natural mode.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 7 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 3.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Thanks to a high screen brightness, the OLED display of the A52 5G is legible outside even on a sunny day. However, refections make the screen harder to read.
The OLED panel offers wide viewing angles. Nevertheless, at very acute angles, users can observe colour shimmering. Moreover, when the screen is viewed at an angle, the brightness drops slightly.
Performance - Galaxy A52 with a Snapdragon SoC
The Galaxy A52 5G comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G and 6 or 8 GB of RAM. The Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU is integrated into the SoC.
In our usual suite of benchmarks, the Qualcomm SoC achieves very good results and is able to keep up with the rest of the competition. Nevertheless, we occasionally encountered stutters in daily use.
The main advantage that the competing devices with the Snapdragon 765G offer is a higher level of GPU performance, with the notable exception of the Pixel 4a 5G that features a cut-down version of the SoC.
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G | |
| Oppo Find X3 Lite | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (291387 - 334292, n=6) | |
| AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (4989 - 45392, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1043 - 139804, n=50, last 2 years) | |
In the browser benchmarks, the Galaxy A52 5G performs quite well. Here, it often takes the top spot in our comparison chart. The A52 5G provides a smooth web-surfing experience. However, heavy websites can take some time to load completely.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (40.8 - 67.5, n=7) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (Chrome 85) | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G (Chrome 86.0.4240.110) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 (Chrome 79) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G (Chrome 86.0.4240.110) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (82.1 - 94.5, n=5) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (Chrome 85) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Lite (Chrome 88.0.4324.181) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 (Chrome 79) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G (Chrome 86.0.4240.110) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (41.5 - 47.6, n=6) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (Chrome 85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 (Chrome 79) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Lite (Chrome 88.0.4324.181) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (54 - 91, n=6) | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G (Chrome 86.0.4240.110) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (Chrome 85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 (Chrome 79) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=213, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G (Chrome 86.0.4240.110) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (17730 - 21566, n=7) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (Chrome 85) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Lite (Chrome 88.0.4324.181) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 (Chrome 79) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 (Chrome 79) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Lite (Chrome 88.0.4324.181) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (Chrome 85) | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G (Chrome 86.0.4240.110) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (1897 - 2665, n=7) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=173, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
The Samsung smartphone features fast UFS 2.1 storage. When it comes to read rates, it is only beaten by the Find X3 Lite.
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Samsung Galaxy A51 | Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC | Google Pixel 4a 5G | Oppo Find X3 Lite | Average 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -47% | -44% | -13% | 1% | -24% | 72% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 927 | 496.1 -46% | 506 -45% | 945 2% | 953 3% | 760 ? -18% | 1508 ? 63% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 484.6 | 184.9 -62% | 173.1 -64% | 228.7 -53% | 466.2 -4% | 297 ? -39% | 1118 ? 131% |
| Random Read 4KB | 176.1 | 110.8 -37% | 123.4 -30% | 168.6 -4% | 194.7 11% | 152.9 ? -13% | 247 ? 40% |
| Random Write 4KB | 179.2 | 104.4 -42% | 112.6 -37% | 186.7 4% | 166 -7% | 131.6 ? -27% | 272 ? 52% |
Gaming - Perfect for casual gamers
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G features a mid-range GPU (Adreno 619) and a 120-Hz display. Unfortunately, for gamers, the GPU in the A52 5G can hit 120 FPS only in older titles.
In demanding games, users will have to reduce graphics settings to achieve stable frame rates. In PUBG Mobile with the HD preset, the A52 5G was able to maintain 30 FPS most of the time during our run of gameplay.
Both the touchscreen and the stereo speakers worked well during our gaming sessions. We use Gamebench to record frame rates.
Emissions - Stereo speakers in the Samsung smartphone
Temperature
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G does not get hot. The surface temperatures peak at 36.3 °C (97.34 °F).
In the stress test with 3DMark Wild Life, the Android smartphone did not throttle. However, in the battery test with GFXBench, the A52 5G started to throttle down even in the less demanding T-Rex section (OpenGL ES 2.0). Here, the performance fell by 19% in the 22nd and all subsequent benchmark passes. This is not a big deal, though, since the frame rate never dropped below 50 FPS. In the Manhattan section (OpenGL ES 3.1), the drop in performance occurred earlier and was harder (up to 38%), but then performance returned to its normal level.
| 3DMark - Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| Oppo Find X3 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC | |
| Google Pixel 4a 5G | |
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 35 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.3 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The stereo speakers offer a decent volume and satisfactory sound quality. However, the bass is almost completely missing and the highs sound tinny. All in all, the speakers are good enough for daily use.
