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[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-up” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” heading_pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-down” ][i2pros]Excellent 90Hz FHD AMOLED display
IP67 protection class
Headphone connection & memory expansion
Strong night shots
Good stereo sound
[/i2pros][i2cons]No stabilized 4K recordings
Slow fingerprint sensor
Only 15 watt power supply included
Relatively weak processor[/i2cons][/i2pc]
With the Samsung Galaxy A52, the Korean manufacturer is launching a smartphone for price-conscious buyers. And fortunately, despite the relatively low price, the Samsung A52 also offers a few premium features. In particular, the 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a high refresh rate should be mentioned here. There is also a 64-megapixel quad camera, a Snapdragon processor, and an IP certification.
In addition, Samsung gives the buyer the choice between a 4G and a 5G version. If you pay around 4,990 Tk extra, you get the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G with the new mobile communications standard. In addition, the 5G version has a small processor upgrade from the Snapdragon 720G to the 750G and a display with 120Hz instead of 90Hz.
In this test, you will find out whether the Samsung Galaxy A52 is worth recommending and for whom the surcharge for the 5G version is worthwhile.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is a normal-sized smartphone with dimensions of 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm. The weight of 189g is also average. The fact that the A52 is not a premium product is immediately apparent from the device. The entire housing is made of plastic. However, this time, Samsung uses matte plastic on the back. The Samsung Galaxy A52 is therefore no longer as prone to scratches as some of its predecessors with “Glasstic” backs. Definitely a good decision!
The Galaxy A52 is available in black, white, blue, and purple. Apart from the colorful color variants, the only noticeable feature of the smartphone is the camera module on the back. This houses four cameras (+ LED flash) and protrudes about one millimeter. It also ensures that the smartphone does not lie flat on surfaces. This problem has been solved with a case, that Samsung typically does not include in the scope of delivery.
The volume controls and the power button are on the right side of the frame. The SIM slot is on the top. Either two Nano-SIM cards or one Nano-SIM and one MicroSD can be used in these for memory expansion (hybrid slot). Amazon has a suitable MicroSD.
The speaker output can be found on the underside next to a USB-C 2.0 connection and a headphone connection. It is also pleasing that the Samsung Galaxy A52 is dustproof according to the IP67 standard and protected against temporary immersion in water. This is a real specialty in the middle class.
The bezels around the display are quite wide by today’s standards (5 mm at the bottom, 4 mm at the top, and 3 mm left and right). The fingerprint sensor is located under the display. It is reasonably accurate (8/10 attempts successful) but quite slow. Face unlock is also available via the front camera. Even with the face unlock, unlocking takes a relatively long time when compared to other smartphones above 39,990 Tk.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is a no-frills, well-made smartphone. You don’t get a premium look due to the plastic case and the wide display edges, but there is a headphone jack and a hybrid slot. The slow unlocking time of the fingerprint sensor is a bit annoying. A conventional sensor on the back would have been a better choice. A rarity in this price range is the IP67 protection class.
With 6.5 inches, the Samsung Galaxy A52 offers the usual display size. The resolution is 2400 x 1080 pixels, i.e., full HD. With a high pixel density of 407 pixels per inch, individual pixels are no longer visible, and the image is perfectly sharp. As you know and love Samsung, a display with AMOLED technology is, of course, used. The display lies flat in the housing. Most users should be happy to do without the curved edges of the more expensive Galaxy smartphones.
A special feature is the increased refresh rate of 90Hz or 120Hz in the 5G version. The increased hertz number means that the screen content is refreshed more often compared to a normal 60Hz panel. This ensures a smoother representation of movements on the display. Whether you should use the 90Hz or 120Hz version is an individual decision. My “field studies” have shown that most people don’t notice a difference between 90Hz and 120Hz. I personally would prefer a 120Hz panel though, although I don’t see a huge difference.
Of course, the refresh rate can also be reduced to 60Hz to save battery life. Displaying at 120Hz or 90Hz is not adaptive. So there is no downward adjustment if apps do not benefit from the 90Hz. We will determine whether this puts additional strain on the battery later.
The display of the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is extremely bright at 1275 lux and can be easily read outdoors. HRD10 is also supported and, of course, Widevine L1 is also present. Nothing stands in the way of full-resolution streaming from pay-to-watch providers such as Netflix. The “Vivid” mode with strong AMOLED colors and the “Natural” mode with neutral sRGB color reproduction is available for color reproduction.
In addition, the white balance and the RGB weighting can be set manually. On the software side, there is also a dark and reading mode and many setting options for the always-on display. You can also choose between configurable on-screen buttons and swipe gestures when it comes to operation.
Samsung does not save on the display of the Galaxy A52. A radiantly bright and liquid AMOLED panel is used, which is really fun to use. Most users should be satisfied with the 90Hz of the 4G version. If you want something more, you can get it with the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.
The 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy A52 has a Snapdragon 720G processor. In the more expensive 5G version, on the other hand, a Snapdragon 750G processor is used. Both processors are manufactured using the 8-nanometer manufacturing process and work with the same energy-saving cluster (6 x ARM Cortex-A55 with 1.8 GHz). There is a difference in the performance cluster. Two ARM Cortex-A76 cores with 2.3 GHz are used in the Snapdragon 720G and two ARM Cortex-A77 with 2.2 GHz in the 750G.
