1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller and thinner, potentially feeling more modern and sleek. A52 5G is slightly wider, but the difference is negligible. The A52 is slightly more bulky due to the added thickness and results in a larger volume. |
| Weight | 189g | 183g | Honor 90 is slightly lighter, which might be more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Honor 90 has a slightly larger display for more immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with more detail, noticeably clearer for text, images, and videos. |
| PPI | 407 | 435 | Honor 90 has slightly higher pixel density, leading to slightly sharper image quality. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; similar viewing experiences. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations; similar visual experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is dramatically brighter, much better visibility in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | Honor 90 has a newer and more efficient chip, leading to much faster performance and better power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 384,853 | 701,227 | Honor 90 offers significantly better performance in apps, games, and multitasking; noticeable speed difference. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90's GPU provides better graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7" sensor | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4" sensor | Honor 90's main camera captures significantly more detail and has a larger sensor, resulting in superior low-light performance and more dynamic range, and wider aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 90's selfie camera captures more detailed photos, with slightly less impressive light capture due to the narrower aperture. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.2 | None | Samsung A52 5G offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for more versatile photography. |
| Portrait Mode | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Samsung A52 5G has higher resolution for portrait mode, though the practical difference may not be significant. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung A52 5G offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 12MP, f/2.2 | Honor 90 offers an ultrawide lens with a macro feature, providing some level of versatility. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Both can record up to 4K, both have EIS for stabilization. A52 5G has better overall video stabilization |
| DXOMark | Not Available | Main Score: 122, Photo: 128, Video: 126 | Honor 90 has a tested score and has superior camera performance based on the score. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, OIS, Ultra stable video, Manual focus, Panorama | Triple camera, PDAF, Continuous shooting, RAW, Front Flash | Samsung A52 5G provides OIS and additional manual controls while Honor 90 provides Phase Detection Autofocus and RAW format for post-processing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Honor 90 has a larger battery, likely offering longer battery life between charges. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Honor 90 charges much faster, saving significant time. |
| Features | Non-removable, QC2.0, AFC | Non-removable | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G additionally supports QC2.0 and AFC. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a more recent version of Android out of the box. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Up to Wi-Fi 5 | Up to Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 has a newer Wi-Fi standard for faster speeds, lower latency, and better network performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Honor 90 has a slightly more recent version, which could mean improved connection stability and power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 supports more satellite systems for slightly better location accuracy |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support dual SIM functionality |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | Honor 90 offers more storage options, which is great for users with large media libraries |
| RAM | 6/8GB | 8/12/16GB | Honor 90 offers more RAM, which will help with multitasking |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Noise cancellation microphone | Samsung A52 5G provides immersive audio, while the Honor 90 focuses on reducing noise during calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both have fingerprint sensors for biometric security |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | Samsung A52 5G has the superior screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass | Samsung A52 5G includes Gyroscope for gaming while Honor 90 provides a Compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Advantages:
- Dedicated Macro and Wide Angle Lenses: Provides versatility for photography, especially for close-up shots and landscapes.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Offers superior image stabilization, which helps when taking photos and videos.
- Better Audio Features: Features Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus for enhanced audio.
- Known Screen Protection: Uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which offers more peace of mind against scratches and damage.
Practical Implications for A52 5G The A52 5G is ideal for someone who wants a good camera experience with multiple lens options and needs some protection on the screen. The addition of OIS is a game-changer when filming on the go and the audio quality makes this phone ideal for someone who uses their phone for media consumption.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 offers much higher processing power, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Higher Resolution and Brighter Display: Delivers a sharper and more vibrant viewing experience, especially in bright sunlight.
- Significantly Better Main Camera: Offers much greater detail and low-light performance with its 200MP sensor and larger sensor size.
- Faster Charging: 66W charging significantly reduces downtime and provides much faster charging than the Samsung's 25W.
- Longer Battery Life: The 5000mAh battery provides extended usage.
- More Storage and RAM Options: Offers greater flexibility with larger internal storage and RAM options.
- Newer Android Version: Ships with Android 13, providing access to the latest features.
- Newer Wifi & Bluetooth: Newer connectivity standards for faster speeds.
Practical Implications for Honor 90: The Honor 90 is ideal for someone who needs a high performing phone, with better cameras, screen and faster charging. The updated software provides a seamless user experience. The 90 is much better if performance is a key focus.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Samsung A52 5G is more versatile in terms of camera options with dedicated macro and wide angle lenses while the Honor 90 provides a ultrawide with macro abilities.
- The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G offers more enhanced audio and superior video stabilization
- The Honor 90 has faster charging but both have similar battery life.
- The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G has known screen protection while the Honor 90's screen protection is unknown.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G:
- Ideal User: Users who value camera versatility, prefer slightly more traditional Android phones, and prioritize audio quality and screen protection.
- Use Cases: Casual photography, moderate gaming, media consumption, extended battery life, and users who need an OIS camera on the go.
- Price-to-Value: Offers good value for the price, especially for users who value reliable performance and a diverse camera experience.
Honor 90:
- Ideal User: Power users who demand top-tier performance, superior camera quality, excellent display, and fast charging.
- Use Cases: Heavy multitasking, graphic-intensive gaming, high-quality photography and videography, media consumption in bright environments, and users who want the latest technology.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a better value for users who want the most cutting-edge performance features and don't mind losing some of the camera lens features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (e.g., gaming, photography, productivity)
- How important is battery life and fast charging?
- Are you willing to trade camera versatility for better low light performance and processing power?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: You are a gamer who wants a fast phone with a great display and a decent camera. Recommendation: Honor 90 due to its powerful processor, faster charging, and higher refresh rates.
- Scenario 2: You value versatile photography and reliable performance, and value screen protection. Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G because of its optical image stabilization, multiple lens options, and good screen protection.
- Scenario 3: You need a phone that can handle heavy multitasking and has a large storage capacity. Recommendation: Honor 90 because it offers more storage and RAM, and has a faster processor.
My Choice
I would choose the Honor 90. Here's why:
- Future-Proofing: The newer processor and software, along with the faster charging speed and superior main camera, makes it a more future-proof device. The higher refresh rate and brightness are a major plus when it comes to viewing experience.
- Performance Boost: The significantly better performance will result in a smoother, faster experience in all daily tasks, and especially when playing mobile games and doing creative tasks. The newer generation processor has significantly better performance compared to the Samsung.
- Better Display: The higher resolution and much brighter display would make a noticeable difference in everyday use, especially outdoors.
- Main Camera: The larger sensor and higher megapixel count will lead to better overall camera performance. The overall DxOMark score validates the quality of the camera.
- Less trade-offs: While it lacks a dedicated macro and wide-angle lens, the ultrawide plus macro lens should suffice for most scenarios and is a better trade-off for the other better features.
While the Samsung A52 5G has its advantages, the Honor 90 offers a more compelling package overall for my personal needs, which prioritize performance, a superior display, and camera.