You can connect a set of headphones via the 3.5-mm audio jack or the USB-C port. The former also serves as an antenna for the radio tuner and has a superb signal-to-noise ratio of 109.31 dBFS.
The A52 5G supports the following Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, and LDAC. The Galaxy A52 5G also offers a Music Share feature, which allows users to steam the same song to two devices simultaneously over Bluetooth. This can only be done using SBC codec.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 6.2% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 20% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 72% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 41% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Oppo Find X3 Lite audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.3% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Improved, but not the best
Energy Consumption
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G has a similar power draw to other smartphones with the same SoC. Only Google’s smartphone is more efficient.
The 4500-mAh battery takes 1h and 36m to fully charge with the included 15-W charger. The A52 5G also supports 25-W charging. The included charger draws only 0.0011 W from the power socket.
The A52 5G does not support wireless charging.
| Off / Standby |   0.01 / 0.1 Watt |
| Idle |  0.92 / 1.78 / 1.81 Watt |
| Load |
3.86 / 6.14 Watt |
    
| |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A51 4000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 5160 mAh | Google Pixel 4a 5G 3885 mAh | Oppo Find X3 Lite 4300 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -7% | -28% | 31% | 0% | -43% | -10% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.92 | 0.9 2% | 0.93 -1% | 0.7 24% | 0.92 -0% | 1.039 ? -13% | 0.897 ? 2% |
| Idle Average * | 1.78 | 1.7 4% | 2.47 -39% | 0.96 46% | 1.97 -11% | 2.61 ? -47% | 1.452 ? 18% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.81 | 1.8 1% | 2.51 -39% | 0.98 46% | 1.98 -9% | 2.91 ? -61% | 1.629 ? 10% |
| Load Average * | 3.86 | 5.2 -35% | 5.62 -46% | 2.95 24% | 3.33 14% | 6.16 ? -60% | 5.55 ? -44% |
| Load Maximum * | 6.14 | 6.6 -7% | 6.93 -13% | 5.2 15% | 5.77 6% | 8.34 ? -36% | 8.31 ? -35% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G did better than its predecessor in most of our battery tests, likely because it has a bigger battery.
Nevertheless, the A52 5G could not keep up with the rest of the competition in our Wi-Fi test, in which we limit the brightness to 150 cd/m² to make comparison more equal. All in all, the Samsung smartphone offers decent battery life.
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A51 4000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 5160 mAh | Google Pixel 4a 5G 3885 mAh | Oppo Find X3 Lite 4300 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -11% | 21% | 17% | 17% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1917 | 1689 -12% | 2427 27% | 2459 28% | |
| H.264 | 1052 | 846 -20% | 1188 13% | 1337 27% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 710 | 698 -2% | 1116 57% | 768 8% | 834 17% |
| Load | 324 | 289 -11% | 280 -14% | 341 5% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - The Galaxy A52 5G is an update without compromises
The Galaxy A52 5G is another device in the Galaxy A series. It comes with major improvements, such as an IP certification, which make the Galaxy smartphone more competitive in this price range. The display has also been significantly improved. Now it is brighter, more colour-accurate and supports HDR10+.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G lives up to the successes of its predecessors.
The bigger battery results in longer battery runtimes. However, it also made the smartphone a little thicker. The new main 64-MP camera still needs some work. Nevertheless, it is still more than good enough for taking casual photographs. It is a pity, though, that the A52 5G does not feature the same camera system as the Galaxy A72, because a telephoto lens is a lot more useful than a depth sensor.
In terms of geolocation, the Galaxy A52 did not do particularly well. In this price range, a dual-band GNSS module would not hurt.
Those who are looking for an upper mid-range smartphone will be satisfied with the Galaxy A52 5G, even though it does not have a thriving ecosystem of accessories yet.
Price and Availability
Currently, the Galaxy A52 5G is available at Best Buy for $449.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
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08/31/2022 v7
Daniel Schmidt
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