Samsung’s Galaxy M-Series usually makes battery capacity its main star. But this time, Samsung seems more daring to overhaul the formula so that other features stand out too, even compared to the power sector itself. Yes, I’m talking about the Galaxy M52 5G, the successor to the Galaxy M51.
Coming as a new challenger in the middle segment, the Galaxy M52 5G is one of the phones that has a complete offering. In some parts the improvement is also quite significant, including its status as the first Galaxy M member to support 5G networks. But is the Galaxy M52 5G able to appear more tempting as a product for 5 million rupiah? Just take a look at the reviews!
Slim and lightweight design
If you still remember, the Galaxy M51 which carries a 7,000 mAh battery looks a bit bulky and quite heavy. Samsung has made drastic changes to the Galaxy M52 5G. The thickness of the body which previously reached 9.5mm is now only 7.4mm. While the weight from 213 grams to 173 grams. How come? Reasonable. Because it turns out that the embedded battery has a much smaller capacity.
Let’s put the battery aside first. In terms of design, the Galaxy M52 5G in my opinion is much cooler than its older brother. Samsung still puts forward a minimalist-elegant concept with a little flavoring in the form of a straight line pattern on the back cover. If the design of the Galaxy M51 feels a bit bland to me, the Galaxy M52 5G looks more trendy.
Samsung provides three color options. The one in this article is the White variant. But if I may choose, I am personally more interested in the Light Blue variant. In addition to these two colors, there is also a Black variant. The material is still polycarbonate and wrapped with a glossy finish.
In terms of operation, the Galaxy M52 5G feels quite comfortable to hold even though the grip sensation is not the most stable. Honestly when I first tried it, I was a little worried that this phone would slip easily. The back cover is easily dirty by finger marks. Those two things for me are the reasons for having to install a softcase, which unfortunately, is not in the sales box. So, I had to buy it separately.
For slot availability, the Galaxy M52 5G adopts a hybrid system, which means that one of the SIM-Card slots must share the same place as a microSD. If you want to install two SIM-Cards, you can’t add a microSD. Conversely, if you want to install a microSD, SIM-Card can only be one.
At the bottom you will find the USB Type-C port which is located next to the speaker hole. In addition, if you are looking for where the 3.5mm audio jack port is located, the answer is no. The alternative can be to buy a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter, or just use TWS which is already wireless.
Steady screen: 120 Hz!
The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus Infinity-O display. The resolution is Full HD + and the Always-On Display feature is supported. Best of all, the screen has a high refresh rate of 120 Hz! This is what I say is a significant improvement compared to the previous generation.
With a higher refresh rate, of course, the movement of the image on the screen will look much smoother. By default this phone will choose Motion Smoothness mode at High aka 120 Hz. Even so, you can still choose the 60 Hz mode if you want to get a longer battery life. Unfortunately, I have difficulty finding information on the 120 Hz mode regarding the availability of adaptive technology that will adjust the refresh rate to the content being played.
Overall, it’s a pretty satisfying screen. The brightness level is also very good and there are no significant problems when viewed in bright sunlight. In addition, the color presentation looks a bit ripe so that the displayed content looks more appetizing.
Responsiveness in my opinion is also very good, especially when I try to play games. Oh yes, this screen is also Widevine L1. No need to hesitate if you like watching Korean movies, TV series, or dramas on Netflix. The resolution can be up to Full HD.
Talking a little about audio, the internal speaker on the Galaxy M52 5G is only on the bottom. That means it’s still mono, not stereo. A little disappointing considering the trend is now that many are offering stereo speakers, even in a much cheaper price range.
Camera is okay for photos and videos
From the camera sector, this smartphone is equipped with a 64 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5 MP macro lens. For selfie needs, there is a 32 MP camera in front. Some typical Samsung features like Single Take are also available. In addition, there is also a Night Hyperlapse feature to create content at night with lighting that can adjust automatically up to 1.5 seconds.
In my opinion, the photos are quite good, especially in ideal light conditions. The captured detail is high so that the photos presented look sharp. Samsung’s signature color reproduction with slightly raised saturation. It can’t be said to be natural, but it’s also not too excessive, especially to the point of eliminating the nuances of the original shooting conditions. The dynamic range is also wide.
For an ultra-wide camera, the photos are no less good. It’s not as good as the main camera, but the sharpness and color quality deserves thumbs up. What exceeded my expectations was the macro camera. I myself am not a person who likes to use a macro camera in everyday life. Because usually only as a complement, I often ignore the existence of a macro camera. But apparently, the Galaxy M52 5G macro camera can capture close-up images nicely.
How about a selfie camera? No complaints. The 32 MP figure is not just a gimmick because the sharpness of the photo is indeed good. The color tone on my face is still quite natural even though it has gone through the smoothing process by AI.
Low light photos can’t really be called special, but fortunately it’s not below the standard of a 5 million rupiah cell phone. Night Mode on the Galaxy M52 5G is mostly able to capture the night atmosphere similar to the original. AI doesn’t lift the brightness in unnecessary parts. Although on several occasions, I feel the night photos are a bit inconsistent. Your hands must also be stable because the main camera does not have OIS.
