Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Is This A Flagship Or Mid-Range Phone?

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the latest in a long line of mid-range phones produced by Samsung to complement its wide range of budget and flagship smartphones, with the Galaxy A53 fitting right in between the two.

Last year, one of my favourite mid-range phones was the Samsung Galaxy A52S, which was an excellent phone in its own right. However, Samsung released their latest mid-range phone, the Galaxy A53, in 2022, and it has a lot to live up to because last year’s model was a strong contender for mid-range phone of the year.

In this Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review, I will be discussing some key facts about the smartphone to see if it is any better than last year’s model, as well as provide some insight into how it compares to other mid-range phones, such as the One Plus Note 2 and some other phones in its price range.

Alternative Post: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review.

Unboxing The Galaxy A53 5G Smartphone

All of Samsung’s “A” series phones come in very similar white boxes, with the only significant difference being the phone’s picture and name on the box, but other than that, there isn’t much of a difference between the boxes the phones come in.

When you open the Samsung A13 box, you’ll see the phone right there in front of you, but don’t throw away the cover because that’s where your user manual is kept. If you’re like me, you won’t read the manual, so you might as well throw it away.

When you’re finished with the manual, remove the plastic wrap from the phone and turn it on. After that, there’s nothing else in the box except the USB-C cable, which is very disappointing because this isn’t a flagship phone, and it feels a bit unnecessary to remove all the other accessories in the box, especially since there isn’t a 25W power brick included.

Specs – Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review

Screen size and display type	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Rear cameras:	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X”, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)5 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Front camera:	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm
Refresh Rate:	120Hz
Storage & RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 PPI density)
OS:	Android 12, One UI 4.1
Battery size:	5000mAh
Weight:	189 g (6.67 oz)
Chipset:	Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
Battery life	36hrs
Dimensions	159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
Colours:	Black, White, Blue, Peach

Design and Build Quality – Galaxy A53 Looks

From a design standpoint, Samsung has played it safe with the A53, maintaining the same design language from last year. It is a rather wide and stocky phone, so you should watch how you place it in your pockets when you are going out. The A53 is a good-sized 6.5-inch smartphone. Its screen size hasn’t changed for at least three years, so you always know what you’re getting with it.

The centre-hole punch selfie camera with slim side bezels and a relatively small bottom chin has also been a part of the design for quite some time now. It also has an 85% screen-to-body ratio, making for a relatively distraction-free viewing experience. The A53 comes in several colour options ranging from black, white, peach, and even blue, so there are more than enough colour options for you to choose from.

However the back of the phone is made of plastic, but thankfully it has a lovely matte finish with a metal-like polished side that gives off a semi-premium vibe, but it’s a mid-tier “A” series phone, which is to be expected. Aside from a smoother and more subtle camera bump, the only other change is the addition of an IP67 water and dust rating, which is a minor but welcome addition.

One thing I was very disappointed to see was the removal of the headphone jack from the phone, and that did feel like a bit of a waste, as Samsung didn’t use the space to do anything with the phone. They just sort of filled up the whole thing. It almost feels like they just wanted to take out the headphone jack to make it feel more like a flagship phone. I also like the in-display fingerprint reader, which feels great to use, and I haven’t had to move my fingers to open the phone.

Display Of The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Samsung has provided the phone with a super AMOLED display with a full HD resolution of 2400 x 1080p, which rounds out to about 405 pixels per inch. It also has a 120Hz high refresh rate panel. The A53 provides that bold, bright, and very colourful look that I know a lot of people appreciate. In comparison, this particular OLED display doesn’t get as dark with its blacks or as bright for outdoor viewing as some other devices nowadays. I still think it offers a lot of value.

Resolution-wise, you have to go 1080p with a screen this size, and with 120Hz enabled, this phone feels exceptionally responsive and silky smooth with every tap and touch. Altogether, these are the same general features and specs that Samsung’s “S” series phones get. There may be some minor differences in the quality of the OLED panel or touch sampling rate. Still, for a vast majority of people, this is a viewing experience that is very much comparable to their flagship models.

Speakers

Samsung also added a dual speaker setup to the A53, which enhances the out loud listening experience, and since there aren’t any headphone jacks on the phone, the minor but much-appreciated addition of the dual speaker setup is just a welcomed addition. They may not be special speakers with their sound quality or placement, but they are loud enough to enjoy whatever you are listening to. 

