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MagyarSamsung Galaxy A52s 5G smartphone review: With more power in its latest version
A high-quality mid-range smartphone with 5G and good cameras? Apparently, buyers seem to like this. After all, Samsung's Galaxy A50 series has been a real hit since its introduction, if you take the number of views of our review articles or even the sales charts of major online retailers as an indication.
The Galaxy A52s is a small update to the 5G model of the Galaxy A52 that features a new SoC. While all other specifications remain the same, there are some differences, for example in terms of performance, so we'll take a look at the latest model in a new review.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85.1 % | 09/2021 | Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G SD 778G 5G, Adreno 642L | 189 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 83 % | 04/2021 | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 189 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 85.1 % | 08/2021 | OnePlus Nord 2 5G Dimensity 1200, Mali-G77 MP9 | 189 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 | |
| 85.4 % | 05/2021 | Motorola Moto G100 SD 870, Adreno 650 | 207 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2520x1080 | |
| 85.9 % | 05/2021 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G SD 780G 5G, Adreno 642 | 159 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 |
Case – Gorilla Glass 5 provides stability
Looking at the exterior of the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, we don't notice any differences compared to the predecessor. The weight and dimensions are identical, and the rear-facing cameras still protrude quite a bit from the case.
Black, purple, and white are still available as color options, but instead of the blue model, there's a slightly more subtle mint green one now. The design is still quite sleek with matte backs and a somewhat more angular look than in previous devices.
The stability of the chassis is quite satisfactory, but the smartphone creaks audibly when you try to twist it.
Nothing has changed in terms of materials either: There's Gorilla Glass 5 at the front, while the rest of the case is made of plastic that mimics a metal frame at the sides. Samsung is up to date in this respect: The OnePlus Nord 2 5G, for example, also features Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back. Therefore, the screen is well protected from shattering. The Galaxy smartphone is also protected against water and dust ingress according to the IP67 standard, so that it can also be used in rougher environments.
Connectivity – Two audio ports
Samsung offers the smartphone in two versions, both of which are available in all four color variants:
- Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G – 128 GB of storage / 6 GB of RAM: 449 Euros (~$521)
- Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G – 256 GB of storage / 8 GB of RAM: 509 Euros (~$591)
The USB-C port only offers USB 2.0 speeds. Although there's a dedicated 3.5 mm audio jack, you can also use the USB-C port for audio output. The fact that Samsung provides both options is very convenient if you want to use your wired headset without an adapter.
Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC are also part of the configuration.
microSD card reader
The microSD reader supports cards with a capacity of up to 1 TB. It's quite fast with our Angelbird V60 reference card, but not quite on par with other smartphones when it comes to read speeds.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software – Up-to-date security patches on the Samsung phone
Android 11 is preinstalled on the smartphone, and Samsung's in-house OneUI 3.1 is installed on top of it. It strongly customizes the look and shifts the controls to the lower half of the screen as much as possible, so that even users with smaller hands can use it easily.
Exemplary: The security patches are completely up to date at the time of testing. Samsung promised at least four years of security patches for many smartphones a few months ago, and the Galaxy A52s 5G currently even receives monthly updates. However, when it comes to new Android versions, Samsung has left the matter open, since it hasn't made any statements: After all, it's possible that the hardware might no longer be supported in future Android generations, according to Samsung's update website.
That doesn't sound very credible for three reasons: First of all, other manufacturers at least manage to promise one or two new Android versions. Second, smartphone components are so heavily standardized that support for a few Android generations should be guaranteed. And third, as one of the world's largest Android smartphone manufacturers, Samsung certainly has some influence here.
So we can only go by experience and assume that an update to Android 12 for a current mid-range smartphone like the Galaxy A52s 5G is pretty likely to happen. At the moment, though, no one can say for sure how things will look beyond that.
The usual Samsung apps are on board, but they duplicate some of the functions that Android already provides, such as the Google Play Store or the browser. Furthermore, you have to deal with some preinstalled advertising apps, but they can be uninstalled easily.
