Samsung Galaxy A02 vs Samsung Galaxy A52 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date January 27, 2021 March 26, 2021
Release Year 2021 2021

Physical

Volume 113.27 cm³ 100.87 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.16 "/g 3.44 "/g
Weight 206 g 189 g
Height 164 mm 159.9 mm
Width 75.9 mm 75.1 mm
Thickness 9.1 mm 8.4 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Awesome Black
  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Blue
  • Awesome Violet

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.5 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.9 % 84.9 %
Pixel Density 270 PPI 407 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 90 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A 800 nits
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 106.51 mAh/in²
Battery Density 44.14 mAh/cm³ 44.61 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 4500 mAh
NFC Support No Yes
Chipset Mediatek MT6739W (28 nm) Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
CPU Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
GPU PowerVR GE8100 Adreno 618

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features microUSB 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 10 11
Maximum OS Version 11 14

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A02Samsung Galaxy A52Practical Impact
Dimensions164 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mmA52 is slightly smaller and thinner, potentially more comfortable in hand and pocket.
Weight206g189gA52 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and reduces hand fatigue.
Build MaterialNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedNo information provided, unable to assess build quality differences, but the A52 has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 which is great

Display

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A02Samsung Galaxy A52Practical Impact
Size6.5"6.5"Both have the same screen size, but A52 provides a much better viewing experience due to the other display specs.
Resolution720 x 16001080 x 2400A52 has a much sharper display with finer details, making text and images clearer.
Pixel Density270 PPI407 PPIA52 provides much sharper visuals due to higher pixel density, with less noticeable pixelation, better for reading and viewing media.
TechnologyPLS LCDAMOLEDA52 offers deeper blacks, higher contrast, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency for dark themes, leading to a better overall viewing experience and potentially better battery life using dark mode.
Refresh Rate60Hz90HzA52 has slightly smoother scrolling and animations which makes the phone feel more responsive.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsBoth phones don't have a peak brightness rating, so cannot assess, this is odd so it is likely the comparison is unable to find this information

Performance

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A02Samsung Galaxy A52Practical Impact
ChipsetMediatek MT6739W (28 nm)Qualcomm SD 720G (8 nm)A52's chipset is significantly more powerful and efficient, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, better gaming and better battery efficiency.
AnTuTu Score50,774341,212A52 provides a much smoother and faster experience across all tasks, noticeably better for demanding apps and gaming.
GPUPowerVR GE8100Adreno 618A52's GPU offers better graphics performance for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.

Camera

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A02Samsung Galaxy A52Practical Impact
Standard Camera13MP, f/1.9, 1.12 µm pixels64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7" sensor, 0.80 µm pixelsA52 captures much more detailed photos with better low-light performance thanks to the larger sensor and higher resolution.
Selfie Camera5MP, f/2.032MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor, 0.80 µm pixelsA52 offers much higher-resolution selfies with more detail and potentially better low-light performance.
Wide Angle LensNone12MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixelsA52 has a wide angle lens allowing for more creative composition of photos by capturing a wider area
Portrait Mode (Depth) LensNone5MP, f/2.4, 1.12 µm pixelsA52 can capture portrait shots with a depth effect, blurring the background for a professional look.
Macro Lens2MP, f/2.45MP, f/2.4, 1.12 µm pixelsA52 has a better macro lens for close up photos.
Video Recording1080p@30fps; No EIS; No Slow-motion4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@30/60fps with EIS; Yes Slow-motion at 120fpsA52 offers much higher video resolution with stabilization and slow motion options which makes it much better for capturing videos.
Camera FeaturesBasic FeaturesDigital zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night ModeA52 offers more versatile camera features like OIS, 4k, Ultra Stable video, which improves photo quality and reduces blur, especially in low light.

Battery

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A02Samsung Galaxy A52Practical Impact
Capacity5000mAh4500mAhA02 has a slightly larger battery which might provide longer battery life. This difference isn't huge due to A52 efficiency.
Charging7.5W25WA52 charges significantly faster reducing the waiting time to fully charge up the phone.
Battery FeaturesNon-removableNon-removable, QC2.0, AFCA52 offers fast charging technologies, for reduced time charging the phone.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy A02 Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: 500mAh bigger battery, potentially offering a longer battery life.