Performance

From the performance side of things, I think the A53 falls short, and it is not because of any issues. The phone performs just fine. It really stems from the choice of processor and how it compares to other similarly priced devices. The model I’m reviewing is powered by the Exynos 1280, one of Samsung’s newest mid-tier chipsets, but comparatively, the A33 also has the same processor and RAM options as the A53.

Therein lies the problem; the A33’s internals seems to be either configured slightly differently or maybe less utilised in some way. The end result was still similar in speed and performance to the A53, which is weird because both phones really shouldn’t be similar.

 Furthermore, while the A53 has no outright performance issues, this choice of processor limits you if you intend to play graphically intensive games at their highest settings. This phone just doesn’t support it; you can get maxed out 40-60fps settings with noticeable frame rate drops from time to time, but the A73 can support and play smoothly on even higher settings.

This may not be a deciding factor for most people, but it highlights why I think the A53 has a tougher time fitting into the lineup. It’s not any better than the A33, even though it’s priced higher. It’s not a huge upgrade over the A52 and A52s either, which both have Snapdragon 700 series processors.

Like I had said previously, I felt this phone performed well on a day-to-day basis. For a vast majority of people whose daily usage consists mostly of web browsing, social media scrolling, YouTube, and texting, you’re going to have that well-optimized and familiar Samsung One UI setup and multiple years of software updates to come. 

The A53 is a well-specced, well-performing device with plenty of capabilities to handle everything you throw at it, but it isn’t the only phone on the market or in its price range that offers similar specs and performance.

The Cameras

It is no secret that Samsung has been focusing its efforts on the camera system more than anywhere else on their smartphones nowadays. The yearly improvements in their pictures and videos continue to impress me. However, the actual specs, capabilities, and features haven’t really seen any significant changes or upgrades. The hardware is the same as the A52s, so you’re getting the same 64MP main lens, 12MP ultrawide, a pair of 5MP macro and depth lenses, and a 32MP selfie camera.

When you take a look at the camera app, there’s nothing that’s been added or otherwise changed, but Samsung still offers a lot of features and functions that allow this phone to be a step above the competition. For example, there’s a 4K video camera, pretty decent pro controls for photos and videos, extra stabilisation, and high-megapixel shooting. There’s more here than I personally use on a day-to-day basis, and that’s a good thing because it provides most camera enthusiasts with a way to get the most out of all of their shots and photos.

I think Samsung has slowly evolved its “A” series camera setups from being fairly budget focused to surprisingly feature-packed. With all that being said, though, you are still able to tell that this “A” series phone falls short of Samsung’s flagship devices, mainly with how consistently inconsistent they are when conditions are less than ideal.

The A53, like most Samsung phones, gives you a very colourful and saturated look, which is very pleasing but not necessarily true to life. There’s tons of detail in every shot, but when settings or subjects show some extremes, like dark shadows and bright areas, the phone tends to struggle. The dynamic range isn’t as great as it likely could be, which is what gives away the fact that it’s a budget phone device.

Video Capturing

I haven’t always been impressed by Samsung’s mid-tier and budget phones when it comes to video, but again, there’s been a lot of improvements with the camera system, especially with stabilisation, focus hunting, and just the overall look of the shots.

All things considered, this is a phone that gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to the camera setup, and I believe that the majority of people who own an “S” series phone utilise all the crazily high-end features that Samsung offers. However, with the A53, the camera setup is one of the main reasons to consider this phone, and for the vast majority of people, their pictures and videos would be extremely impressive.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A53 has a 4500mAh battery, which can easily provide you with up to 12 hours of screen on time without having to disable the 120Hz option or perform any other battery-saving tricks. However, there are no other charging or power-related features. There’s no wireless charging; there’s no industry-leading fast charging (just the same 25w support), which you wouldn’t even be able to utilise since Samsung doesn’t include one in the box. Altogether, it feels like Samsung is very uninterested in upgrading the charging options for their “A” series phones.

What Are Some of the Pros and Cons of the Samsung Galaxy A53?

Pros

• A good display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
• Up to 1TB of expandable storage
• Excellent design and build quality
• Excellent software assistance

Cons

• Average performance
• Macro and depth cameras are ineffective.

