If you're looking for a mid-range phone that can also connect to 5G networks, Samsung has tripled your options. The handset maker has revamped its Galaxy A lineup, with the Galaxy A52 5G leading the way, but this $499 phone is not the only option when it comes to low-cost Samsung devices that can support next-generation 5G.
Also appearing alongside the Galaxy A52 are the Galaxy A42 and Galaxy A32, both 5G phones, both with sub-$400 price tags, and it will be difficult to tell the difference between the Galaxy A52 5G vs Galaxy A42 5G vs Galaxy A32 5G It would be difficult to tell the difference. It certainly doesn't help that Samsung has all three models with the same size 6.5-inch display and similar overall features.
However, there are enough differences that can affect which of these new Galaxy A phones is the right one for you: for the Galaxy A52 5G, Galaxy A42 5G, and Galaxy A32 5G, which model is best suited for which use? A full review of the tests still needs to be conducted before a definite conclusion can be drawn as to which model is best suited for which application. However, based on an overview of the different specs of each model, here is what we expect each new Galaxy A model to excel at.
If you are about to buy a Galaxy A phone, chances are you are doing so because you are hesitant to pay the price of the flagship model. No matter which model you buy, you will never pay more than $499 for a 5G handset. This is a very attractive price that puts all three models among the elite.
However, there is one model with the most attractive price: the Galaxy A32 5G at $279, the cheapest of the 5G handsets. Incidentally, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is $299. t-Mobile also lets you get the Galaxy A32 5G for free when you trade in any phone, although you must commit to two years of service with the carrier.
Samsung's other Galaxy A models are not as expensive: the Galaxy A42 is $399 and the Galaxy A52 is $499. Google's Pixel 4a 5G is one of the best sub-$500 5G phones we've ever tested, and both the A52 and A42 meet or exceed that price.
5G networks are still a work in progress as carriers work to expand coverage and improve performance. At the moment, Verizon's mmWave-based 5G, installed in more than 60 cities across the country, is the fastest. And if you want to use that particular 5G-enabled phone, you need to get the Galaxy A42 5G. Verizon also sells the Galaxy A42 5G.
However, if you are not a Verizon customer, you can resort to the Galaxy A52 5G or the Galaxy A32 5G. Both operate on a low-band 5G network that provides greater coverage than mmWave, albeit at slower speeds; AT&T will sell the A52, while the A32 will be sold through Cricket Wireless' discount service.
The displays of these three new phones may appear very similar at first glance, as they all have 6.5-inch panels. However, the less expensive Galaxy A32 uses an LCD screen rather than the more expensive OLED panel used in the A42 and A52.
The Galaxy A52 5G is Samsung's new mid-range phone if you value the display over the phone's other features: not only does it have a better resolution than the other two models, FHD+ versus the A42 and A32's HD+ resolution, it also has a faster 120Hz refresh rate of 120 Hz. This is a feature usually found on much more expensive phones, so having it on a $499 handset is a real value booster.
The Galaxy A32 offers a 90 Hz refresh rate, faster than most smartphones with a 60 Hz refresh rate. Curiously, the Galaxy A42, despite being more expensive than the A32, uses a conventional 60 Hz refresh rate.
It is difficult to analyze cameras from a distance. It is hard to know how the hardware and post-processing software combine to produce a photo without actually trying it out. Still, on paper the Galaxy A52 5G appears to offer the most powerful camera array.
Both the A52 and A32 have the same assortment of lenses, including a wide-angle shooter that serves as the main camera, an ultra-wide angle lens, and dedicated macro and depth sensors. However, the Galaxy A52 has a higher-resolution sensor as its main camera: a 64MP sensor compared to the A32's 48MP sensor. The ultra-wide-angle lens is also more powerful, with 12MP on the A52 versus the A32's 8MP shooter.
The Galaxy A42 5G lacks the macro lens found on the other two Samsung phones. (If you have experience with macro cameras, that's not a big loss.) It has the same 48MP main camera and 8MP ultra-wide shooter as the Galaxy A32.
The Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A42 should have similar performance. Both models use the same Snapdragon 750G system-on-chip; the A52 has more RAM (6GB versus the A42's 4GB), which should make it easier to switch between apps. [The Galaxy A32 5G uses MediaTek's Dimensity 720 chipset. We haven't had a chance to benchmark either phone, but based on tests we've seen online, we expect the phone with the 750G to put up better benchmark numbers than the Galaxy A32. That is probably reflected in the pricing of Samsung's new phones.
Only one of the new Galaxy A phones has an IP rating for water resistance. It is the Galaxy A52 5G, whose IP67 rating means it can withstand submersion in up to 3 feet of water. The A52 also has stereo speakers.
To see the differences between the Galaxy A52 5G vs. the Galaxy A42 5G vs. the Galaxy A32 5G, we would need to put these models through a custom battery test, but the Galaxy A42 and A32 are expected to offer similar battery life. Both models have 5,000mAh power packs.
The Galaxy A52 5G has only a 4,500 mAh battery. However, it has better charging capabilities than any of these new models; the A52 supports 25W charging, while the others have 15W.
Ostensibly, the Galaxy A52 5G has the most impressive specs of the new Galaxy A models. The Galaxy A32 5G will appeal to bargain hunters looking for an inexpensive 5G phone with a long-lasting charge and fast display updates, however theoretical. Verizon customers, on the other hand, will want to seriously consider the Galaxy A42 5G, given its compatibility with Verizon 5G.
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