1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 | 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; A52 is a bit wider. Honor 90 is more pocketable. |
| Weight | 189g | 183g | Honor 90 is slightly lighter; less fatigue during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Honor 90 has a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 offers sharper visuals, leading to clearer text and more detailed images. |
| PPI | 407 | 435 | Honor 90 has a slightly higher pixel density, making the display look sharper to the eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Identical vibrant and high-contrast image quality on both. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 is smoother for scrolling and gaming, resulting in less motion blur. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is significantly brighter, offering vastly superior visibility under direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor 90 offers significantly faster processing, better app loading, and more efficient power usage due to the newer 4nm chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 341,212 | 701,227 | Honor 90 has vastly superior performance, smoother multitasking, and enhanced gaming experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90 offers superior graphics capabilities, better for gaming and GPU-intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Honor 90 offers noticeably longer battery life, meaning less frequent charging. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 90 charges much faster, reducing the downtime spent plugged into a charger. |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Minimal practical difference in daily use, both offer good reliability. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7" | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4" | Honor 90 has a much higher resolution and a larger sensor, resulting in significantly more detailed images and better low-light performance. |
| Front Selfie | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 90 captures more detailed selfies. Samsung has slightly wider aperture for better low-light. |
| Wide Angle | 12MP, f/2.2 | Not Specified | Samsung Galaxy A52 includes a wide-angle lens for capturing group shots or landscape. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Samsung Galaxy A52 has higher resolution in depth sensor. |
| Macro | 5MP, f/2.4 | Not Specified | Samsung Galaxy A52 has a dedicated Macro lens for taking closeup shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not Specified | 12MP, f/2.2 | Honor 90 has a single versatile lens for both wide-angle and macro shots. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps w/ EIS | 4K@30fps w/ EIS | Both offer similar video recording quality, but differ in image stabilization technologies. Honor has far superior slow motion recording |
| DxoMark | Not tested | Mobile: 122 (Photo: 128, Video: 126) | Honor 90 camera system performs well, based on DXOMARK testing. |
| Camera Features | OIS, Quad, Ultra stable | PDAF, Triple, RAW, Front Flash | Both offer a range of features but different strengths, Samsung for stability and Honor for flexibility. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 14 | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a more current Android version out of the box, offering newer features, and should have longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Honor 90 supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, leading to faster, more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Honor 90 has newer Bluetooth for better energy management and connectivity. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 has better GPS capabilities with additional support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM | Both offer dual SIM capability for managing multiple phone numbers. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB or 256GB | 256GB or 512GB | Honor 90 offers more storage options, suitable for users with extensive media libraries or apps. |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB | 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB | Honor 90 has much higher RAM for better multitasking and demanding application performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers microSD card expansion, limiting storage to the internal capacity. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation microphone | Samsung Galaxy A52 has enhanced audio experience with stereo speakers while the Honor 90 focuses on better call quality. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both provide basic biometric security using fingerprint. |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Not specified | Samsung Galaxy A52 provides stronger screen protection with Corning Gorilla Glass. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Proximity, Fingerprint | Samsung Galaxy A52 additionally features Gyroscope, while Honor 90 features compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 Advantages:
- Wider range of camera lenses: Offers dedicated Wide Angle and Macro lenses, providing more versatility for different shooting scenarios.
- Stereo Speakers: Provides a richer audio experience for media consumption.
- Known Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 offers better screen protection from scratches and minor impacts.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Significantly More Powerful Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 provides drastically better performance for gaming and demanding apps.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, refresh rate, and dramatically better brightness lead to a superior visual experience, especially in outdoor settings.
- Larger Battery and Faster Charging: Longer battery life and faster charging minimize downtime.
- Newer Software: Ships with a newer version of Android offering newer features and a longer software support lifecycle.
- Superior Main Camera: The 200MP sensor captures more detailed images.
- More RAM and Storage Options: More options for memory and storage.
- Superior Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards offer better performance.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung A52 compromises performance and screen brightness for a more versatile set of camera lenses and stereo speakers.
- Honor 90 compromises some camera versatility for vastly improved performance, display quality, and battery life and faster charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A52:
- Ideal User: Casual users who value a versatile camera system for everyday photography, and media consumers who appreciate good audio quality.
- Use Cases:
- Users who take frequent photos with various perspectives (wide-angle, macro).
- Individuals who regularly watch videos and listen to music on their phones.
- Users who prioritize good audio while gaming.
- Users who prefer a reliable brand with good software support.
Honor 90:
- Ideal User: Performance-oriented users who prioritize fast processing, superior display, and fast charging. Also, photography enthusiasts seeking high-resolution imagery.
- Use Cases:
- Gamers who need a smooth and responsive mobile experience.
- Users who heavily multitask across several apps.
- Individuals who need excellent outdoor screen visibility.
- Users who capture high quality photos and videos.
- Users who heavily rely on their phones and value long battery life and fast charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Performance Needs: Is raw processing power a top priority, or is general usage sufficient?
- Display Preferences: How important are screen sharpness, brightness, and refresh rate? Do you use your phone outdoors frequently?
- Camera Requirements: Do you need a versatile set of lenses, or do you prioritize image quality and high-resolution imagery from the main camera?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Heavy Gaming and Multitasking: Choose the Honor 90 for its superior processor, more RAM, and high refresh rate display.
- Scenario 2: Versatile Photography (Various Lenses): Choose the Samsung Galaxy A52 for its dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses.
- Scenario 3: Outdoor Use: Choose the Honor 90 for its much brighter display.
- Scenario 4: Budget Conscious: Depending on the market prices at time of purchase, the A52 might be the better choice, but if the Honor 90 is affordable, the improvements would be well worth it.
What I Would Choose and Why!
Given the choice, I would choose the Honor 90. While the Samsung Galaxy A52 offers a more versatile camera system with its dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses, the Honor 90's advantages are simply too compelling for my personal needs and typical use case scenarios.
My reasoning is as follows:
- Performance: I often multitask and play graphically intensive games. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in the Honor 90 provides a noticeable performance boost compared to the Snapdragon 720G in the A52, ensuring smoother gameplay and faster loading times. The difference in AnTuTu scores clearly illustrates this.
- Display: A brighter and smoother display is crucial for my usage, especially outdoors. The Honor 90’s 120Hz refresh rate and 1600 nits of brightness will lead to a much more enjoyable viewing experience.
- Battery Life and Charging: The larger 5000mAh battery and 66W fast charging of the Honor 90 mean less worry about running out of power during the day and shorter charging times.
- Camera Quality: While the A52 has multiple lenses, the Honor 90's 200MP main sensor should offer higher quality, more detailed main shots, which is important for my primary photo use case. The DxoMark scores are also an important indicator of quality.
- Longevity: The newer Android version and likely better long-term software support of the Honor 90 are also attractive.
Ultimately, while both phones have their merits, the Honor 90's superior performance, display, battery, and connectivity options make it the better all-around choice for my needs. The slight loss of camera versatility is a worthwhile trade-off for those other improvements.
