1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 158.4 × 72 × 7.6 mm | The Motorola Edge 40 is noticeably slimmer and narrower, potentially feeling more comfortable in hand. The A52 5G is slightly taller but has a larger overall volume making it bulkier. |
| Weight | 189g | 167g | Motorola Edge 40 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, especially one-handed. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.55" | Virtually identical screen sizes, negligible difference in day-to-day usage. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer sharp visuals for media and text, no significant difference in clarity. |
| PPI | 407 | 402 | Very similar pixel density, both deliver crisp and clear images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both technologies offer vibrant colors and good contrast, no practical difference for most users. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Motorola Edge 40 provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations, particularly noticeable in gaming or fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The Motorola Edge 40 is significantly brighter, greatly improving outdoor visibility, especially in direct sunlight. The Samsung A52 5G brightness specification is missing, however, based on testing the maximum brightness is around 800 nits. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm) | The Dimensity 8020 is a more modern and powerful chip, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 384,853 | 762,526 | The Motorola Edge 40 demonstrates significantly better overall performance in benchmarks, translating to a more fluid user experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G77 MC9 | The Mali-G77 MC9 in the Motorola Edge 40 provides superior graphics performance, better for demanding games and applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX682 | 50MP, f/1.4, 1/1.55", Omnivision OV50A | Motorola Edge 40 has a wider aperture (f/1.4) and a larger sensor with bigger pixels, theoretically better for low-light performance and creating natural background blur. A52 5G has a higher pixel count for a more detailed image in good lighting. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", Sony IMX616 | 32MP, f/2.4, Unknown sensor size | A52 5G has a wider aperture, which is better for low-light selfies, but the sensor size for the Edge 40 is unknown so there may not be a large difference. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1" | No dedicated wide angle lens | A52 5G has a dedicated wide-angle lens for more versatility in shots. Motorola's ultrawide is built into the macro camera. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 5MP, f/2.4 | Not available | A52 5G has a dedicated depth sensor that helps separate the subject from the background. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | No dedicated macro lens | A52 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not available | 13MP, f/2.2 | Motorola Edge 40 combines a wide-angle and macro lens into a single sensor for better image quality than a dedicated macro lens. |
| Video | 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@60fps (EIS), slow-mo 120fps | 4K@30fps (HDR, EIS), 1080p@120fps (HDR, EIS), 720p@960fps, slow-mo 240fps | Motorola Edge 40 offers a higher slow-motion rate and HDR video, providing more options for capturing dynamic content. |
| Features | Quad Camera, OIS, EIS, Ultra Stable Video, Manual Focus | Dual Camera, OIS, EIS, PDAF, LAF, RAW | The A52 5G offers OIS and Ultra Stable Video for smooth footage and manual focus for experienced photographers while the Edge 40 offers better autofocus features and the ability to shoot in RAW. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4400mAh | Both have similar battery capacities, likely providing similar battery life under average use. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | The Motorola Edge 40 charges significantly faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable, QC2.0, AFC | Non-removable, 15W Wireless Charging | The Motorola Edge 40 offers the convenience of wireless charging, while the A52 5G relies solely on wired charging. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 13 (Upgradable to 15) | The Motorola Edge 40 comes with a more recent OS out of the box and is likely to receive more software updates. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Motorola Edge 40 supports faster speeds with Wi-Fi 6, also being more efficient in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Motorola Edge 40 features the latest Bluetooth technology, offering a more reliable connection, less latency, and better battery performance. |
| GPS | Multiple systems | Multiple systems (including L1+L5 and BeiDou B1) | Motorola Edge 40 offers more precise location tracking due to additional GPS bands and system support. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | Motorola Edge 40 offers an eSIM for more flexible network options, while the Samsung has more physical sim support. |
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 256GB | Both provide ample storage, but the A52 5G has a lower storage option. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB | Motorola Edge 40 offers more consistent performance with 8 GB RAM. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows expandable storage. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | The Motorola Edge 40 has a better microphone setup for clear audio during recordings and calls, as well as dedicated stereo speakers. |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both offer basic biometric security. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | The Samsung has superior screen protection. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Hall, Geomagnetic | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity | The Motorola Edge 40 has a compass, while the Samsung has Hall and Geomagnetic sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Edge 40 Advantages
- Significantly Better Performance: The Dimensity 8020 chipset provides a much smoother and faster experience, better suited for gaming and demanding apps, scoring almost double the A52 5G in benchmarks.
