Seeking authoritative field data on 5G SA/VoNR enablement and EN-DC/CA combinations on the Galaxy A52s 5G (128 GB variant)
The Galaxy A52s 5G (Snapdragon 778G) theoretically supports a broad set of NR/LTE features, yet in practice Samsung’s regional firmware and operator provisioning appear to gate capabilities such as 5G SA, VoNR, and specific EN-DC and CA combos. I would like to compile a verifiable, region-by-region capability matrix based on real-world observations rather than spec sheets.
Key questions
- 5G SA availability: On which CSCs and firmware builds does the A52s successfully register on SA (RRC Connected in NR without LTE anchor)? Which NR bands are permitted in SA per region?
- VoNR provisioning: Has anyone observed VoNR attach on SA or NSA with stock firmware (no PDC edits)? If yes, which operators and CSCs?
- EN-DC and CA details: What LTE anchor + NR band combinations are actually negotiated in NSA, including bandwidth per carrier and the number of LTE and NR component carriers? Any evidence of NR-CA, or is it strictly single NR carrier plus LTE CA on this device?
- Firmware deltas: Did One UI 6.x or recent modem/baseband updates alter CA combos, SA availability, or IMS behavior on specific networks?
- Power and thermal behavior: Any measurable standby and active power differences between SA and NSA on this handset under identical RF conditions? Thermal throttling patterns during sustained 5G data sessions?
Request for reproducible reports
Please include as many of the following as possible so we can correlate outcomes:
- Device/firmware: Model (e.g., SM-A528B), CSC, baseband version, One UI/Android version
- Operator/region: MCC/MNC, country, and whether the SIM profile is provisioned for 5G SA/VoNR per the carrier
- Radio state and bands:
- NSA: LTE anchor band(s) and bandwidth, CA count; NR band and bandwidth; total aggregated bandwidth
- SA: NR band(s), bandwidth, any NR-CA if observed
- IMS/voice: VoLTE and VoNR registration states; whether calls remain on NR, fall back to LTE, or circuit-switched fallback occurs
- Tools and evidence: Screenshots or logs from NetMonster, ServiceMode, or QXDM/QCAT where available; speed/latency figures; cell vendor if known (eNodeB/gNodeB OEM)
- Environment: Signal metrics (RSRP/RSRQ/SINR), mobility or stationary, indoor/outdoor
- Power: Short controlled comparison of idle drain and sustained throughput drain in NSA vs SA
Method notes
- NetMonster provides a low-friction way to capture EN-DC and CA data on Samsung without root.
- ServiceMode band locking can help confirm combos but use read-only observation where possible to avoid unintended persistence.
- For power testing, control for display brightness, background sync, and app activity; capture radio-specific drain if your monitoring tool separates it.
Initial hypotheses to validate
- SA is enabled on select CSCs for n78/n28 in Europe and parts of Asia, but disabled elsewhere despite network support.
- VoNR is generally disabled by default on this model and only works where the carrier explicitly provisions it for the device TAC.
- The handset supports robust LTE CA but only single NR carrier in NSA (no NR-CA), with total throughput primarily limited by NR bandwidth and LTE CA availability.
If we can aggregate enough high-quality reports, I will summarize confirmed capabilities by CSC/operator and firmware build, including any reproducible toggles or updates that change behavior.