  • Price: Likely more affordable, appealing to budget-conscious buyers.

Samsung Galaxy A52 Advantages:

  • Superior Display: AMOLED with higher resolution, pixel density, and refresh rate, leading to a much better viewing experience.
  • Much Better Performance: Significantly faster chipset, better gaming, and smoother multitasking due to much higher AnTuTu scores
  • Advanced Camera System: Higher resolution sensors, wide-angle, macro and portrait lenses, and 4k video capabilities, producing significantly better photos and videos.
  • Faster Charging: Supports much faster 25W charging, which saves charging time.
  • Better Connectivity: Supports faster Wi-Fi standards and a newer version of Bluetooth.
  • Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 offers better screen protection.
  • More RAM and Storage: More RAM for smoother multi-tasking and more internal storage for user files.
  • Additional Features: Fingerprint sensor, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic sensors.

Trade-offs:

  • The A02 has a slightly larger battery, but the A52's chipset is more efficient so may lead to the A52 having similar battery life.
  • The A02 is likely more affordable, but A52 offers vastly superior value.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy A02 Ideal User:

  • Budget-Conscious: Users who need a basic phone and prioritize affordability above all else.
  • Light Users: Those who mainly use their phone for calls, texts, and basic social media browsing.
  • Users with basic needs Users who are less concerned with having a high-quality camera.

Specific Use Cases:

  • A secondary phone for basic tasks, a phone for seniors with minimal tech needs.
  • A phone for children or teens that do not need high performance or a high-quality camera.
  • Users who may be rough with their phones and not want an expensive device that they could easily damage.

Samsung Galaxy A52 Ideal User:

  • Multimedia Consumers: Users who watch videos, browse social media, and play games frequently.
  • Photography Enthusiasts: Those who want a good camera system with high-resolution photos and good video recording capabilities.
  • Performance-Oriented: Users who need a phone that can handle multitasking, gaming and demanding apps without lagging.
  • Users Who value build quality and long-term durability
  • Users who want a modern user experience: The A52 runs a modern version of android with many features.

Specific Use Cases:

  • A primary phone for daily use, social media, entertainment, and photography.
  • A phone for professionals who need a reliable device for work tasks, taking high quality photos and accessing apps.
  • Gaming on a mobile device with a smooth and responsive experience.
  • Students who want to stream media content, play games and take pictures.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions to Consider:

  1. What is your budget? If you are very price-sensitive, the A02 may be your only option, however the A52 offers far more performance for not too much more.
  2. How important is display quality to you? If you consume a lot of content, the A52's display is a significant upgrade over the A02.
  3. What type of usage will this phone primarily be for? If it's for basic tasks, the A02 may be sufficient, but if you need performance, camera quality or want to play games, the A52 is much better.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Bare Minimum Use: If you need a phone for basic calls, texts, and occasionally browsing, and you're on an extremely tight budget, the A02 may be acceptable.

  • Scenario 2: Daily Media Consumption & Photos: If you frequently watch videos, use social media, and want a decent camera, the A52 offers a much better experience.

  • Scenario 3: Gaming & Multitasking: If you play games and need a smooth experience, the A52 is the far better choice.

  • Scenario 4: Value and Long Term Durability: If you want a good overall experience and a phone that is likely to last you a while, the A52 is much better due to it having better build quality and newer software.

Final Recommendation:

If I had to choose between the two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy A52 without hesitation. While the A02 is cheaper and may appeal to users with an extremely tight budget, the A52 offers a vastly superior user experience across nearly every meaningful category. The better display, much better performance, higher quality camera, faster charging, and more features all make the A52 the easy choice for almost every user. It offers a good balance of features and performance, making it the better value overall despite the higher price tag. The A02 would only be recommended for users with extremely basic needs and an extremely limited budget.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

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  • Mobile technology analysis
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.