The Galaxy A53 arrived in 2022 with out many modifications in comparison with its predecessors and at first tasted just a little stale. One yr later, we revisited the Samsung mid-ranger for a re-review, and It truly aged fairly nicely as you possibly can see beneath.
Good
- Good AMOLED show
- Good efficiency
- First rate battery life
- The perfect software program assist within the class
Unhealthy
- Gradual charging
- No headphone jack
- Non-competitive worth
Samsung Galaxy A53 in a nutshell
Following within the footsteps of bestsellers just like the Galaxy A52 and A52s in 2022, the Galaxy A53 introduced related specs to the 2021 mid-rangers, with a 6.5-inch AMOLED show with 120 Hz refresh price, 5G assist due to its octa-core SoC, a quad-camera module with a 64 MP predominant shooter, 12 MP ultra-wide, and two 5 MP sensors—for macros and depth sensing.
After the Galaxy A54 launch, costs of the A53 are getting frequent reductions from its authentic $449.99 MSRP, and as of Could 2023, it may be discovered fairly simply, each within the Samsung on-line retailer and the standard e-commerce shops, like Amazon. So it’s price conserving a watch out for offers.
Generally, if each the A54 and A53 are priced the identical, we’d usually advocate going with the A54 mannequin and its up to date specs, together with a quicker processor, improved Wi-Fi assist, and one further yr of software program assist, as you possibly can see on the hyperlink beneath:
Design and display screen: If it ain’t broke do not repair it
When considered side-by-side with its predecessor, it’s actually troublesome to determine the Galaxy A53. Samsung saved the identical total design from the A52 fashions, with the identical centered punch-hole digital camera within the brilliant and fluid 6.5-inch AMOLED panel, in addition to a really related digital camera bump within the again between the generations.
Professionals:
- Shiny AMOLED show.
- Quick 120 Hz refresh price.
- Good matte end within the again.
- IP67 score.
Cons:
- Mainly unchanged from the A52 sequence.
Samsung’s AMOLED shows are a identified amount at this level, with
wonderful distinction ratio, punchy colours, and good brightness even for outside use,
and the A53 is not any totally different. Animations on the display screen are very easy due to the 120 Hz refresh price, however the identical might be mentioned concerning the panel on the A52 5G.
Construct high quality is sweet and on par with its rivals. And Samsung even managed to trim 0.3 mm from every dimension from the A52 to the A53 regardless of utilizing a much bigger battery. And much like the A52 fashions, the Galaxy A53 has an IP67 score for water and mud resistance.
Efficiency: Good exhibiting from the Exynos 1280
Powered by Samsung’s personal Exynos 1280 processor, the Galaxy A53 presents a efficiency stage much like the Snapdragon 778 discovered within the Galaxy A52s.
Snappy in every day use and video games, we discovered that One UI 5 managed to enhance efficiency in 2023.
Professionals:
- Greater than sufficient efficiency in every day duties.
- Aggressive efficiency in video games and benchmarks.
- Secure with out overheating.
- Improved efficiency since its launch.
- The perfect software program assist within the class.
Cons:
- Artificial multithreaded efficiency is beneath its rivals.
- Samsung is lagging behind on the subject of a sport overlay.
It’s not a secret that present intermediate SoCs are greater than able to dealing with common apps like YouTube, Netflix, Fb, WhatsApp, and others, and the Exynos 1280 shouldn’t be totally different. Apps load quick, interface animations are easy, and all that with out extreme warmth.
| Samsung Galaxy A53 (Exynos 1280) |
Redmi Be aware 12 Professional+ (Dimensity 1080) |
Galaxy A34 (Dimensity 1080) |
Galaxy XCover 6 Professional (Snapdragon 778) |
Motorola Edge 40 (Dimensity 8020) |
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| 3DMark Wild Life | |||||
| 3DMark Wild Life Stress Check |
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| Geekbench 6 |
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Gaming efficiency was aggressive, regardless of counting on solely two high-performance cores towards the 4 discovered within the Snapdragon 778 (which is why it performs significantly higher in Geekbench’s multi-core check). Higher nonetheless, the Galaxy A53 confirmed a really steady efficiency in 3DMark’s stress check, which simulates an extended gaming session and tries to determine overheating or thermal throttling issues, which it did not with the A53.