Continue to videography. Video recording uses the built-in stabilization feature on the selfie camera and the main camera of the Galaxy M52 5G is capable of producing fairly stable images. Both cameras can record up to 4K resolution at 30fps. You can see the results in some of the videos below, including the video results with the ultra-wide camera:
Fast and steady performance for gaming
The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G which is known to have fast performance for various needs, including gaming. The increase is quite significant compared to the previous generation chipset. This 6nm chipset is claimed to be able to provide up to 40% higher GPU performance, 40% CPU performance increase, and 2x AI processing power.
In addition, although it is equipped with 8 GB of RAM which should be sufficient for multitasking needs of most users, Samsung still embeds the RAM Plus feature to add another 4 GB of extra RAM. So if you feel that 8 GB of RAM is still lacking, just activate this feature.
The performance is clearly in line with expectations. The combination of fast hardware with the OneUI 3.1 operating system based on Android 11 managed to deliver a responsive and smooth performance. Switching between applications also feels agile and I don’t find any annoying lags at all. The storage capacity is the standard for today’s middle class phones, 128 GB.
For mobile gamers, the Galaxy M52 5G can be an option worth considering. Heavy games like Genshin Impact can be run quite smoothly with high graphics settings in 60 fps mode. Although the frame rate obtained does not reach 60 fps, at least it is still at a very playable number. Especially lighter games like Mobile Legends. Playing with the graphics settings stuck to the right and active HFR mode is not a problem at all.
During the game I also felt the cooling system on the Galaxy M52 5G worked well. Samsung has never explained the technology specifically, but whatever it is, it manages to keep the temperature in a safe range.
Battery lasts long
On paper, the decrease in battery capacity from the previous 7,000 mAh to 5,000 mAh does look very drastic. But don’t shake your head just yet, because it turns out that with a smaller battery, the Galaxy M52 5G is still able to provide battery life which for me is very satisfying.
For my usage style which is more about communication, chatting, social media, browsing, and sometimes watching YouTube or playing games, the battery life can reach 1.5 days. Maybe 2 days if my usage style is more relaxed. So, in my opinion there is absolutely no problem with the trimmed battery capacity.
A little disappointment actually comes from its charging ability. The Galaxy M52 5G actually supports 25W fast charging. Unfortunately, in the sales package, only 15W charging is provided which leads to a charging duration of almost 2 hours to be fully charged. On the positive side, at least we are still given a charger. Want something tighter? Yes, buy your own charger!
Complementary features
In addition to a series of main features that I have discussed above, the Galaxy M52 5G has several complementary features that are a shame if they are not discussed. NFC for example. Suitable for those of you who need a cellphone to check and top up e-money balances. Always-On Display as I mentioned above, is also available. Fingerprint sensor? It’s on the side, integrated with the power button, and has fast performance.
You can also connect your phone with a PC via the Link to Windows feature. There is also Quick Share which as the name suggests serves to share files quickly. Game Launcher is also available with a range of settings to optimize your game. For fun, there’s the AR Zone, which lets you create emojis and play Augmented Reality-based animations.
Deserves to be the best candidate
Finding the most appropriate daily driver is indeed difficult. Especially if it’s only based on stories or experiences using other people. To be sure, the expectations of each user will always be different. Products that are satisfactory to me may not necessarily be acceptable to you with the same conclusion.
But as varied as everyone’s needs may be, I’m pretty sure the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G can meet the expectations of most consumers. It is a good phone in almost all its main sectors. Performance, camera, battery, screen, design, all at the right level for the price. Even if there are some shortcomings, it’s only on things that are minor in nature. Samsung is clearly getting better at making phones with a balance between performance and price.
For those who are interested, the Galaxy M52 5G is sold at a price of Rp. 5,399,000.
Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is suitable for:
- Users who want to switch to 5G: If you want to move to a 5G phone, the Galaxy M52 5G is one option that you should consider.
- Students: With a balanced performance in almost all features, the Galaxy M52 5G is suitable for young people who have a myriad of activities. Ideal for study, work, or entertainment.
- Employees: Working mobile isn’t a problem if you have a fast phone with a solid battery life.
- Netflix/Korean Drama Fans: Do you like watching movies or dramas on Netflix? The Galaxy M52 5G screen is capable of presenting images beautifully. The battery also lasts a long time, so you don’t need to recharge it often.
- Gamers: The combination of powerful performance and economical power consumption is the right formula for gamers.
- Content creators: Although the capabilities are not yet at the flagship level, the Galaxy M52 5G can be an alternative device if you have to create impromptu content on the go.
Pros of Samsung Galaxy M52 5G:
- A more stylish design with a slim and light body
- 120Hz Super AMOLED Display
- Steady performance, safe temperature
- There is a RAM Plus feature to add 4 GB of RAM
- The main camera is capable of producing good photos
- The results of the ultra-wide camera photos are quite good
- Sharp macro camera
- Stable video recording, wide dynamic range
- Long lasting battery even though the capacity is not as big as its predecessor
- Already supports 5G
- There is NFC
Disadvantages of Samsung Galaxy M52 5G:
- Speakers are not stereo
- No 3.5mm . jack audio port
- The sales package is minimal, without a softcase and extra protection for the screen
- The default charger is only 15W, even though the technology already supports 25W
- The back body is easy to stick to finger marks
- Slot hybrid