Communication and GNSS – Average speed
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G's name already implies that it supports fast mobile Internet, and just like with LTE, several frequencies can be used, which should usually be sufficient for traveling abroad. In our sample test, signal quality is worse than with other smartphones: While full network strength is indicated in one spot in the building, the Galaxy A52s 5G only manages half the reception.
When it comes to Wi-Fi 5, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G lags behind other mid-range smartphones. Although there is a clear advantage over the Galaxy A52 5G in terms of Wi-Fi speed, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite or the OnePlus Nord 2 are much further ahead thanks to Wi-Fi 6 support. The Wi-Fi module's reception strength is very good when it's close to the router, but only half of the reception is available at a distance of 10 meters and through three walls, and speed is clearly throttled as well.
A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and QZSS are used for positioning. Outdoors, our location is determined with an accuracy of a good 3 meters with virtually no delay. The number of satellites found is adequate.
The Galaxy A52s 5G has to prove itself once again in practice in our bike ride, which is almost 15 kilometers long. We take the Garmin Edge 520 with us as a comparison device. The difference between the two devices in terms of the distance measured is 160 meters, which corresponds to a deviation of about 1%.
The Galaxy A52s 5G seems to do quite well, and the details also show that our position is usually correct. Crossing the bridge or going through the forest didn't pose any major challenges for the smartphone's tracking module.
Therefore, we can recommend the smartphone for navigating in private areas.
Telephone and call quality – Samsung with somewhat muffled-sounding calls
Samsung uses its in-house phone app, which is more focused on the keypad than Google's standard app, but it's also very accessible after a short familiarization period.
The phone's call quality is rather average: The person on the other end sounds a bit muffled over the built-in earpiece, but reasonably loud if desired. The other person can hear what we say, even if we speak more quietly. Quality is mediocre here as well.
The person on the other end of the line sounds very high-pitched when we use the speaker and hands-free microphone, which makes it sound a bit thin, but clear. Our voice is transmitted well to the other party. However, they have to listen carefully in order to understand us when we speak more quietly.
Cameras – No hybrid zoom
The camera system hasn't changed compared to the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: You continue to take pictures mostly with a 64-megapixel lens, which usually combines every four pixels into one light-intensive image point. This results in 16-megapixel photos, but you can also use the full resolution in a special mode. Naturally, an optical image stabilizer is present, as well as a supporting lens for depth of field.
Pictures taken with the main lens are decent for the price range; the flower subject looks very bright, and dynamics are also decent in the surroundings image. However, details are washed out on closer inspection. The acceptable detail reproduction in low light is pleasing, but the lens could still be a bit better at brightening dark areas.
If you want a larger field of view, you can use the wide-angle lens. It produces decent photos in terms of color, but they're quite inaccurate in detail and also distort considerably at the edges. There's no smooth hybrid zoom between the main and ultra wide-angle lenses, and you can only directly alternate between the two. This makes the system a bit less flexible.
Videos can be recorded at a maximum of 4K and 30 fps; 60 fps is also possible in Full HD resolution. It's possible to switch between the main and wide-angle camera even while recording. The autofocus and brightness adjustment worked quite reliably, quickly, and smoothly in our test.
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.
Main camera - FlowersMain camera - SurroundingsMain camera - Low lightWide-angle lens
We evaluate the camera's imaging performance in the lab once again under fixed lighting conditions. The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G's main lens proves to be quite good in full light, as long as you don't look at the details: You get pale colors, partly blurry text, and fuzziness at the edges there.
At an illumination of 1 lux, the image content is just about recognizable, but details look washed out and areas blurry.
Accessories and warranty – Weak power adapter in the box
So, Samsung: You build a smartphone that can be charged with up to 25 watts, and then you only include a 15-watt charger? Seriously? Meanwhile, the competition proves that this can be done much better in this price range. You don't have to go as far as OnePlus' 65-watt fast charging. Xiaomi and even Motorola with its 20-watt charger in the Moto G100 provide better equipment.