Surprisingly, whereas retesting the Galaxy A53 in 2023, the cellphone returned barely higher scores in productiveness and gaming benchmarks. Though the outcomes had been throughout the margin of error, they had been constant over 5 check runs.
In real-world video games like Name of Responsibility Cellular and Genshin Impression, the Samsung Galaxy A53 carried out as anticipated, with steady efficiency in medium or low graphical settings—together with the choice of quicker framerates in CoD:M when reducing the visible choices. The cellphone can’t compete with flagship telephones by way of picture high quality however presents aggressive efficiency for its market phase. The one factor missing is a greater sport overlay, on par with what Oppo/OnePlus and Xiaomi are doing.
Software program
Samsung’s replace coverage not solely is the most effective within the Android market on the flagship phase, however it is usually unmatched within the mid-range market. The Galaxy A53 is promised the identical 4 Android upgrades because the Galaxy S line, which—if every thing goes as deliberate—means longer assist than every other 2023 non-Pixel cellphone in the identical worth vary.
One other benefit is having fewer pointless apps put in—simply be sure to uncheck some “strategies” throughout setup—than its predominant rivals from the Xiaomi Redmi vary.
And as we noticed above, One UI 5 introduced some (admittedly small) efficiency enhancements in video games and every day duties. Not solely that however additional updates added options just like the picture clipping device inherited from the Galaxy S line.
A well-known digital camera module
The digital camera module within the Galaxy A53 has the identical precise specs because the A52 predecessors: a
64 megapixels predominant sensor with phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) and optical picture stabilization (OIS), a 12 megapixels ultra-wide digital camera with 123˚ subject of view, and a pair of 5 MP sensors for macro photographs and depth sensing.
Professionals:
- Good picture high quality in daylight photos.
- First rate nighttime photographs.
- Optical Picture Stabilization (OIS).
- Macros may be first rate.
Cons:
- No telephoto lens.
- Mainly unchanged from the A52.
Generally, photos within the daytime had been fairly good, with the standard colour processing Samsung is thought for, with boosted distinction ranges. Just like what my colleague Benjamin Lucks discovered throughout his A52 evaluation, I seen some variations within the colours from the extensive and ultra-wide cameras, the latter with barely washed-out outcomes.
And not using a devoted telephoto lens, the A53 depends on digital zoom for close-ups, with the standard outcomes. Outcomes as much as 2x magnification are normally good, however going any additional — just like the 5x zoom images within the gallery beneath — leads to photographs missing element.
And after testing some smartphones with 2 MP macro cameras, the 5 MP supplied by the Galaxy A53 are very welcomed. The ensuing photographs had been removed from jaw-dropping, with most photographs being overly noisy, however just a little little bit of endurance (and regular palms) can produce pleasing photos.
As for the nighttime efficiency, the A53 repeats the qualities of the A52, with a bit extra element in the suitable conditions. Personally, normally, I discovered the outcomes not that a lot totally different from the usual mode.
In terms of selfies, the Galaxy A53 did nicely with its 32-megapixel digital camera — once more, with the identical specs because the A52 — each within the common and wide-angle modes, with a great stage of particulars and colour replica. And the Portrait mode labored because it ought to, with good topic separation.
Briefly, the digital camera options of the Galaxy A53 are largely the identical as these from the A52, which is a disgrace, particularly as a result of Samsung opted to not embrace a telephoto lens in its 2022 Galaxy A line, not even on the A73 supplied in just a few markets.
