Looking for a capable smartphone for under Php20,000? There are tons of options available out there and we’d be comparing two of them right here.
First, we have the POCO X3 GT, Xiaomi’s latest offering that’s appealing to a lot of people looking for a value-oriented smartphone.
We’d be comparing that to the Samsung Galaxy A52 — a similarly-priced midrange phone from one of the most popular brands in the world.
So the question is, which between the two is better? We find out in our POCO X3 GT versus Samsung Galaxy A52 specifications and features comparison.
| POCO X3 GT | Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
| Operating System | Android 11 MIUI 12.5 for POCO | Android 11 Samsung One UI 3.1 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual stand-by | Dual SIM Dual stand-by Hybrid |
| Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 399ppi 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate DCI-P3 360-degree ambient light sensor | 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 407ppi 90Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | 2.6GHz MediaTek Dimensity 1100 octa-core LiquidCool Technology 2.0 | 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MC9 | Adreno 618 |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 non-expandable | 128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 expandable via microSD |
| Front Camera | 16-megapixel | 32-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 64-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) 2-megapixel (macro, f/2.4) LED flash | 64-megapixel (f/1.8, OIS) 12-megapixel (f/2.2, ultra-wide) 5-megapixel (macro) 5-megapixel (depth sensor) LED flash |
| Audio | No headphone jack Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-Res audio Hi-Res wireless audio X-axis haptic | No headphone jack AKG-tuned stereo speakers Dolby Atmos |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor AI Face Unlock | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BDS NFC USB Type-C | 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS NFC USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.9 x 8.9mm | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm |
| Weight | 193g | 189g |
| Body | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Back: Glass Frame: Aluminum | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Back: Plastic IP67 water resistant |
| Colors | Wave Blue Cloud White Stargaze Black | Awesome Blue Awesome Black Awesome White |
| Battery | 5,000mAh non-removable 67W Turbo Charging | 4,500mAh non-removable 25W fast charging |
| Price | 8GB/128GB: Php15,990 8GB/256GB: Php17,990 | Php18,990 |
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G shares the same clean design that its siblings have. It’s available in muted colors that actually look nice in the eyes. Plus, a matte plastic on the back that keeps it clean from fingerprint marks and smudges.
On the other hand, Xiaomi went with a more traditional look with the POCO X3 GT. It has a shiny glass-like plastic on the back with a bit of an over-the-top rectangular camera glass with a silver accent to highlight the main camera.
Still, it’ll be up to you to decide which looks better.
But as for the build, the POCO X3 GT clearly nailed this one. It features a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which used to be exclusive on expensive phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Although it would’ve been nice to see an official IP rating on this, like what the Galaxy A52 5G has.
Display and Audio
On this round, you have to decide which one is more important: quality or speed.
With the Galaxy A52, you’re getting a more vibrant and flexible Super AMOLED screen but with a slower 90Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the X3 GT only has an IPS panel but do have a much faster 120Hz refresh rate.
Moreover, the two also have stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support. However, the X3 GT gets a one-up by having Hi-Res audio and Hi-Res wireless. A more advanced X-axis haptic motor is also present for a more detailed vibration system.
Hardware and Performance
Here’s a clear win for the X3 GT, which boasts a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 CPU 5G that can rival flagship-level CPUs. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A52 settles for a less powerful Snapdragon 720G chip that doesn’t even have 5G.
The POCO device also has a UFS 3.1 storage for faster saving times, data transfer, taking videos, and whatnot. It also features a newer WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 standard.
Related
- POCO X3 GT vs Realme 8 Pro: Specs Comparison
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- POCO price list in the Philippines
- Realme smartphones price list
Cameras
An absolute win for the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. While they both have 64-megapixel cameras, the one on Samsung’s has optical image stabilization (OIS) for better low-light shots and steadier handheld video recording.
It also has sharper ultra-wide and selfie cameras plus, a dedicated depth sensor so you have a bragging right of owning a quad-camera smartphone. You can check camera samples in our full review.
Battery
A clear win for the POCO X3 GT. The 500mAh higher battery capacity means you can squeeze a couple of minutes, or even hours, out of this.
The best part is, it has a 67W Turbo charger that doesn’t only beat the 25W on the Galaxy A52, but almost all of the devices in this price range.
Conclusion
Well, we’ve got an obvious winner here. While they’re similarly priced, the POCO X3 GT is miles ahead of the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.
It has 5G connectivity to make it future-proof, a more powerful Dimensity 1100 processor, faster UFS 3.1 storage, sturdy glass, a bigger battery, and a much faster 67W charging. Unless having slightly better cameras and an AMOLED screen is really important, you’re better off with the X3 GT than the Galaxy A52.
What’s interesting is, even its top-tier model is cheaper than the latter. The X3 GT’s 8GB/256GB retails for Php17,990. That’s Php1,000 cheaper than the Galaxy A52’s only model, which is available for Php18,990.