And then you don't even offer a compatible charger with 25 watts in your German online store, but only one with 20 watts? Sure, the Galaxy A52s 5G also works with universal chargers. But this is all very confusing, especially for customers who aren't as technically savvy. And anyone who gets a faster charger will then have one more piece of electronic waste at home in the form of the original power adapter.
Besides the USB cable and a SIM tool, no other accessories are included in the box.
Samsung offers a 24-month warranty on its smartphones in Central Europe. The manufacturer has repair centers or even mobile repair buses in larger cities. In addition, you can easily check what repairs cost outside of warranty on Samsung's website.
Input devices and handling – The 120 Hz display provides smooth scrolling
The 120 Hz display and the accurate touchscreen make the smartphone very responsive: Delays or lags are almost nonexistent when you browse through menus. Things might look a bit different in apps, since this isn't a fixed 120 Hz rate: In order to save battery life, the display automatically detects the appropriate refresh rate and lowers it when necessary. This works quite reliably. Occasionally, we noticed micro stutters in the tests, but they're extremely rare and only visible upon closer inspection.
The only hardware buttons are found on the right side of the case, and they're dedicated to the standby and volume control functions. They protrude quite prominently from the case and are therefore easily found. Due to their very narrow shape, however, they're not that comfortable to press.
The fingerprint sensor is located under the screen, a bit too close to the bottom edge for our taste. Once you get used to it, unlocking the device is quite fast, but a slight delay is noticeable. The fingerprint sensor also engages when the screen is turned off, as long as you hit the right spot.
Unlocking the phone is also possible via facial recognition, which works quite reliably as well.
Display – Samsung smartphone with AMOLED technology
We've already seen this AMOLED display in the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: It has an expanded Full HD resolution and can get very bright when required.
Due to the technology, the individual OLEDs can be completely switched off, which theoretically allows the display to show full blacks while providing an infinitely high contrast ratio. Although this isn't 100% achievable in practice due to ambient light and stray light, you definitely get bright colors and deep blacks.
It's not surprising that the display is also certified for HDR10+.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 736 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.18 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
138.1% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.27
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.50 | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.50 | OnePlus Nord 2 5G AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.43 | Motorola Moto G100 IPS/LTPS, 2520x1080, 6.70 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -4% | -28% | -71% | -16% | |
| Brightness middle | 736 | 744 1% | 594 -19% | 562 -24% | 863 17% |
| Brightness | 751 | 749 0% | 594 -21% | 535 -29% | 860 15% |
| Brightness Distribution | 96 | 98 2% | 99 3% | 90 -6% | 93 -3% |
| Black Level * | 0.57 | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.18 | 2.2 -1% | 2.74 -26% | 3.99 -83% | 3.2 -47% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.69 | 7 -23% | 6 -5% | 9.74 -71% | 5.2 9% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.1 | 2.1 -0% | 4.2 -100% | 6.5 -210% | 3.9 -86% |
| Gamma | 2.27 97% | 2.06 107% | 2.278 97% | 2.174 101% | 2.33 94% |
| CCT | 6563 99% | 6516 100% | 7322 89% | 6882 94% | 7299 89% |
| Contrast | 986 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 231.5 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 231.5 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 231.5 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 17942 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The display does very well in our CalMAN measurements, especially in the "Natural" color mode, and there are only minor deviations in colors and grayscales. However, strong reds and greens look slightly distorted in this mode as well, so it's not quite adequate for a professional image reproduction.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 17 % 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 | ||
| 10 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 18 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.8 ms). | ||
Although you have to put up with slight darkening when you look at the display from very flat angles, it's not very noticeable in everyday use.
The bright display can also be used outdoors in sunny environments, but the reflections on it will make you want to move to a shaded area.
Performance – Even more power now
Qualcomm's rather new Snapdragon 778G is an SoC for the upper mid-range and consequently just right for our test device. This also leads to the most obvious difference compared with the Galaxy A52 5G predecessor: The significantly higher system performance. An increase of 50% in the Geekbench 5.3 multicore test says it all. The Galaxy smartphone can now compete with the remaining comparison devices as well.