The graphics performance in the Snapdragon 750G is provided by an Adreno 619 GPU, while the performance in the 720G is provided by an Adreno 618 GPU. The performance difference between the two processors is not immense. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G delivers about 20% more performance.
Most of our readers should already know the Snapdragon 720G from the Redmi Note 9S or 9 Pro and the 750G from the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G. Both smartphones are significantly cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy A52 (5G). Most people should be aware by now that you almost always get a little less computing power from Samsung.
The performance of the system and apps is sufficient for smooth use. There is a bit of latency every now and then, and in demanding games like PUBG, the details have to be reduced. Overall performance is adequate but not up to par with the competition. A Poco F3, for example, costs less and has twice the performance of the Galaxy A52. This difference is also clearly noticeable in everyday use.
There is either 6/128GB or 8/256GB of storage. The RAM reaches a speed of 20 GB/s. The system memory manages 500 MB/s in reading and 266 MB/s in writing. It is definitely fast UFS storage. However, Samsung does not specify a version number for the memory.
Neither the Samsung Galaxy A52 nor the A52 5G is a really fast smartphone. Compared to the competition, the devices are quite weak. However, the performance is sufficient for smooth use of the system and casual gaming.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 runs on Android 11 with One UI 3.1. Samsung promises to supply the smartphone with three new Android Basic updates, theoretically up to Android 14. This is definitely an announcement for a mid-range smartphone that the competition can only dream of.
Otherwise, the Galaxy A52 runs with the OneUI 3.1 interface without any dropouts or bugs. I couldn’t see any difference from One UI 3.0. The system otherwise offers numerous setting options and themes. From the app icons to the lock screen and the home screen layout, everything can be adjusted to your own preferences. Samsung also offers clear setting options for managing notifications and app access rights. A gaming center is also available, although the Galaxy A52 will probably not be the first choice for gamers.
Overall, the Galaxy A52 5G has the same functionality in terms of software as the more expensive Samsung models. The design of OneUI is, of course, a matter of taste. In terms of settings, however, the system leaves nothing to be desired.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 has the following cameras:
Main camera: 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.7X”, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
Ultra-wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 1.12µm# Macro: 5MP, f/2.4
Bokeh: 5MP, f/2.4
Selfie: 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm, 1/2.8″, 0.8µm
As far as the sensors are concerned, Samsung is once again silent. A comparison of the hardware suggests that the same main and ultra wide-angle cameras are used as in the Galaxy M51. This would mean that the main camera is a Sony IMX 682 sensor and the ultra-wide angle is a Samsung S5K3L6 sensor. The same applies to the selfie camera, although the Galaxy M51 has a larger aperture. However, this is pure speculation.
Ultimately, we do not know which sensors are used. But why Samsung keeps such a secret about its hardware is not clear to us. In any case, it is pleasing that the main camera is supported by an optical image stabilizer. This stabilization is beneficial for night shots and is another unique selling point of the A52 in the middle class.
As far as the sensors are concerned, Samsung is once again silent. A comparison of the hardware suggests that the same main and ultra wide-angle cameras are used as in the Galaxy M51. This would mean that the main camera is a Sony IMX 682 sensor and the ultra-wide angle is a Samsung S5K3L6 sensor. The same applies to the selfie camera, although the Galaxy M51 has a larger aperture. However, this is pure speculation.
Ultimately, we do not know which sensors are used. But why Samsung keeps such a secret about its hardware is not clear to us. In any case, it is pleasing that the main camera is supported by an optical image stabilizer. This stabilization is beneficial for night shots and another unique selling point of the A52 in the middle class.
By the way, if you want to know how the Samsung Galaxy A52 fares in comparison to the competition, take a look at our camera comparisons:
In daylight, the Samsung Galaxy A52 takes very strong photos with lots of details. The dynamics are also excellent for a smartphone in this price range. The color representation is typically very strong for Samsung and overshoots the mark a bit: Even without the AI mode, the colors often appear a bit oversaturated. The sky is just a little too blue and the grass a little too green, if you know what I mean. Apart from that, the images show some image noise on closer inspection, but not to a disturbing degree.
Overall, the photos taken in a daylight show the typical Samsung result. Quite far from reality, but very crisp and with good dynamics.
Compared to the main camera, the images from the UWW camera are actually a bit closer to reality, although everything is displayed a bit too warm here too. Details are average and the edge distortion correction does a decent job. The recordings are adequate for the price.
By the way, a comparison between the main camera and the ultra-wide angle shows how violently Samsung changes the colors:
The night shots of the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G are above average for a smartphone at around 39,990 Tk. The OIS stabilization of the main camera probably also helps here. The images show a good amount of detail and can still handle deep darkness surprisingly well. Image noise is also present, but at an acceptable level for a mid-range smartphone. Good dynamics can also be attributed to the pictures. The integrated night mode is quite hidden in the camera menu but brings better quality in most situations. For artificial long-term exposure, the image detail is reduced somewhat. The recordings get more detailed and have higher contrast.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 also does a pretty good job with portrait shots. The edge detection is relatively reliable, although there are occasional small errors at the transitions. The color representation is pleasantly natural. an average result.
