Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G vs. vivo X100
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | vivo X100 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-19 | 2023-11-21 | The vivo X100 is significantly newer, benefiting from more recent technology and software advancements. |
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 164.1 × 75.2 × 8.5 mm | The vivo X100 is slightly taller and thicker, with a negligible difference in width. It may feel slightly larger in hand. |
| Weight | 189g | 202g | The Samsung A52 5G is slightly lighter, which could be preferable for extended one-handed use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | The vivo X100 offers a more immersive experience with its larger screen, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | The vivo X100's higher resolution results in noticeably sharper text and images, ideal for viewing high-resolution content. |
| PPI | 407 | 452 | The vivo X100's higher pixel density contributes to a crisper image, especially noticeable when viewing small details. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED panels. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 3000 nits | The vivo X100 provides dramatically better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight, making it much easier to use in sunny conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9300 (4 nm) | The vivo X100's significantly newer and more powerful chipset will result in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 384,853 | 1,881,325 | The vivo X100’s substantially higher score indicates significantly better overall performance for demanding tasks and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | The vivo X100's superior GPU will provide a much better gaming experience. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | The vivo X100 has a larger battery capacity, likely resulting in longer battery life between charges. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 120W fast charging | The vivo X100's dramatically faster charging speeds will allow users to quickly top up the battery and spend less time plugged in. |
| Features | Non-removable, QC2.0 and AFC. | Non-removable | The vivo X100 lacks QC2.0 and AFC; both have non-removable battery. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX682, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.57, 1/1.31", Sony IMX920, 1.2µm | The vivo X100 has a larger sensor and wider aperture, enabling it to capture better images, especially in low light despite having fewer megapixels. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", Sony IMX616, 0.8µm | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8", Samsung S5KGD2, 0.8µm | The vivo X100 has a slightly wider aperture, potentially allowing slightly better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2", Omnivision OV64B, 0.7µm | The vivo X100 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zooming in on distant subjects, which is missing from Samsung A52 5G. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1", Samsung S5K3L6, 1.12µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", Samsung S5KJN1, 0.64µm | The vivo X100 has a much higher resolution wide-angle lens and a wider aperture allowing for more detail and brightness. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | The Samsung A52 5G has a dedicated depth sensor that might assist with portrait mode quality. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | The Samsung A52 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photos, which is missing on the vivo X100. |
| Video | 4K@30fps with EIS | Yes | Both phones record video and offer slow-motion capabilities, but the vivo X100's slow-motion is higher. The Samsung A52 5G lists specific video resolutions and EIS support, while details for vivo X100 are limited. |
| Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, OIS etc | Cinematic Mode, 4K Video, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Gimbal, OIS etc | The vivo X100 offers a more versatile set of camera features, including optical zoom and gimbal stabilization. It also offers the ability to take RAW images. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 14 | Android 14 | The vivo X100 ships with a newer version of Android, meaning users will benefit from the latest features and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | 802.11be (WiFi 7) | The vivo X100 supports newer WiFi standards (Wi-Fi 7), offering potentially faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | The vivo X100 has a newer version of Bluetooth, offering potentially faster speeds and better connectivity. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) etc. | The vivo X100 supports more satellite systems for improved location accuracy, especially in challenging environments. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both offer dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | The vivo X100 offers significantly more storage capacity, which is great for users who have a lot of media. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 12/16 GB | The vivo X100 offers more RAM, improving multitasking performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The vivo X100 has stereo speakers and higher quality audio playback. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones use basic fingerprint sensors. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G uses Gorilla Glass 5, providing good screen protection against scratches. The vivo X100's screen protection is unknown. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | The vivo X100 has more sensors than the Samsung A52 5G. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Advantages:
- Lighter weight: More comfortable for extended use and easier to handle.
- Macro and Depth sensors: Dedicated sensors for macro and portrait shots which the vivo X100 lacks, although this does not mean the quality is better.
- Known screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 provides solid screen protection against scratches and damage.
vivo X100 Advantages:
- Significantly newer and more powerful processor: The Mediatek Dimensity 9300 provides dramatically better performance for all tasks, including gaming and heavy multitasking.
- Superior display: Higher resolution, greater brightness, larger screen that provides better viewing experiences, especially outdoors.
- Larger battery and faster charging: Longer battery life and much faster charging speeds are a major convenience.
- More advanced cameras: Better primary sensor, wide-angle sensor, and the inclusion of a telephoto lens as well as Gimbal and OIS result in more versatile and superior image and video quality.
- Larger storage options and RAM: More internal storage and RAM result in better performance overall.
- Newer OS: Ships with Android 14, meaning better feature set and security.
- Faster connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for faster, more reliable connections.
- Superior audio Has both Hi-Res audio and stereo speakers.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G offers dedicated macro and depth sensors and is slightly lighter, while the vivo X100 provides superior performance, camera quality, display, and battery life.
- The Samsung A52 5G screen protection is known (Gorilla Glass 5), the vivo X100 is unknown.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy A52 5G:
- Budget-conscious users: Those seeking a reliable phone with a good display and acceptable performance at a lower price point.
- Users who prioritize light weight and comfortable handling: Those who find larger, heavier phones cumbersome.
- Users who take a lot of macro or portrait shots: Those who want dedicated sensors for these types of photography.
Ideal Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A52 5G:
- Everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Casual photography, including macro shots.
- Users who prefer lighter phones for extended use.
Ideal Users for vivo X100:
- Power users: Those who need top-tier performance for gaming, heavy multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who want the best possible camera system for photos and videos, including zooming capabilities.
- Users who prioritize display quality: Those who consume a lot of media and need a large, high-resolution, bright screen.
- Users who value fast charging and long battery life: Those who don't want to worry about running out of battery throughout the day.
- Users who want top of the line audio quality: Those who want good stereo speakers with Hi-Res Audio.
Ideal Use Cases for vivo X100:
- Mobile gaming and resource-intensive applications.
- High-quality photography and videography in all conditions.
- Outdoor usage in bright sunlight.
- Media consumption (videos, movies, etc.).
- Users who use their phone for most tasks.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers to Consider:
- How important is performance for my daily usage? (e.g., gaming, multitasking, etc.).
- How much do I value camera quality and features? (e.g., zooming, low-light performance, etc.).
- What is my budget and am I willing to pay more for top-tier features?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is the primary concern, and usage is mainly for basic tasks: The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is sufficient.
- Scenario 2: Demanding user requiring top-tier performance, camera quality, and display: The vivo X100 is the clear choice.
- Scenario 3: Desire for high quality photography, and good performance but on a budget: The vivo X100 provides superior image quality and performance, but comes with a price premium.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the vivo X100. While the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G might be more budget-friendly, the vivo X100 offers a drastically superior experience in almost every way. The faster processor, significantly better display, more versatile camera system, larger battery with much faster charging, and a larger and newer storage make it a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants a high-performance smartphone.
The vivo X100 represents a much more complete package for modern smartphone use. The only real trade-off is its slightly heavier build and a less defined screen protection rating, but the massive advantages in performance, camera, display, and battery life outweigh these minor issues. For users who want a device that can handle anything thrown at it while providing a high-quality media consumption and capture experience, the vivo X100 is the clear winner.
