Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Review: Still Stylish, Still Smooth — But Is It Worth the Price?

Introduction

Samsung’s Galaxy A series has long been the sweet spot for users who want flagship-like features without paying flagship prices. The Galaxy A52 5G continues that legacy — and even takes it up a notch with a faster 120Hz AMOLED screen, a snappy Snapdragon 750G chipset, and, of course, 5G connectivity.

Unlike some of its cheaper siblings, the Galaxy A52 5G doesn’t cut corners when switching to 5G. You’re getting upgrades — not trade-offs — including a brighter HDR10+ display and a solid camera setup with optical image stabilization (OIS). Add stereo speakers, IP67 water resistance, a 4,500mAh battery, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and you’ve got a feature-packed mid-ranger.

Design

The Galaxy A52 5G stands out for its looks just as much as its specs. Samsung nailed the design here — the matte finish on the back feels premium, and the “Awesome” color lineup (Black, White, Violet, and Blue) lives up to its name.

Despite its plastic body, the phone feels sturdy and well-built. The Gorilla Glass 5 protection up front and IP67 dust and water resistance give it an edge over rivals from Xiaomi and others. It can even survive a dunk in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes — something most mid-rangers can’t claim.

Display

The 6.5-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display is one of the biggest highlights of the Galaxy A52 5G. With a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, this screen is built for buttery-smooth scrolling, vibrant colors, and crisp details.

Brightness is excellent too — it hits up to 787 nits in sunlight, making it easy to use outdoors. And if you’re binge-watching Netflix late at night, the panel can go as low as 1.7 nits, keeping your eyes comfortable in the dark.

Battery Life

Powering the phone is a 4,500mAh battery, which performs impressively. It clocked in at an endurance rating of 111 hours — a solid result for a 5G phone. You can expect around 32 hours of calling, 13 hours of web browsing, and nearly 19 hours of video playback.

At 120Hz mode, video playback drops slightly to around 15 hours, but that’s still excellent overall. Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or scrolling, the A52 5G can comfortably last a full day and beyond.

Charging Speed

Here’s where things get a little disappointing. While the Galaxy A52 5G supports 25W fast charging, Samsung only includes a 15W charger in the box. That means a half-hour plug-in gives you about 34% battery — slower than many rivals. You’ll need to buy a separate 25W adapter for faster charging.

Software

The A52 5G ships with Android 11 and One UI 3.1, Samsung’s clean and feature-packed interface. But what really makes this phone stand out is Samsung’s long-term software promise — 3 major OS updates and 4 years of security patches. That’s rare in this price range and gives the A52 5G long-term value.

The interface is smooth, polished, and customizable. From refined icons to thoughtful gestures and privacy tools, One UI remains one of the best Android skins available today.

Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy A52 5G runs on the Snapdragon 750G processor with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It’s a solid performer for everyday tasks, social media, and even some moderate gaming. The Adreno 619 GPU handles graphics smoothly, taking full advantage of the 120Hz display.

The 750G also brings 5G connectivity through Qualcomm’s X52 modem, offering strong signal stability and fast speeds. It’s not the most powerful chip in the mid-range segment, but it delivers consistent performance with great efficiency.

Camera

Samsung hasn’t changed the camera setup from the regular A52 — and that’s not a bad thing. You get a 64MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. On the front, there’s a 32MP selfie shooter.

The main camera captures detailed, vibrant shots in daylight, with OIS helping keep photos sharp even in low light. The ultra-wide is solid, while the macro and depth sensors add versatility. The 32MP front camera performs well for selfies and video calls.

Overall, the A52 5G delivers consistent, reliable camera performance — not groundbreaking, but definitely above average for its price bracket.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is a great all-rounder that checks most boxes — stylish design, stunning display, dependable cameras, long battery life, and excellent software support. It’s the kind of phone that feels premium without breaking the bank.

However, it’s hard to ignore the stiff competition. Phones from Realme, OnePlus, and Xiaomi offer faster charging, stronger processors, and similar features at lower prices. Unless Samsung drops the price, the A52 5G feels a bit too pricey for what it offers.

Still, if you’re someone who values Samsung’s reliability, software updates, and premium feel, the Galaxy A52 5G won’t disappoint.