Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A52 vs. Motorola Edge 50 Neo
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 | Motorola Edge 50 Neo | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-26 | 2024-08-29 | The Motorola is significantly newer, benefiting from more recent tech. |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm | 154.1 x 71.2 x 8.1 mm | The Motorola is more compact and slightly thinner, offering better one-handed use. |
| Weight | 189g | 171g | The Motorola is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.4" | Negligible difference; both are similar in size. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1256x2760 | The Motorola offers a sharper display with higher pixel density and more detail |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 407 | 474 | Motorola will have a noticeably clearer image. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Motorola's display will have slightly smoother animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 3000 nits | Motorola will be significantly more visible in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) | The Motorola's chipset is newer, more power-efficient and provides much better performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 341,212 | 675,000 | The Motorola scores almost twice as high in benchmarks, showing it handles tasks much faster. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G615 MC2 | Motorola's GPU is significantly better, offering smoother graphics in games. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP | 50MP | Samsung offers higher resolution, but this doesn't always equate to better photos. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.7" | 1/1.56" | Motorola's main sensor is larger and captures more light, likely improving low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 1.00 µm | Motorola's larger pixels gather more light resulting in better low-light results |
| Front Camera Resolution | 32MP | 32MP | Both offer similar selfie camera performance |
| Telephoto Lens | No | 10MP | Motorola has a dedicated telephoto lens for better zoom shots, offering more versatility. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP | No | Samsung offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape and group shots. |
| Depth Sensor | 5MP | No | Samsung provides a dedicated depth sensor for enhanced portrait mode, which might offer better bokeh effect |
| Macro Lens | 5MP | No | Samsung has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | No | 13MP | Motorola has a ultrawide lens capable of also doing macro shots |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | Both support similar recording up to 4k |
| Video Stabilization | EIS | EIS | Both offer electronic image stabilization for smoother video |
| Slow Motion | 120fps | Up to 240fps | Motorola Edge 50 Neo has better slow-motion capabilities. |
| DxoMark Camera Score | N/A | 115 | The Motorola has a good DxoMark score, indicating generally strong camera performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4310mAh | Both have similar capacity, with a negligible difference. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | The Motorola charges much faster, reducing downtime significantly. |
| Wireless Charging | No | 15W | The Motorola supports wireless charging for added convenience. |
| Software & Connectivity | |||
| Operating System | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 14 (Upgradable to 19) | Motorola offers a newer OS with longer support. |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E | Motorola has better WiFi providing faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 | Both have the same standard. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM + eSIM | Motorola offers eSIM support for easy carrier switching. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512 GB | The Motorola provides more storage options and a base storage of 256GB |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 8/12 GB | Motorola offers more RAM, improving multitasking and overall performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither supports expandable storage, so choosing the right configuration is key. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Both offer good audio but Samsung has slightly enhanced features. |
| Security | |||
| Security | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both have basic fingerprint security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Samsung has more durable screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity: Proximity, Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity: Proximity, Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both have comprehensive sensor suites, while one is more suited for gaming and the other has a digital compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Edge 50 Neo Advantages:
- Significantly faster performance: The newer Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset leads to much better performance in everyday tasks and gaming.
- Sharper and brighter display: Higher resolution and pixel density, along with much higher peak brightness, makes for a superior viewing experience especially in sunlight.
- Faster charging & Wireless charging: 68W charging and wireless charging options provide far more convenience.
- Better main camera sensor: Larger sensor and bigger pixels for improved low-light photography.
- Telephoto Lens: A dedicated telephoto lens offering better optical zoom capability
- Newer Android version: Comes with Android 14 with longer software support.
- More base storage: Offers more storage options with a base storage of 256GB.
- eSIM Support: Offers eSIM support for easier carrier switching
Samsung Galaxy A52 Advantages:
- More durable screen protection: Gorilla Glass 5 provides better resistance to scratches and impacts.
- Dedicated wide-angle and macro cameras: Offers more flexibility for specific photo scenarios.
- Enhanced audio: Offers slightly enhanced spatial audio.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung A52's older chipset is much less powerful and its display is not as bright as the Motorola. However, the Samsung has more camera lenses, but the main camera sensor is inferior to the Motorola.
- While the Motorola has a better display and performance, it lacks a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens.
- The Samsung has more durable screen protection but the Motorola has a significantly faster charging and wireless charging support.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Edge 50 Neo is Ideal For:
- Power users and gamers: Demanding users who prioritize smooth performance and gaming.
- Frequent travelers: Benefiting from faster charging, wireless charging, and eSIM functionality.
- Outdoor users: The bright display is perfect for viewing in direct sunlight.
- Photography enthusiasts: The larger main camera sensor and telephoto lens offer versatile photography options.
- Users who value long software support: New Android version that will be updated for years to come
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphic-intensive games, multitasking heavy apps
- Taking photos and videos in various conditions, especially low light.
- Navigating in bright outdoor conditions with high visibility.
- Switching between carriers more easily, and traveling
Samsung Galaxy A52 is Ideal For:
- Users who value screen protection: If durability is a top concern, the Gorilla Glass 5 offers peace of mind.
- Users who prefer more camera lenses: If the user prefers to have dedicated macro and wide-angle lenses for photography.
- Users who value enhanced audio: If spatial audio is something important for the user.
- Users on a budget: Given its older release date, it will likely be more affordable.
Specific Use Cases:
- Taking macro shots of small objects and wide shots of landscapes.
- Listening to music or watching videos with a decent audio experience.
- Everyday tasks on a decent smartphone
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do I prioritize performance or specific camera lenses? If performance and smooth experience are important, the Motorola is better. If specific camera lens are important, Samsung is better.
- Is having a bright, vibrant display a priority? The Motorola has a vastly superior display with much higher peak brightness.
- How important is battery charging speed and wireless charging? If this is very important to the user, the Motorola is much better.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Power User/Gamer: Choose the Motorola Edge 50 Neo for its superior performance, graphics and battery charging speed.
- Scenario 2: Everyday User: If the user wants to do some light gaming, do some photography but also needs a durable phone, the Samsung Galaxy A52 is good enough for most tasks and cheaper.
- Scenario 3: Frequent Traveler/Outdoor User: The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is better suited because of its superior display brightness, faster charging and eSIM support.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Motorola Edge 50 Neo. While the Samsung Galaxy A52 has some advantages such as better screen protection and more camera lenses, the Motorola offers a significant leap in performance, a much better display, significantly faster charging, and wireless charging capabilities. The newer chipset and Android version make it a much better long-term option. The advantages of the Motorola for my use cases outweigh the drawbacks. The superior processing power, display and battery charging speed are much more important factors for a smooth and modern smartphone experience.
