If you have been looking for an affordable mid-range device, there are high chances that the Samsung Galaxy S52 and OnePlus Nord 2 have caught your attention. The phones are solid mid-rangers, aiming to offer a well-rounded smartphone experience with value.
So which of these phones is right for you? Let's see how they compare.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G features a 6.5-inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED display. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G features a slightly smaller 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED panel. Both the devices have the same screen resolution of 1080×2400 pixels with negligible pixel density difference and have vibrant responsive panels.
While the Nord 2 offers a 90Hz refresh rate, the Galaxy A52 offers a touch higher 120Hz refresh rate giving you a smoother experience while scrolling through apps or playing mobile games.
The Galaxy A52 can hit peak brightness of 800nits making it easier to use outdoors in bright sunlight than the Nord 2 which can get up to 630nits.
Both devices feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. The sensor on the Nord 2 is fast and accurate whereas, the Galaxy A52 is a bit slower to unlock at times.
Overall, the Galaxy A52 offers a better display with a slightly larger screen, higher refresh rate, and display brightness than the Nord 2. However, being an AMOLED panel, you won’t be disappointed by the punchy and contrasty colors of the Nord 2 display as well.
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A52 flaunts a minimalist standard design much inspired by its larger cousins but doesn’t feel quite as premium, with a plastic build and matte finish. On the other hand, the Nord 2 features a glossy rear glass panel that feels more premium and stylish.
While both devices give a comfortable in-hand feel, the matte finish acts as a fingerprint magnet on the Galaxy A52 which is not the case with the Nord 2 glass panel.
The bezels surrounding the Galaxy A52 are slightly larger compared to the Nord 2. However, the chin on the bottom bezel is equally distracting on both devices.
A 3.5mm headphone jack is present on the Galaxy A52 while the Nord 2 has skipped on this. They both feature a USB-C port at the bottom and stereo speakers.
Furthermore, both devices come with Gorilla Glass 5 protection which should give adequate scratch protection. The Galaxy A52 has an IP67 rating so it can withstand a maximum depth of 1m underwater for up to thirty minutes. The OnePlus Nord 2, however, lacks any such official rating. It should be fine in light rain and water splashes, but no more.
Performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy A52 is powered by the mid-range Snapdragon 750G chipset with the Adreno 619 GPU. On the other hand, the Nord 2 comes with a more powerful processor—MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 1200-AI with ARM Mali-G77 GPU. Both chipsets come equipped with 5G connectivity, allowing you to get faster data on your cellular connection.
On the well-known AnTuTu benchmark test, the OnePlus Nord 2 scores around 512164 which outshines its competitor that reaches 334981. As a result of which, the Nord 2 is more capable of handling the most demanding games and media consumption.
The Galaxy A52 5G and the Nord 2 both run on Android 11. However, the Galaxy A52 comes with its native One UI on top of it. Following the OnePlus-OPPO merger, the Nord 2 features the ColorOS-based OxygenOS and hence, comes with several new and interesting features enhancing the user experience.
In terms of memory and storage capacity, the base Galaxy A52 ships with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, with the top-end variant featuring 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
The base Nord 2, on the other hand, packs 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and you can step up to a hefty 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. There is another version of the Nord 2 with 6GB RAM paired up with 128GB storage exclusive to India but will be available in limited quantity.
Additionally, on the Galaxy A52, you get an option to extend the storage up to 1TB with a microSD card, something which is not available in the Nord 2.
Battery Life
Both the phones come with a decent battery capacity of 4500mAh which should last you around a typical day and a half of usage without plugging in. The difference comes in when we consider the charging speeds of the two phones.
The OnePlus Nord 2 features 65W Warp Charge and tops up your phone to full in just 30 minutes. By contrast, the Galaxy A52 comes with a basic 15W adapter out of the box which is definitely on the slower side. However, the device does support 25W fast charging but you will have to buy such an adapter separately.
Sadly, neither device supports wireless charging or reverse wireless charging which is an increasingly sought-after feature nowadays.
Camera
In terms of camera, the Samsung Galaxy A52 offers a quad-camera setup whereas, the OnePlus Nord 2 features a triple-camera setup.
On the Galaxy A52, you get a 64MP main sensor joined by a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. Meanwhile, the Nord 2 comes with a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. The selfie camera on both phones is a 32MP shooter.
The absence of a telephoto zoom lens on both phones is a disappointment, but looking at the price range, this isn’t too surprising.
Considering the image quality, the main sensor on the Galaxy A52 and the Nord 2 pack plenty of details in daylight. Even in indoor and low-light situations, both phones manage to deliver good quality images due to the addition of OIS. However, the Nord 2 can over-enhance images adjusting the colors and contrast levels at times making images look a bit unnatural.
When it comes to the ultra-wide lens, the Galaxy A52 and the Nord 2 both capture decent shots in daylight but struggle in dimmer or low-lighting scenarios.
Besides, both phones support 4K video recording on the back. On the front, the Nord 2 is limited to 1080p selfie video whereas the Galaxy A52 can shoot up to 4K.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: The Best Mid-Ranger for You
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G was launched in March 2021 at a starting price of $ 499. With no US release, the Nord 2 was available at a starting price of £399 in the UK and INR 29,999 in India, which is equivalent to around $ 400.
Being mid-range smartphones, both have areas where they excel and where they fall short of one another. So when choosing between the two, it comes down to what you need from the device.
The powerful chipset, stylish design, better charging speeds make the Nord 2 an excellent choice at this price point. However, a competent camera setup, a bit higher display brightness, and an official IP rating could have been better.
And that’s where the Samsung Galaxy A52 comes in.
If display, camera performance, and an IP rating matter the most to you, the Galaxy A52 is a more enticing option. However, it falls short when it comes to performance and charging speeds compared to the Nord 2, which offers great value for money with minimal compromises overall.
Ultimately, both smartphones are excellent mid-range options, and you can't go wrong with either.