When it comes to graphics, we can see that a substantial performance gain has been achieved here as well: The Adreno 642L now achieves 70% or even 80% better benchmark results compared with the Adreno 619 in the predecessor. At the same time, the remaining comparison devices offer considerably more graphics power.
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G100 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (422597 - 452805, n=5) | |
Despite its fast SoC, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G only manages a place in the midfield when browsing the Internet. In everyday use, you sometimes have to wait for images to load when scrolling.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=171, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (58.8 - 86.8, n=11) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (102.6 - 155.3, n=7) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=156, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chome 90) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (52.5 - 61.5, n=9) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Chome 93) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=121, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (93 - 131, n=10) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=209, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (23915 - 31915, n=11) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (1323 - 1893, n=11) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=171, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
* ... smaller is better
The device is no longer entirely up to date with its UFS 2.1 storage: UFS 3.0 or UFS 3.1 storage have now become standard in this price range. The speed differences are clearly evident in the benchmarks, but they will probably only be noticeable with larger data volumes in everyday use.
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | OnePlus Nord 2 5G | Motorola Moto G100 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | Average 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -1% | 77% | 53% | 19% | -25% | 69% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 951 | 927 -3% | 1827 92% | 1730 82% | 949 0% | 760 ? -20% | 1509 ? 59% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 486.5 | 484.6 0% | 1256 158% | 717 47% | 710 46% | 297 ? -39% | 1116 ? 129% |
| Random Read 4KB | 168.2 | 176.1 5% | 223.7 33% | 253.6 51% | 207.9 24% | 152.9 ? -9% | 247 ? 47% |
| Random Write 4KB | 192.5 | 179.2 -7% | 239 24% | 252.9 31% | 206.9 7% | 131.6 ? -32% | 272 ? 41% |
Games – Fast gaming on the Galaxy A52s
Gaming at the full 120 Hz is almost impossible. Performance is sufficient to be able to reach around 100 frames per second in the fast 2D shooter Armajet. At least 60 fps is still possible in PUBG Mobile when you lower the settings. The game can also be played without issues at 30 fps, but not as smoothly as at higher frame rates. Every frame that allows a reaction matters for demanding players of action games. We measured the frame rates with the tools from GameBench.
The touchscreen and the position sensor are accurate and well suited for controlling games.
Emissions – Hot contender
Temperature
We were hardly able to detect any temperature increase in the Galaxy A52 5G after prolonged load, but our review sample of the successor certainly gets hotter: We measured up to 45.4 °C (~114 °F) on the case, which is definitely noticeable and could also become uncomfortable in higher ambient temperatures.
On the other hand, performance is not affected by this: Even after a prolonged load, the Galaxy phone still performs at a similar level as at the beginning.
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G100 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.4 °C / 114 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 45.2 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.7 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G comes with stereo speakers, but the top speaker is also the earpiece. In other words, a hybrid solution. The speakers deliver a quite acceptable sound in everyday use; they don't overmodulate even at maximum volume, and they don't hit users with overemphasized highs.
We like the fact that both the 3.5 mm jack and the USB-C port can be used to connect wired headsets. However, you can't use both ports at the same time, and the USB-C port takes priority in that case. We can't determine a difference in sound.
Although the aptX codec can transmit music with a higher quality, the aptX HD codec is still missing. In return, we have LDAC, which is also a codec for high-quality audio output. When buying Bluetooth headphones, you should make sure that they support the corresponding codecs.
