The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G stands out as an improved version of the already great A52; with its performance, battery life, brilliant 120Hz AMOLED screen, and camera technology, this phone is an intriguing option.
What is the best part? The Galaxy A52s is now available on Amazon for $379, making it a more affordable option to the high-priced S21 flagship, which can often cost twice as much. I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy A52s as my primary smartphone for the past week, and this is my in-depth review.
One of the A52s 5G’s most notable qualities is its sleek and simple design, which comes in a number of appealing colors. While the eye-catching mint variant is appealing, it does have a plastic rear that may scratch easily. Fortunately, after a week of rigorous use, it still appears to be in excellent condition, despite sharing pockets with other phones and undergoing some rough treatment.
Furthermore, the lack of a pre-installed screen protector is not a worry, as the display’s Gorilla Glass 5 protection looks to be working well. I couldn’t detect a single, even minuscule scratch on the screen. What’s more, the Galaxy A52s boasts an IP67 rating, making it water and dust resistant. You can confidently give it a dunk in water or accidentally drop it in the sink without any worries. This is a feature that’s not commonly found in this mid-range price category, unlike the disappointing Sony Xperia 10 Mark III. Samsung certainly didn’t cut corners here.
Display and Audio Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A52s boasts a vibrant 6.5-inch AMOLED display, although it lacks HDR streaming support. Nevertheless, this all-LED screen delivers sharp contrast with deep blacks, and the full HD+ resolution ensures that finer details remain vivid. Similar to its more premium Samsung counterparts, the A52s 5G offers vivid and striking visuals that truly pop.
The display impressively features a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth experience across supported apps and even when navigating through your desktop. It’s as smooth as can be, and although it might take a few tries to correctly adjust your settings, it’s worth it for the enhanced visual experience.
As for outdoor visibility, during a particularly sunny week, I had ample opportunities to test the screen’s performance in bright daylight. I’m happy to report that there were no issues; the screen remained easily visible even in strong outdoor light, thanks to its peak brightness of 800 nits.
The Samsung Galaxy A52s is equipped with stereo speakers that are perfectly suitable for watching YouTube or other multimedia content. They provide clear audio, even in noisy environments where you might have family members chatting in the background. However, if you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in Dolby Atmos audio quality, connecting a pair of decent headphones to the convenient headphone jack is the way to go.
For those who prefer wireless audio, Bluetooth streaming works seamlessly on the A52s. It offers robust codec support, ensuring high-quality audio. Even in bustling locations like London Bridge during rush hour, the Bluetooth signal remained uninterrupted.
Performance and Gaming
One of the standout upgrades in the Galaxy A52s is its enhanced performance. Under the hood, it boasts the Snapdragon 778G chipset coupled with six gigabytes of RAM, and I must say, I have no major complaints. Throughout the past week, I didn’t encounter any noticeable slowdowns in day-to-day use. The only minor quibble I had was that the camera app could be a tad sluggish when switching between different modes or taking multiple shots in quick succession. However, apart from that, it handles tasks admirably well.
Gaming enthusiasts will find the A52s to be quite accommodating. Activate priority mode, and you can immerse yourself completely in your chosen game, as if you’re exploring Genshin Impact’s world. The device delivers a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience, even when set to medium detail settings. There are minimal instances of stuttering or other performance hiccups, and you won’t encounter any overheating concerns even during extended gaming sessions.
Battery life
The Galaxy A52s houses a robust 4,500 milliamp-hour battery that easily handles demanding tasks, including intensive usage, extensive camera use, prolonged media streaming, and more. Throughout my usage, I never found myself needing to activate battery saver mode, as the battery consistently held up well.
When it does come time to recharge, the A52s supports 25-watt charging. While it’s not the fastest option available, it gets the job done. It’s worth noting that a charger is included in the b
Camera
The Galaxy A52s camera technology is similar to the older A52 model, featuring a 64-megapixel primary shooter with optical image stabilization. This setup is ideal for capturing everyday family moments, indoors or outdoors, with bright, crisp, and detail-packed photos. The portrait mode adds bokeh-style background blur, avoiding blurry limbs and distractions. The camera can deliver respectable results even in low-light conditions, such as nighttime shots. Samsung’s single-take mode is fun for capturing kids and pets, while the 12-megapixel ultrawide-angle snapper performs well.
The five-megapixel macro lens is worth trying for close-ups of insects and small objects in the backyard. The rear quad-lens setup includes a basic five-megapixel depth sensor for portrait shots. Video recording can be done in 4K at 30 frames per second or full HD at 30 or 60 fps, and the camera captures audio from all directions effectively while minimizing wind and noise.
Image stabilization is decent, but low-light results tend to be grainy and less appealing. The 32-megapixel selfie camera performs well in well-lit conditions and offers the option to zoom in on your face and apply background blur for Instagram-worthy shots. However, the camera struggles in low-light situations, producing grainy and blurry photos, so it’s best to avoid using it in such conditions.
That's my final full review of the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, and I've got to say I'm really impressed. The A52s is a brilliant all-rounder; I'd say it's the perfect mid-range mobile that's worth your price if you're looking for a budget-friendly flagship phone.
