Galaxy A22 vs Galaxy A52 (4G): Build quality makes a worthy difference

The Galaxy A22 and the Galaxy A52 are two of Samsung’s budget-conscious smartphones released in 2021. They’re both available with 4G or 5G connectivity, and they both ship with Android 11 and One UI 3.1 out of the box.

One of these two smartphones is technically superior to the other. We’re evidently referring to the Galaxy A52, which is a phenomenal mid-range device with several flagship characteristics. The Galaxy A22, on the other hand, is a lot closer to the definition of a budget phone. Let’s see how they compare.

Note: The models we’re about to compare are limited to 4G connectivity and have slightly different specs than the 5G variants.

Galaxy A22 vs Galaxy A52: Display

Although the Galaxy A22 and Galaxy A52 exist in different price segments, Samsung was able to equip both models with a high refresh rate display. It’s a Super AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate, up from the standard 60Hz.

However, where the Galaxy A22 has an Infinity-U display design, the Galaxy A52 boasts a more modern Infinity-O panel. In addition, the Galaxy A52’s 6.5-inch panel has a resolution of 2400 by 1080, whereas the Galaxy A22’s 6.4-inch display has a lower pixel count of 1600 by 720.

Galaxy A22 vs Galaxy A52: Camera

The Galaxy A52 has a superior camera combo in virtually every aspect. It has a 64MP main sensor with PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide shooter, and two 5MP macro and depth sensors. It’s also equipped with a 32MP selfie camera.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A22 has a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 2MP depth camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 13MP selfie sensor.

It’s worth noting that despite the Galaxy A22’s lower price point, it, too, has optical image stabilization (OIS) for the main 48MP camera, which should contribute to better pictures in low light and improved motion videos.

Galaxy A22 vs Galaxy A52: Design

The Galaxy A22 and A52 don’t have a lot in common in terms of design. They have plastic backs and frames, but the Galaxy A52 looks more modern even if it’s a few months older.

The Galaxy A52 is positioned higher up in the market, and it looks the part. Display bezels are thinner and the camera housing looks contemporary.

But perhaps the most impressive part of the Galaxy A52’s design is that it has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. The Galaxy A22 and the majority of other budget Galaxy devices don’t have this quality of life improvement.

Both phones measure and weigh about the same, and are available in four color options. The Galaxy A22 has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, while the more expensive Galaxy A52 conceals the sensor under the display. Also worth noting is that Samsung’s official announcements pertaining to the Galaxy A22 make no mention of Gorilla Glass or other high quality materials.

Galaxy A22 vs Galaxy A52: Hardware

Hardware-wise, the Galaxy A52 is superior to the Galaxy A22 in nearly every aspect, except for the battery capacity. The Galaxy A22 has a 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging, while the Galaxy A52 is equipped with a 4,500mAh unit featuring 25W charging.

Beyond that one detail, the Galaxy A52 takes the lead across the board, as it boasts a Snapdragon 720G chipset, 4GB/6GB/8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage. In contrast, the Galaxy A22 (LTE) has a Helio G80 chipset, 4GB/6GB of RAM, and 64GB/128GB of storage.

Both phones are equipped with a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone port, and a USB-C connector, but only the Galaxy A52 has stereo speakers.

Galaxy A22 vs Galaxy A52: Conclusion

As one of the most ambitious mid-range smartphones of the year so far, the Galaxy A52 is hardly threatened by the Galaxy A22’s arrival, but that was expected. If you were waiting for the Galaxy A22 to perform better than the Galaxy A52, that means you’ve only set yourself up for disappointment.

Realistically and technically speaking, the Galaxy A22 is no threat to the Galaxy A52, but it can be a decent low-cost alternative thanks to the 90Hz Super AMOLED display and a few other hardware components. However, it lacks key features that made the Galaxy A52 special, and as a result, it doesn’t have an IP rating, stereo speakers, or a 2021 design language.

You can refer to our Galaxy A52 review and device comparison widget below for more details, and don’t forget to hit that Full Comparison button.

Galaxy A52 review