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 18% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 39% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
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%
Battery life – Galaxy phone with a lot of endurance
Energy consumption
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G proves to be quite frugal in terms of energy consumption with its new SoC. Only under maximum load does it require a bit more power, but that is probably also due to the fact that more system performance is available here.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  1.2 / 1.4 / 1.7 Watt |
| Load |
3.6 / 6.9 Watt |
    
| |
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G 4500 mAh | OnePlus Nord 2 5G 4500 mAh | Motorola Moto G100 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G 4250 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -1% | -13% | -23% | -11% | -21% | -10% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.2 | 0.92 23% | 0.8 33% | 0.9 25% | 0.83 31% | 1.106 ? 8% | 0.897 ? 25% |
| Idle Average * | 1.4 | 1.78 -27% | 1.2 14% | 1.5 -7% | 1.92 -37% | 2.07 ? -48% | 1.452 ? -4% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.7 | 1.81 -6% | 1.6 6% | 2.1 -24% | 1.97 -16% | 2.32 ? -36% | 1.629 ? 4% |
| Load Average * | 3.6 | 3.86 -7% | 5.7 -58% | 6.7 -86% | 3.84 -7% | 4.17 ? -16% | 5.55 ? -54% |
| Load Maximum * | 6.9 | 6.14 11% | 10.9 -58% | 8.5 -23% | 8.6 -25% | 7.81 ? -13% | 8.31 ? -20% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
The battery has a capacity of 4,500 mAh, which is on par with the competition. With its 5,000 mAh battery, the Motorola Moto G100 proves that even more is possible in this respect, but in exchange for a higher weight.
The runtimes that we measure are pretty much on par with the predecessor. There are only minor differences when watching movies, where the Galaxy A52s 5G has a slight advantage, or under load, where the predecessor manages to last a bit longer, but it also offers considerably less power. Compared with other smartphones in the price range, the Galaxy A52s ranks in the midfield in terms of battery life.
A charging time of 1:36 hours with the included charger is acceptable when you charge the device overnight. However, you should keep in mind that charging the device's battery a little bit when you don't have time for a full charge will also take comparably longer. If you use a faster charger, you can reduce the charging time to just over an hour.
| Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G 4500 mAh | OnePlus Nord 2 5G 4500 mAh | Motorola Moto G100 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G 4250 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -0% | 6% | 27% | -8% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1897 | 1917 1% | 1926 2% | 2846 50% | 1509 -20% |
| H.264 | 1109 | 1052 -5% | 1126 2% | 1285 16% | 1248 13% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 721 | 710 -2% | 958 33% | 1049 45% | 734 2% |
| Load | 309 | 324 5% | 272 -12% | 302 -2% | 223 -28% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – Faster and more expensive
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy A52s 5G seem to be identical; the case, camera performance, display, speakers, and battery life are all so similar.
However, a closer look reveals a few differences: The new SoC provides much more power, especially when it comes to graphics performance and multi-core processor scenarios. At the same time, Wi-Fi is also faster.
However, you have to put up with much higher temperatures under load; the cooling system seems to be optimized for the somewhat weaker SoC in the Galaxy A52 5G. There was also a small price increase of 20 Euros (~$23) as part of the model update.
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is a slightly more expensive revision of its predecessor that provides a decent increase in performance.
Since the previous model is already sold out on Samsung's website, it's quite possible that Samsung simply couldn't acquire enough SoCs for the original Galaxy A52 5G as a result of the chip crisis and therefore decided to make a short-term model revision.
Be that as it may, the performance boost is welcome, and online, the price hike is currently hardly noticeable, if at all, depending on the retailer. The annoying weak power adapter and the somewhat less flexible camera setup continue to be weak points in the new Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G as well.
On the other hand, the bright display and the IP certification are advantages that make the Samsung smartphone an attractive choice.
You can save a few Euros with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, which also packs a lot of power and even faster charging. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is also a bit less expensive than Samsung's mid-range device, and it's a good choice for users who are looking for a slim and light mid-range device.
Price and availability
Although the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G isn't officially available in the United States at the time of writing, you can already find it on newegg in several colors and in both sotorage versions (6/128GB model for $425.99 and 8/256GB model for $489.99).
Alternatively, you can also wait for the device to become available on Amazon, for example.
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
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08/31/2022 v7
Florian Schmitt
Pricecompare