Good battery life, sluggish charging instances
The Samsung Galaxy A53 is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery (500 mAh larger than the one within the A52), and the capability improve was achieved regardless of the discount within the dimensions. Alternatively,
Samsung now not contains the charger within the field.
Professionals:
- Battery can final two days of normal use.
- Battery capability elevated in relation to the A52 whereas decreasing the general quantity.
Cons:
- 25-watt charging shouldn’t be quick anymore.
- No charger within the field.
- No wi-fi charging.
I admit coming fairly pessimistic about the Galaxy A53, however the Exynos 1280 not solely proved itself succesful efficiency clever, but additionally relating to battery consumption. The A53 lasted roughly two days on a single cost, with some heavy sport downloading (14 GB for Genshin Impression!) gentle social media and messaging use, and a quick GPS/digital camera tour.
Alternatively, Samsung insisted on not upgrading the mid-ranger’s charging capabilities, and nonetheless solely presents as much as 25 W “quick” charging. Coming from the Oppo Discover X5 Lite/Reno 7 5G, I couldn’t really feel upset by speeds nearly 4x slower on the Galaxy A53, utilizing both an Anker PowerPort III 65W or a Samsung EP-TA20 (20W) charger.
| Charging | Samsung Galaxy A53 | Oppo Discover X5 Lite | Realme 9 Professional+ | Realme 8 Professional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 5% | 20% | 15% | |
| 20 minutes | 19% | 71% | 50% | |
| 1 hour | 57% | – | 100% | |
| Full cost | < 2h | < 35 min | 1h | |
| PC Mark Battery check | 13h19 | crashed at round 12h | 13h44 | n/a |
Samsung Galaxy A53 technical specs
| Samsung Galaxy A53 specs | |
|---|---|
| Product | |
| Show | 6.5-inch, AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels 120 Hz refresh price |
| SoC | Samsung Exynos 1280 |
| Reminiscence | 128/256 GB ROM 6/8 GB RAM |
| Software program | One UI 4.1 with Android 12 |
| Digital camera | Predominant: 64 MP | f/1.8 | OIS Extremely-wide-angle: 12 MP | f/2.2 Macro: 5 MP | f/2.4 Depth: 5 MP | f/2.4 |
| Selfies | 32 MP | f/2.2 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh 25 W wired charging |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 5 (ac), BT 5.1, NFC, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS |
| Dimensions and weight | 6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in | 6.67 oz 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm | 189 g |
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Different factors which will curiosity the NextPit group:
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Remaining verdict
The Galaxy A53 doesn’t repeat the large evolution introduced by the A52 technology, so it’s exhausting to advocate it to these utilizing the Galaxy A52, or A52s. However for these loyal to Samsung nonetheless utilizing the favored Galaxy A51 or older, the 2022 replace is a welcome improve.
Considerably much like what occurred with the iPhone SE 2022, the Galaxy A53 looks as if a processor improve over the A52 and A52 5G, with higher efficiency and related battery life, whereas not fairly providing the identical efficiency discovered with the Snapdragon 778 used within the Galaxy A52s.
It’s a disgrace that Samsung would not appear to care concerning the fierce competitors between the Chinese language manufacturers on the subject of quick charging, however even that may be forgiven contemplating the variations in replace insurance policies, relying on how lengthy you propose to maintain utilizing the system. Apart from that, the dearth of a charger within the field and a headphone jack, sadly, appear like an irreversible pattern.
Even so, the extent of software program assist offered by the South Korean model to its mid-ranger—which was up to date to Android 13 earlier than most different flagships—and the slight enhancements in efficiency and options with One UI 5 make the Galaxy A53 nonetheless a viable contender within the phase in 2023.
With costs fluctuating often for the A53, it’s price conserving a watch out for offers, generally with near $100 reductions. For the $449 MSRP, nonetheless, take into account getting one of many Pixel telephones and even the Galaxy A54, the latter solely after studying NextPit’s evaluation, in fact.