- Superior Display Brightness: The 1200 nits display is drastically brighter than the A52 5G, making it much more usable in bright sunlight.
- Faster Charging: 68W fast charging quickly replenishes the battery, whereas the A52 5G charges at 25W.
- Wireless Charging: Offers the convenience of wireless charging, lacking on the A52 5G.
- More Advanced Camera Features: The Edge 40 has a better primary camera sensor, a dual-purpose ultrawide/macro lens, and more capable video modes as well as better autofocus capabilities.
- Newer Software and Connectivity: Comes with Android 13 out of the box and has a newer Bluetooth and WiFi version.
- Lighter and Slimmer Design: The phone is more comfortable for extended periods of usage with its reduced size and weight.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Advantages
- Dedicated Camera Sensors: Has dedicated lenses for wide-angle, macro, and depth sensing, offering versatility in photography although this is not necessarily better.
- Better Display Protection: The A52 5G uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for better screen protection
- More Physical SIM Support: Two physical sim card slots instead of an eSIM.
Trade-offs
- Motorola Edge 40 Trade-offs: Lacks dedicated macro and depth sensors. Doesn't offer as much physical SIM support
- Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Trade-offs: Significantly slower performance, lower display brightness, slower charging speeds, and older software. Less modern design.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Edge 40 Ideal User
- Power Users: Individuals who need a fast phone for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Media Consumers: Users who watch videos, stream content, and want a bright and clear display.
- Travelers: Those who need a phone that performs well, has good battery life and fast charging, and better GPS.
- Photography Enthusiasts: People who want a higher quality main camera and faster video capture.
Use Cases:
- Gaming: Smooth performance in graphically intensive games due to its powerful processor and GPU.
- Outdoor Use: The brighter display allows easy use in direct sunlight.
- Quick Charging: Ideal for users needing to quickly charge up their phone throughout the day.
- Multimedia consumption: The combination of a bright display, stereo speakers and a more capable chip are better for watching videos.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Ideal User
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Individuals who are seeking a mid-range phone with a decent camera experience, although its main camera is outperformed by the Motorola Edge 40.
- Casual Users: People who use their phone primarily for social media, browsing, and basic tasks.
- Users Who Prefer Physical SIMs: Users who want to use two physical SIM cards, instead of the combination of an eSIM and physical sim that the Motorola Edge 40 offers.
- Users who are less concerned about performance: A phone with decent performance that can still handle daily tasks with a good screen and camera
Use Cases:
- General Use: Suitable for daily tasks and light usage scenarios.
- Photography: Those who want a camera experience with dedicated lenses for different shooting modes, although the quality is worse than the Motorola Edge 40.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance and speed? If gaming or demanding tasks are crucial, the Motorola Edge 40 is a clear winner.
- How important is outdoor visibility? The much brighter display of the Motorola Edge 40 is key for use in bright conditions.
- How important is software and updates? The Motorola Edge 40 offers a more recent software version and is likely to receive updates for longer.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Performance is Paramount - If you need top-tier performance for gaming or heavy usage, choose the Motorola Edge 40.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious with Casual Usage - If you want a basic but still good mid-range smartphone, the Samsung A52 5G can be considered at a lower price, but be aware of its limitations.
- Scenario 3: Photography is a priority - The Motorola Edge 40 offers better main camera quality as well as better video recording capabilities.
- Scenario 4: Outdoor use is very important - If you need to use the phone outside, the Motorola Edge 40 is the clear choice due to its dramatically brighter display.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would definitely pick the Motorola Edge 40. While the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is a capable phone, the Motorola Edge 40 offers significant advantages in almost all the most important areas. The performance increase with the newer processor and GPU is massive, leading to a smoother and more enjoyable experience. Additionally, the higher brightness display, faster charging, and more modern software make the Edge 40 a more future-proof choice. While the A52 5G offers a few more dedicated camera sensors, the overall quality of the images from the Edge 40 is higher. The Motorola Edge 40 simply offers a much better all-round package for my needs, as a person that is more demanding of performance and features.
