1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 163.2 × 75.9 × 8.1 mm | iQOO 12 is slightly taller and thinner; A52 is marginally more compact, but the differences are minimal. |
| Weight | 189g | 198.5g | A52 is lighter, which may be preferable for extended use, but the difference is small. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | iQOO 12 provides a slightly more immersive experience with a larger screen, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | iQOO 12 offers significantly sharper visuals, leading to better text clarity and detail. |
| Pixel Density | 407 ppi | 453 ppi | iQOO 12 has a noticeably sharper display, but it might not be noticeable for most users. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, but the difference is in calibration and brightness. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | iQOO 12 has much smoother scrolling and animations, which makes the user interface feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 3000 nits | iQOO 12 offers significantly better visibility in bright sunlight, an advantage when outdoors. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | iQOO 12 offers significantly faster performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is several generations newer and far more powerful. |
| AnTuTu Score | 341,212 | 2,020,000 | iQOO 12 delivers a much smoother, more responsive experience across the board, from everyday tasks to heavy gaming. The A52 feels slow in comparison. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 750 | iQOO 12 has a far more powerful GPU, better suited for intensive graphics tasks like gaming and video editing. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX682 | 50MP, f/1.69, 1/1.3", Omnivision OV50H | iQOO 12 has larger sensor and wider aperture for better low-light and detail capture despite lower megapixels. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", Sony IMX616 | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.1", Samsung S5K3P9 | A52 has more megapixels and a slightly wider aperture, but iQOO 12's sensor size is larger. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2", Omnivision OV64B | iQOO 12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for superior zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | None | A52 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing wider shots. |
| Portrait Mode Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | A52 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photos. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | A52 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", Samsung S5KJN1 | iQOO 12 combines wide-angle and macro capabilities into a single lens, offering more versatility. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 8K@30fps, EIS | iQOO 12 can record video at much higher resolutions, leading to professional-grade video, but the A52 is still quite good for general video recording. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | iQOO 12 has a larger battery, providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 120W fast charging | iQOO 12 charges much faster; significantly shorter recharge times. |
| Features | QC2.0, AFC | None | A52 has QC2.0 and AFC, while iQOO 12 focuses on high charging wattage |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | Android 14 (upgradable to 16) | iQOO 12 has a newer version of Android with the promise of two future upgrades. The A52 has limited software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 7 (802.11be) | iQOO 12 supports faster and more efficient WiFi standards, which leads to higher network speeds and less congestion. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | iQOO 12 offers better Bluetooth connection with faster speeds and broader support for audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | iQOO 12 supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support dual SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | iQOO 12 has much more storage. |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 12/16 GB | iQOO 12 offers more RAM, allowing for smoother multitasking and better performance with demanding applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | A52 offers slightly more spatial audio features, iQOO 12 is good but with fewer features. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both have similar fingerprint sensor tech. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | A52 offers known screen protection. iQOO 12 is missing this information. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Both offer comprehensive sensor suites. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 Advantages:
- Slightly Lighter & More Compact: Easier to handle for some users, better portability.
- Dedicated Wide Angle, Macro & Depth Lenses: Offers versatility with its dedicated lenses
- Dolby Digital Plus Audio: Enhanced spatial audio and surround sound features.
- Known Screen Protection (Gorilla Glass 5): Offers a more durable screen.
Practical Implications: The A52 excels in photography versatility due to its dedicated macro, wide-angle, and depth lenses. It also offers a lighter and more compact design, making it comfortable for everyday use and better suited for those who want a small phone. It has enhanced audio thanks to Dolby Digital Plus.
vivo iQOO 12 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is significantly more powerful for demanding tasks, gaming and heavy multitasking
- Larger, Sharper Display: Higher resolution and refresh rate for smoother visuals, better clarity and fluidity
- Significantly Higher Brightness: Better outdoor visibility under bright sunlight.
- Faster Charging: 120W charging allows much faster charging speeds.
