Samsung Galaxy M52 5G First Impressions

We recently received the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G for review. These are our thoughts and first impressions of the new smartphone.

In Blue colorway

Originally arrived in the Philippines in November 2021, the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G features a larger screen and battery than its predecessor.

Key features include the large 6.7-inch curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2400 x 1080 resolution. Inside is the 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G octa-core processor, Adreno 642L GPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 25W Fast charging. 

Running the show is Android 11-based One UI 3.1. Other features include Bluetooth 5.2, 5G, 4G LTE, Dolby Atmos, and USB-C. There is no 3.5mm audio jack.

In the Philippines, the phone is priced at PHP 22,990 for the 128GB model.

Disclaimer: Samsung Philippines sent the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G unit only without the box and box inclusions.

Build Quality/Design

Back view

At first glance, Samsung Galaxy M52 5G looks similar to the current A52 5G but with a glossier finish and a diagonal line pattern at the back.

Mid-range Samsung build, but no IP rating

The phone is mostly made of high-quality polycarbonate which makes it lightweight but solid. It does make the phone slippery and make it a fingerprint smudge magnet though.

Display panel with punch hole

The front features the curved AMOLED display with a glass panel on top. The display has a refresh rate of 120Hz and has a resolution of 2400 x 1080. It has a punch hole on the upper part that houses the 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera.

SIM tray with gasket

The aforementioned SIM tray can carry up to two nano-SIM cards or one nano-SIM card and one microSD card.

Unlike the Galaxy A52 5G, the M52 5G is not IP water and dust resistance rating. However, if you look at the SIM tray, there is a rubber gasket used for water sealing. This means that the M52 5G may be built for water resistance but was not officially rated. This could be a cost-cutting measure as certifications can be a huge expense.

The phone is premium-looking and catches the eye of the user as soon you see it. However, the fingerprint smudges and the slippery nature make wearing a case a necessity.

Top and bottom

On top is a smooth surface with a single microphone port while at the bottom are the speaker grills, USB-C port, and a second microphone port.

Left and right

On the left side of the phone is the SIM tray while on the right side is the volume rocker and the power button that doubles as the fingerprint scanner.

Inside the phone is a large 5,000mAh battery that supports up to 25W of fast charging.

The phone measures 165.2 x 76.4 x 7.4 mm and weighs 173 grams. It will come in White, Black, and Light Blue colorways.

Rear cameras

At the back is a 64MP f/1.8 main camera, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera, 5MP f/2.4 tertiary camera, and LED flash.

While in front is the aforementioned 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera on the punch hole.

We will try this setup and update you guys if it is any good in our full review.

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G Specs

Display: 6.7-inch 2.5D curved AMOLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, FHD+ 2400 x 1080 resolution at 393 ppi
CPU: 2.4GHz 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G octa-core processor
GPU: Adreno 642L
RAM: 8GB
ROM: 128GB expandable via microSD card up to 1TB
Back Camera: 64MP f/1.8 w/ PDAF + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle + 5MP f/2.4 + LED flash
Selfie Camera: 32MP f/2.2
Battery: 5,000mAh w/ 25W fast charging
OS: Android 11 w/ One UI 3.1
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.5GHz/5GHz), 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.2 A2DP, LE, A-Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic
Others: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Dolby Atmos, USB-C 2.0, USB OTG, Colors: White, Black, Light Blue
Dimensions: 165.2 x 76.4 x 7.4 mm
Weight: 173 g
Price: PHP 22,990

As of the moment

One UI

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is great. Like the A52s 5G, it has good specs and performance but with a slightly larger screen.

Out of the box, we love the flat 120Hz AMOLED display, 64MP triple rear cameras, 32MP selfie camera, large 5,000mAh battery, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G octa-core processor.

AnTuTu Benchmarks

In the AnTuTu benchmark, the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G scored over 504,384 which defeated over 27 percent of users. It only lost 2 percent battery during the duration of the test and managed to contain the heat by only raising 3.6 degrees Celsius.

So far it is looking to be a compelling smartphone option for Samsung fans. The similarly priced Galaxy A52s 5G just has better overall specs and features.

See you guys in our full review.

What do you guys think?