While we have long been used to the Galaxy A and S series, the M series is still a bit of a hassle. Basically, we still take it as "something extra" that bears the manufacturer's logo and can be an interesting alternative ... or not. "Aka" are simply such a certainty in the middle and upper middle class, while "Mka" are model by model such a lottery bet. Some can be great, others will stand aside and it won't be a big hit.
| 28 pictures |
The second case is the M52 5G model, which seeks to offer interesting equipment in the upper middle class. And he would actually be able to do it if it weren't for the fact that Samsung already has exactly one such model: the Galaxy A52s 5G. Next to it, suddenly the M52 5G is just such an indistinct model, which, except for a few details, doesn't really have much to capture. The competition is also relatively relentless.
Will I like the phone?
The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is a relatively large model (164.2 × 76.4 mm), but at the same time it attracts with its relatively thin body (7.4 mm). The manufacturer did not want to spend much on materials, the sides and back are covered with plastics. At first we honestly thought that the back was made of glass, but the total weight of the phone of 173 grams suggests the use of plastic.
In any case, the back is shiny, so fingerprints remain visible on them. The design is otherwise quite sober, you can notice thin stripes on the back, from the color variants there is a choice of dark blue, black and white. The camera protrudes only slightly above the back surface, however, the phone will still sway on a flat surface.
The phone has sharper edges and corners compared to the cheaper models of this manufacturer, which we quite like in the newsroom. In addition to the usual pair of volume control buttons (seated quite high), you will also find a side fingerprint reader integrated in the display activation button and a USB-C connector on the body.
What about the display?
Although it has relatively premium parameters, in detail it is actually a bit worse than the sibling Galaxy A52s 5G. On the one hand, it has the same resolution of 1,080 × 2,400 pixels on a larger diagonal (6.7 inches), so it is technically less fine, and it also lacks an integrated fingerprint reader (which, as we mentioned, is on the side).
Otherwise, it is still an excellent Super AMOLED panel with a smaller front shot for a 32Mpix front selfie camera and an excellent 120Hz refresh rate. The brightness is also at a very good level, you will definitely not have a problem reading outdoors on a clear day. The large diagonal then records, for example, use for games or watching movies and series. The frames around the display are quite pleasantly thin.
How are you doing in terms of performance and equipment?
The heart of the phone in this case is the Snapdragon 778G processor, currently a very popular model for phones with a price of around 8 to 10 thousand crowns. It is supplemented by either 6 or 8 GB of RAM. In any case, the processor does not need to be described at length, it is a good choice either for more demanding users who would like to play games on their mobile phones, or simply for those who expect a reliable system operation from the phone. And there is also support for 5G networks.
In both cases, you will find only 128 GB of data space on the phone, but you can expand this with a memory card. Unfortunately, in that case it is necessary to choose whether you prefer two active SIMs or one with the option to expand the storage, both at the same time unfortunately not possible due to the hybrid slot.
So there is only one connector (USB-C), the headphone jack is missing. In addition to the mentioned support for 5G networks, you will see NFC for mobile payments or bluetooth 5.0. The fingerprint reader in the side button has been a popular solution lately and seemed to us to be fast and reliable.
The Android 11 operating system is equipped with the One UI 3.1 graphical extension, which has been a long-standing standard at Samsung. This means, for example, the presence of a secondary home area with Google Assistant, redesigned menus into their own form, system dark mode and the like. Samsung's system has long been a very subjective discipline in discussions: it suits some, others don't.
In any case, Samsung could have avoided a few unnecessary extras: In addition to the standard equipment from Google and a few manufacturer's tools, there is also Netflix applications, music streaming service Spotify, Facebook social network, Microsoft office tools package, game mode and entertainment applications Free , Member Members and Charity Global Goals. You will also find Bixby's voice assistant here.
What about battery life?
Here, on the other hand, we find perhaps the only objective advantage over the A52s 5G sibling. This model has a larger 5,000mAh battery. With the same display and processor resolution, this gives it a precondition for slightly better endurance on a single charge. In our experience, it is decent, the phone was able to withstand about two days on a single charge at normal usage.
Package contents
Fast charging with a power of 25 W seems to be sufficient, although you will find really noticeably faster models on the market. Here, Samsung is just a little behind. In 15 minutes on the charger you will reach just over 20 percent of the battery capacity. Half an hour is then enough for about 45 percent. You can expect full capacity in about an hour and a half.
How does the phone take pictures?
You will find a total of three sensors on the back of the phone. The main one has a resolution of 64 Mpix and a brightness of f / 1.8. Unfortunately, he forgot about optical stabilization, which is another losing point compared to the sibling Galaxy A52s 5G, which has it. This is followed by a widescreen sensor with 12 Mpix and an angle of 123 degrees, and then only a 5Mpix sensor for taking macro photos.
With the main 64Mpix sensor, despite the absence of optical stabilization, the phone manages to take nice and colorful images in daylight, and we would not be so afraid of lighter cropping. Unfortunately, it is the optical stabilization that is missing the moment the lights begin to fade, then the sensor must compensate for the increased sensitivity and noise starts.
The widescreen sensor is one of the more successful, especially its color processing does not differ at first glance from the photos taken with the main camera, which is quite common ailment in the case of competing models. As far as sharpness and noise are concerned, it already falls into the category of average sensors and, for example, cropping would not be highly recommended, except for use in a small preview on the social network.
The user interface of the camera is otherwise the same as in other models from Samsung: there is no lack of night mode, super slow video mode or SIngle Take mode, which itself creates a different mix of photos, animated gifs, videos and edited photos from a short shot. Otherwise, the phone can record video at up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second.
Should I buy a Samsung M52 5G?
You can get the phone in stores in the memory version 6/128 or 8/128 GB. The former costs 10,499 crowns, the second 10,999 crowns. In itself, it is actually a relatively interesting phone, which does not lack performance or endurance, it has a great display and the camera also seems to be quite consistent in what can be expected from it. Unfortunately, there is a huge sibling rivalry, and the M52 5G simply lost.
Currently, the A52s 5G model can be purchased at a discount for exactly the same price (10,499 crowns in the 6/128 GB variant). And although it has a slightly smaller display (6.5 inches) and also a smaller battery (4,500 mAh), there are no such abysmal differences. But you have to add the main camera with optical stabilization and also the fact that the A52s 5G is sealed against the ingress of water and dust. We also like the design with their matte backs a little more. Suddenly, it is clear that it is better to buy the Galaxy A52s 5G.
Alternatives include the OnePlus Nord 2, which is equipped with a chip that is about 25% more powerful, but has a slower display refresh rate. Even in its case, the rear camera does not lack optical stabilization. The bonus is a much faster charging with an output of 65 W. The phone sells for 10,299 crowns. We must also mention the Motorola Moto Edge 20, which also has a great display and performance, and even offers a camera with optical zoom. However, it has a smaller battery and the camera is not optically stabilized. However, the price is balanced by 9 thousand crowns.