- Better Camera Sensor: Larger sensor in main camera provides better low-light photos.
- Telephoto Lens: Optical zoom provides better range for photos.
- Newer Technology: Supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards
- Larger Internal Storage and RAM: Much more storage and RAM, better for long-term usage.
- Better Video Recording: Can record up to 8K video, better for professional video content creation
Practical Implications: The iQOO 12 provides superior performance with demanding apps, higher quality photos with better low-light capabilities, much faster charging, better video recording with 8K support, and more storage. The user experience will be much smoother, better for heavy usage, and superior in almost every way.
Trade-offs:
- A52: Sacrifices performance and advanced features for compactness, a lower price, and a more versatile set of camera lenses.
- iQOO 12: Sacrifices a slightly more compact design and a few camera options for superior performance, display quality, and battery performance. The lack of a known screen protection is something to be aware of.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A52 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Prioritize affordability over top-tier performance, especially for everyday use
- Casual Photographers: Use the versatility of wide, macro and depth sensors on a regular basis
- Users Who Value Lightweight Design: Prefer a more compact and lightweight phone for daily tasks
- Users Who Enjoy Dolby Audio: Enjoy music, movies and sound.
Use Cases:
- Everyday browsing, social media, and communication.
- Taking photos with a focus on wide, macro and depth.
- Casual gaming and general app use.
- Listening to music or podcasts using the enhanced Dolby Digital Plus Audio.
vivo iQOO 12 Ideal Users:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Demand top-tier processing power for gaming, multitasking, and content creation.
- Mobile Gamers: Seek smooth gameplay, higher refresh rate, and advanced performance.
- Content Creators: Require high-resolution video recording and a powerful phone for editing.
- Users who want a better, future-proofed phone: Better tech specs for a better overall experience and future-proofing.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- Editing and rendering videos or photos.
- Using demanding productivity applications.
- Streaming high-resolution content.
- Using the phone in very bright outdoor conditions.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A52: Offers good value for its price range, especially for users who don't need the latest features.
- vivo iQOO 12: Is a better investment for users who want top-tier performance, display, battery and camera features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your primary use case? (e.g., gaming, photography, basic usage).
- How important is performance and future-proofing? (e.g., do you need the latest processor?)
- How important is video recording and mobile photography? (e.g., do you want the best video quality?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A52 if cost is the main concern and high-end performance isn't a priority.
- Scenario 2: Performance Enthusiast: Choose the vivo iQOO 12 if you want top-tier performance, a very smooth display, and the best possible experience with demanding apps and gaming.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Photographer: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you value a wide-angle, macro and depth lenses, or the vivo iQOO 12 if you value overall camera performance with telephoto lens, better low light performance and the best video quality.
- Scenario 4: Long term investment: Choose the vivo iQOO 12 if you want a future-proofed phone with better hardware, storage and software support.
My Choice
I would choose the vivo iQOO 12.
Reasoning:
While the Samsung Galaxy A52 is a decent phone, the iQOO 12 offers a significantly better experience in nearly every aspect that matters to me. The vastly superior performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ensures smooth operation, handling even the most demanding tasks effortlessly. The higher refresh rate display offers a smoother, more enjoyable experience, and the significantly higher brightness makes it great for outdoor use. I also value faster charging and the better camera sensor for low-light photography. Finally, the much larger internal storage and RAM mean I won't run out of space any time soon.
While I appreciate the versatility of the A52's dedicated macro and wide-angle lenses, the iQOO 12’s telephoto lens and overall camera quality, along with its ability to shoot 8K videos, is more appealing for my use case. The missing screen protection is a concern, but overall, the advantages of the iQOO 12 far outweigh this one drawback. The performance, display, and battery performance are simply too good to pass up. The better WiFi and Bluetooth standards also make it a more future-proofed choice. For my personal preferences, I prioritize performance, display quality and battery life - the iQOO 12 wins in those areas by a mile.