In practice, the 5-megapixel macro camera is not that bad. With a distance of about 3 centimeters to the object, interesting close-ups can be taken that actually reveal more than the naked eye can see. Due to the high magnification, it usually takes 3 or 4 exposures before you get an image with the right focus.
The Galaxy A52 has a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Since it is a quad Bayer sensor, the sensor produces 8-megapixel images. In the camera app, selfies are always set to a small frame but can be expanded to a larger angle. The image size then strangely increases to 12 megapixels. There is probably an interpolation going on here.
The selfie shots of the 32-megapixel camera have a natural color representation. Despite the high number of megapixels, the details are only average. In addition, the images have a slight noise. The quality is still good for a mid-range smartphone.
Videos are only supported up to Full HD resolution with 30FPS through electronic image stabilization. Recordings in 4K or in Full HD with 60FPS are only stabilized by the OIS, which is only sufficient for a smooth recording when standing. After all, it is possible to switch between the UWW and the main camera during the 1080p 30FPS recordings. This is an exceptional feature in this price range. Apart from that, the videos from the main camera have very strong colors and good dynamics. The same can be said about the UWW camera, although there is significantly less detail here and there is visible image noise. At least it is pleasing that the videos are stabilized via the selfie camera.
In fact, the smartphone cannot be used for high-resolution videos since 4K recordings are not stabilized. This is actually standard in this price range. If you are satisfied with Full HD resolution, you will get usable video quality.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is a dual-SIM smartphone. The cell phone can accept two SIM cards at the same time. Alternatively, you have the option of using a SIM slot to expand the memory. The following LTE bands are supported:
4G: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 66
With the 5G version, you also get the following 5G bands:
5G: n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n78
The network in Bangladesh and Asia is therefore covered, and VoLTE and VoWifi are also supported. The reception strength was good in the test. Bluetooth 5.0 and Wifi 5 (.ac) are available for use. Both are not the latest standards, but there are no real disadvantages in everyday use. Here, too, the reception was average. In addition to brightness, proximity, and acceleration, the sensors also include a gyroscope and an e-compass. Thanks to the 3.5mm headphone connection, there is also an FM radio and NFC for contactless payment is also included.
The GPS reception was sufficiently strong in the test and determined the location within a few seconds with an accuracy of 3 meters with the support of GPS, Glonass, Beidou, and Galileo satellites. The Samsung Galaxy A52 does not support dual GPS.
The speaker on the bottom is supported by the ear cup, allowing you to get hybrid stereo sound from the A52. The volume is high, and there is also a hint of bass.
The battery of the Samsung Galaxy A52 has a capacity of 4500mAh. That’s the average capacity for a smartphone of this size. In our test, the smartphone achieved a good average runtime of 2 days, with an average of around 6-7 hours with the display switched on. When watching a one-hour YouTube video, consumption is 7% per hour, and when gaming on Asphalt 8, consumption is 13% per hour, both measured at medium brightness (200 lux). This is a good, albeit not spectacular, value, which is also reflected in the PC-Mark battery test.
The consumption at 60Hz compared to 90Hz is negligibly lower. Depending on the application, about 20% more runtime can be squeezed out. Since the running time of the Samsung Galaxy A52 is always easy enough for a day, it is actually not necessary to reduce the hertz rate to 60.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 is charged at up to 25 watts. While Apple protects the environment and omits the power supply, Samsung is only easy on the wallet and includes a weaker power supply with 15 watts in the scope of delivery. However, the Samsung Galaxy A52 is compatible with power delivery and can be charged at full speed with a wide range of third-party chargers.
The charging speed with a 25-watt power delivery power pack is 1.5 hours. If you use the 15-watt power supply included in the scope of delivery, the charging process takes 2 hours and 7 minutes. So there isn’t a big difference here, even if it’s a shame that Samsung is stingy with accessories. At least you are not tied to Samsung with the power delivery standard if you want to use a powerful power supply.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 achieved a solid result in our test. The AMOLED display in particular delivers a flawless picture and is pleasantly smooth thanks to the 90/120Hz display. The camera also achieves good results, especially when shooting at night. And finally, the smartphone offers a well-rounded equipment package with a headphone connection, IP67 protection class, memory expansion, and NFC. However, the Galaxy A52 cannot remain entirely without criticism: stabilized 4K recordings should be part of the standard repertoire in this price range. In addition, the smartphone simply does not feel particularly high-quality in the hand. In addition, the color reproduction of the main camera is anything but natural.
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy A52 is a good mid-range smartphone with a strong price-performance ratio. We can therefore give a purchase recommendation without any problems. Even when compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the Poco F3, the Samsung A52 doesn’t have to hide. Hardly any manufacturer can do that these days. It cannot compete with Xiaomi in terms of processor or workmanship. In return, it offers unique selling points such as IP certification and optical image stabilization. Anyone who attaches particular importance to this will get the right device with the A52.
