1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 20 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 163 × 76 × 8 mm | Motorola is slightly taller, Samsung slightly thicker. Negligible real-world difference. |
| Weight | 189g | 190g | Virtually identical weight; both will feel similar in hand. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Motorola offers a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both have same sharpness; pixel density difference is minimal in practice. |
| PPI | 407 | 385 | Minimal real-world difference, both displays are sharp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and good contrast; negligible real-world difference. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Motorola screen will feel slightly smoother during scrolling and gaming, though the difference may not always be noticeable. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Note: Brightness data missing for both phones. Unable to compare screen visibility under bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 870 (7 nm) | Motorola will offer significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games due to the superior chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 384,853 | 813,800 | Motorola provides significantly higher performance in real-world tasks, including gaming, app loading, and multitasking. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 650 | Motorola's GPU enables smoother high-end gaming and graphics-intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP f/1.8, 1/1.7", 0.8µm | 108MP f/1.9, 1/1.52", 0.7µm | Motorola captures more detailed images due to higher resolution, but Samsung's slightly wider aperture might perform marginally better in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32MP f/2.3, 0.7µm | Samsung has a slightly wider aperture for potentially better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP f/3.4 | Motorola has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities, while Samsung doesn't, affecting long distance photography. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP f/2.2, 1/3.1", 1.12µm | None | Samsung has a dedicated wide-angle lens for wider shots; Motorola does not. |
| Depth Sensor | 5MP f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | Samsung has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode |
| Macro Lens | 5MP f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | Samsung has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots; Motorola does not. |
| Wide Angle+Macro | None | 16MP f/2.2 | Motorola has wide angle + macro lens while the Samsung has these lenses as separate sensors. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps with EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240/960fps with EIS | Motorola offers higher resolution video recording (8K). Both offer good video quality but Motorola has a better slow motion feature |
| Camera Features | Quadruple, OIS, Ultra stable, Night Mode | Triple, Optical zoom, Continuous Shooting | Samsung has more features for casual photography, and OIS for stabilization. Motorola has features that focus on zoom and is better for burst photos. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4500mAh | Both have similar battery life, likely lasting a full day for average use. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 30W fast charging | Motorola charges faster than the Samsung, reducing downtime. |
| Features | QC2.0, AFC | Reverse charging | Samsung has more support for fast charging while the Motorola can be used to charge other devices. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, up to 14 | Android 11 | Samsung will receive more software updates, while Motorola's update support is not specified. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 (ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (ax) | Motorola supports newer Wi-Fi standard providing faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded areas, though both perform similarly. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 | Motorola has a newer Bluetooth version, offering slightly better connectivity and features, notably higher quality audio codecs. |
| GPS | Standard GPS | Advanced GPS | Motorola offers more accurate location services by supporting more satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones support two SIM cards. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB | Both offer similar storage options. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 12GB | Motorola has more RAM for smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD card expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Basic | Samsung offers enhanced audio quality and experience, especially for media. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Motorola's side fingerprint sensor is likely faster and more convenient than Samsung's. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 5 | Both phones use same screen protection technology. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Motorola has an additional compass sensor. The Samsung features Hall and Geomagnetic. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Advantages:
- More versatile camera system: Includes dedicated wide-angle, macro and depth sensors for more creative shots and portrait photography.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus offer a better audio experience for media consumption and gaming.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): The main camera has OIS which is better for low light and video performance
- More Software Updates: Confirmed updates to Android 14.
- Ultra stable video mode: Allows for very stable videos using the OIS
- Hall and Geomagnetic sensors: Useful for a range of applications
Motorola Edge 20 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly better performance: The Snapdragon 870 provides noticeably smoother app loading, multitasking, and gaming.
- Faster Refresh Rate: The 144Hz display offers a smoother visual experience, especially during gaming and scrolling.
- Telephoto Lens: A dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom.
- Higher resolution video recording: 8K video recording capability, a significant advantage for videography.
- Faster Charging: 30W charging means less time plugged in
- Advanced Bluetooth and WiFi: newer standards, offering better audio quality and faster network speeds
- Reverse charging: Ability to charge other devices with the phone.
- More RAM: Comes with 12 GB compared to the max 8 GB of the Samsung, improving performance.
- Advanced GPS: Supports multiple satellite systems for better location accuracy
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung has more camera versatility with its multiple dedicated sensors, while the Motorola has an advanced telephoto lens and superior video capabilities.
- Samsung offers a more refined software experience with guaranteed updates, but Motorola provides more raw performance
- Samsung has better audio while Motorola has more advanced wireless connectivity.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G:
- Ideal User: Casual users who prioritize a versatile camera system with good audio experience, and users who value guaranteed software updates and a smoother Samsung UI.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday photography with a variety of lenses (wide-angle, macro, portrait).
- Multimedia consumption with better audio quality.
- Users who prefer a reliable software experience.
- Users who require ultra stable video capabilities
- Users who require a basic fingerprint reader
- Price-to-Value: It is a solid mid-range phone, however the performance might not appeal to those who prefer heavy gaming.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro:
- Ideal User: Performance-oriented users, gamers, and those who need advanced video features and enjoy having the latest Bluetooth and WiFi standards.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming enthusiasts who want a smoother experience with a higher refresh rate.
- Users who frequently record videos and require 8K video recording capabilities.
- Users who frequently make phone calls or listen to audio with high quality audio codecs
- Users who want to have a phone with higher performance and 12 GB of ram
- Price-to-Value: A better option for users who need raw performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance or Versatility? Do you prioritize raw performance and high refresh rates for demanding tasks, or camera versatility and audio experience?
- Multimedia or Connectivity Do you prioritize multimedia and a better audio experience or better connectivity, faster charging and the ability to charge other devices?
- Software updates or raw power? Do you prefer to have guaranteed updates to the latest software version or a more powerful chipset?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Casual Photography & Media Consumption): If you take a lot of casual photos in various settings and enjoy consuming media, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is a better choice with its more versatile camera system and enhanced audio.
- Scenario 2 (Heavy Gaming & Video Recording): If you are a gamer and need a phone for high-end video recording, the Motorola Edge 20 Pro is the clear winner with its stronger chipset, higher refresh rate screen, and 8K video.
- Scenario 3 (Balanced Performance and Features): If you need a balance of performance and features, but are limited in budget and don't care much for high end gaming or professional grade video, then the Samsung might be a better choice, assuming the price is lower.
What I Would Choose and Why
Based on my analysis, I would choose the Motorola Edge 20 Pro.
While the Samsung A52 5G has a more versatile camera and a promise of software updates, the performance difference between the two phones is simply too substantial to ignore. The Motorola's significantly more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, coupled with 12 GB of RAM and a 144 Hz refresh rate screen, will translate into a smoother and more responsive user experience across the board, especially during multitasking and gaming.
Additionally, for someone who values higher quality video, the 8K video recording capabilities along with the ability to record in slow-motion at higher frame rates are very valuable. The faster charging, better connectivity and larger battery make the phone more useful.
