1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | OnePlus 9 Pro is taller and slightly thicker, while the A52 5G is wider. This means the OnePlus may be slightly harder to reach across, and the A52 will have a bulkier feel in the hand |
| Weight | 189g | 197g | The A52 5G is lighter, making it slightly more comfortable for extended use. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a marginally larger screen for a more immersive viewing experience, although the difference is only 0.2". |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3216 | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a noticeably sharper display with significantly more pixels, resulting in crisper images and text. |
| PPI | 407 | 525 | The higher pixel density of the OnePlus 9 Pro translates to a visibly clearer and more detailed display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Missing | Samsung's AMOLED display provides richer colors and deeper blacks, and is more power efficient especially for dark modes. The display technology for the OnePlus is unknown. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer a smooth 120Hz display, resulting in fluid animations and scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1300 nits | The OnePlus 9 Pro is significantly brighter, providing much better visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | The Snapdragon 888 in the OnePlus 9 Pro is a much more powerful chip, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 384,853 | 877,600 | The significantly higher score of the OnePlus 9 Pro indicates vastly superior overall performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 660 | The Adreno 660 GPU in the OnePlus 9 Pro allows for better graphics performance, essential for gaming and demanding applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX682 | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a larger sensor which captures more light and offers potentially better image quality in low light, despite the A52 having a higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", Sony IMX616 | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471 | The A52 5G has a higher resolution and wider aperture front camera, which results in brighter and more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", Omnivision OV08A10 | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities with its telephoto lens, missing in the A52 5G. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1", Samsung S5K3L6 | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766 | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a much higher resolution and larger sensor for ultra-wide photos. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The A52 5G has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photography |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The A52 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography |
| Black & White Lens | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated black and white lens |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@30fps | The OnePlus 9 Pro supports higher resolution video recording, more advanced video features, and higher frame rates for smoother footage. |
| Camera Features | OIS, EIS, 4K, HDR, etc | OIS, EIS, 8K, HDR, RAW 12bit, etc | The OnePlus 9 Pro has more advanced video features, like 8K recording, and the ability to shoot in RAW format, giving you more control over editing. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4500mAh | Both have similar battery capacity and should offer comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless | The OnePlus 9 Pro has significantly faster wired charging and wireless charging, meaning less time plugged in. |
| Features | QC2.0, AFC, Non-removable | Reverse charging, 50W Wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging, Non-removable | The OnePlus 9 Pro has much better charging features such as wireless and reverse charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Advantages
- Potentially Better Selfies: Higher resolution front-facing camera with a slightly wider aperture.
- Dedicated Depth and Macro Lenses: Offers additional creative options for portrait and close-up photography.
- AMOLED Display: Better contrast and color reproduction and more power efficient.
- Slightly Lighter Build: May be more comfortable for extended use.
- Dolby Digital Plus audio: For a more immersive audio experience.
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset provides significantly faster processing and graphics.
- Significantly Better Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, and significantly higher brightness results in a noticeably sharper and more visible display, especially outdoors.
- Better Camera System: Larger sensors, telephoto zoom, and significantly better video capabilities, make it much better for creative photography.
- Much Faster Charging: 65W wired and 50W wireless charging results in much less time spent charging the phone.
- Advanced Connectivity: Support for Wi-Fi 6 and more accurate GPS.
- Additional Audio Features: Stereo speakers, noise-canceling microphone, and more microphones.
- RAW format for photos: Giving you much greater control over photo editing.
- Additional Sensors: Compass, gravity sensor.
Trade-offs
- Samsung A52 5G sacrifices processing power and display quality for slightly better front-facing camera and a macro and portrait lens. It also does not have fast charging capabilities.
- OnePlus 9 Pro lacks dedicated macro/portrait sensors but provides a superior overall camera system, a much more powerful processor, and significantly better charging speed with the ability to wireless charge.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Ideal User: Casual users who prioritize a good selfie camera, a vibrant display, and a lighter build for everyday use.
- Use Cases:
- Social media enthusiasts who value high-quality selfies and basic video recording.
- Users who value a lighter and more budget-friendly phone.
- Users who prefer an AMOLED display
- Users who need a dedicated portrait and macro sensor
- Price-to-Value: Good for users seeking a decent all-around smartphone without needing top-tier performance or high-end camera features.
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Ideal User: Power users, mobile photographers, and gamers who need top-tier performance, an excellent display, and advanced camera capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Gamers who need a fast and responsive phone with good graphics.
- Photographers and videographers who value quality, flexibility, and advanced video capabilities,
- Users who need great performance, fast charging, and wireless charging.
- Users who prefer a brighter screen.
- Users who desire more accurate GPS and better wifi.
- Price-to-Value: Justified for users willing to pay more for flagship-level performance, an exceptional display, an advanced camera system, and fast charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is raw performance and speed for you? (Gaming, multitasking, app loading)
- How important is display quality and brightness for you? (Outdoor visibility, media consumption)
- How important are top-of-the-line camera capabilities and video features? (Zoom, video quality, pro controls)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: A social media user who takes many selfies and mainly uses their phone for browsing social media and communicating. Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Scenario 2: A gamer who wants the fastest processing speeds and a smooth display. Recommendation: OnePlus 9 Pro.
- Scenario 3: A user who primarily uses their phone for work and needs fast charging, a great display, and excellent camera quality. Recommendation: OnePlus 9 Pro.
- Scenario 4: A budget-conscious user that wants a good all-around phone that takes good selfies and offers a good display. Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
What I Would Choose and Why
Personally, I would choose the OnePlus 9 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G has its merits, the OnePlus 9 Pro's superior performance, display, camera capabilities, and fast charging are compelling. I value the responsiveness and speed of a top-tier processor, the clarity of a high-resolution and bright display, and the versatility of an advanced camera system, even though it sacrifices the front camera quality and macro and portrait lenses. The much faster charging speeds also make it much more convenient for daily use. The additional sensors, and better audio quality also help push the OnePlus 9 Pro ahead. For my needs, the OnePlus 9 Pro's advantages far outweigh the A52's.
