Samsung Galaxy A52: Everything we know so far (Mar. 8)
Update, March 8, 2021 (10:17 AM ET): Samsung accidentally posted a support page for the Samsung Galaxy A52. The page confirms the look of the phone as well as its name. Read on for more!
Original article: Samsung’s Galaxy A51 was one of the most popular phones of 2020 thanks to its balance of performance and price at a time when value was critical. That puts a lot of pressure on its sequel, the Galaxy A52 — it needs to appeal to an extremely wide audience while living up to the hype established by its predecessor.
But what will the Galaxy A52 bring to the table, exactly? We’ve rounded up everything known or rumored so far, including specs and availability. You’ll want to bookmark this page, as we’ll update it whenever significant new details emerge.
Samsung Galaxy A52: Model names and release date
It won’t surprise you to hear that the Galaxy A52 is definitely the name for Samsung’s next big mid-tier smartphone, but there’s been a lingering question: will there be just one model now that 5G is more widespread?
The answer, apparently, is no. As part of a large leak, WinFuture claimed the Galaxy A52 will be available in basic LTE and 5G versions, much like its predecessor. That’s not surprising given the cost-sensitivity of Samsung’s target market and the lack of 5G in some parts of the world, but it does mean you’ll need to shop carefully in countries where both LTE and 5G models are available.
The release date for the Galaxy A52 isn’t quite so clear, although it’s unofficially expected to launch in March 2021 for at least European customers.
Samsung Galaxy A52: Design
If rumors are any indication, Samsung will likely play it safe with the Galaxy A52 design — with a few tweaks to the formula that made the A51 a hit.
According to both WinFuture and OnLeaks, the basic form factor of the Galaxy A52 (shown above) won’t change much as compared to the Galaxy A51. That includes the 6.5-inch flat display, an in-display fingerprint reader, a hole punch selfie camera, and an uncomplicated back with a prominent camera bump. Those cameras will have changed (more on that later), but you might otherwise need to be an enthusiast to spot the changes.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Galaxy A52 will reportedly keep the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot, even as it offers IP67 water resistance. If you balked at the Galaxy S21 ditching expandable storage, you’ll feel right at home here.
For the record, Samsung accidentally posted a support page for the A52 in early March. The image on that page looked nearly identical to the leaked render above.
Samsung Galaxy A52: Specs and features
While the outside of the Galaxy A52 might stay largely the same, the specs are another story. Samsung is reportedly planning a sizeable upgrade to the performance of its latest mid-range phone.
You might notice one of the largest changes right away. As WinFuture‘s Roland Quandt said on Twitter, the Galaxy A52 will reportedly make the leap to high refresh rates previously reserved for flagships like the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series. The LTE version would “just” offer a 90Hz OLED panel, but you’d get a 120Hz screen if you splurged on the 5G model.
See also: The best Samsung phones
There may also be a processor switch. Where the Galaxy A51 was mainly available with one of Samsung’s own Exynos chips inside (with an exception or two), the A52 may rely primarily on Qualcomm chips. The LTE version of the A52 would rely on a Snapdragon 720G, while its 5G sibling would use the slightly faster Snapdragon 750G. You’d get between 6GB and 8GB of RAM as well as 128GB to 256GB of expandable storage.
Samsung is poised to equip both phones with 4,500mAh batteries that could last them awhile with those processors, although you would be capped at 25W wired charging and would have no wireless charging.
And yes, those cameras will supposedly play an important role for the Galaxy A52. At least the main 64MP rear camera (an upgrade from the A51’s 48MP shooter) is believed to include optical image stabilization, while familiar 12MP ultra-wide and 5MP macro cams would offer some photographic variety. A 5MP depth sensor would help with portrait shots, while the front 32MP camera appears largely unchanged.
Samsung Galaxy A52: Price and availability
The Galaxy A51’s value proposition revolved around its price, and that might persist with the A52. WinFuture said the LTE version would start at €349 (~$422) in Europe, while its 5G counterpart would cost €429 (~$519).
While we’d expect pricing to vary from region to region, that leak suggests the Galaxy A52 will cost about as much as its predecessor. That’s not surprising — the roughly $400 sticker was key to the A51’s success, and Samsung raises the price at its own peril.
Availability will likely remain the same. The Galaxy A52 was one of Samsung’s most widely accessible phones, and we’d expect it to be available in most parts of the world in some form. Just don’t be surprised if you can only buy one variant, whether LTE or 5G, in certain countries.
That’s all we know so far about Samsung’s Galaxy A52. Again, feel free to bookmark this page to check for updates ahead of the phone’s debut.
from Android Authority https://ift.tt/36VusVB
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