Buyer’s Guide – Samsung Galaxy A53 5g Review

The Samsung Galaxy A53 is widely available in multiple storefronts and retail outlets. You can find it on Amazon for about $349, and that seems like a good deal to me. It also sells on eBay for about $340. 

Samsung also sells its phones directly from its stores, and you can buy the A53 for about $330. If you want the best deals on the A53, however, you should consider buying it from a network provider. They sell a locked version for very low prices, so if you don’t mind being locked to a single network provider, you can get them cheap. A good example is a sale from Verizon for about $259, and that is a good deal, to be honest.

I would also like to throw out some suggestions in the form of some Samsung “A” series phones that you could also get as close alternatives to the Samsung A53. If you want to save some money without sacrificing any significant features or specs, I found it on Amazon for $262. 

Alternatively, if you want your money to go further and you have a bit more money to spend, then the A73 is the more significant step up in performance and specs that make the extra cash worth it.

As far as accessories go, the A53 does not come with any of them, so you will have to buy some earbuds and a power brick if you don’t have your old ones. The Samsung charger costs about $25 on Amazon for the 25w power brick. You might also want some earbuds since you don’t get any complimentary earphones in the box. 

So, might I suggest the Google Pixel Buds Pro, which costs about $250, or you could get the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, which costs about $229 on Amazon? So, with that, you should be good in the accessories department.

Conclusion

Objectively speaking, there’s nothing wrong with this phone. It is a feature-packed device that’s great value for your money, which has been the case with the past set of A50 series of phones. Between the decent design of the phone, the AMOLED 120Hz display, the above-average camera setup, and the familiar Samsung Android experience with multiple years of software updates, this phone offers more than enough to make anyone happy.

The A53, on the other hand, does not exist in isolation from the world of smartphones or even within Samsung’s 2022 lineup. So, if you own an A52 or A52S from last year, there’s nothing the A53 provides that you don’t already have. 

I can’t see a reason for upgrading, but if you have some other different or older device and you’re looking at the 2022 “A” series, then maybe you can look at the A53. 

The A53, to me, kind of got squeezed out this year, especially when you start to compare them to some of the other phones in the “A” series of phones, and that’s unfortunate. At the end of the day, if you like it, if you want it, and it’s the phone your carrier is offering for a good deal, then, by all means, you should go for it.

Hopefully, Samsung will do a little more to both upgrade it and differentiate it from the rest of the crowded lineup. Anyways, thank you so much for reading this article, and if you have any questions, just leave them down in the comments section, and I’ll get to them as soon as possible.

FAQs – Samsung Galaxy A53 Review

Q: The Samsung A53 is how old?

A: Samsung Electronics created and produced the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, a mid-range Android smartphone, as a member of its Galaxy A series. The device was unveiled alongside the Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy A73 5G on March 17, 2022, at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event.

Q: Is the Galaxy A53 Waterproof?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G has an IP67 rating, meaning it can withstand 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes. Therefore, if it rains or you place your phone close to a bathtub or shower, it should be fine if it gets wet.

Q: How long is the A53 battery good for?

A: Even though Samsung included a massive 5,000mAh battery, the A53 5G only had a 36.5-hour battery life in our testing, demonstrating that larger batteries don’t always have greater power. The previous model’s 4,500mAh battery lasted an amazing 45 hours.

Q: A32 or A53: Which smartphone has the superior camera?

A: The 64 MP quad rear camera on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G outperforms the 48 MP quad rear camera on the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G in terms of resolution. If you plan to take a lot of selfies, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G will be a better option because it offers a better 32 MP front camera than the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G’s 13 MP front camera.

Q: Is wireless charging available on the Galaxy A53?

A: The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G does not support wireless charging.

Q: What is Galaxy A52 5G?

A: The Galaxy A52 5g is a smartphone by Samsung that is compatible with 5G networks. It is available in both a 4G and a 5G model.

Q: What is the difference between the Galaxy A52 and A53?

A: The main difference between the Galaxy A52 and A53 is that the A53 has a higher resolution camera (64MP vs 48MP) and a higher front-facing camera (32MP vs 13MP). The A53 also has a slightly larger battery (5000mAh vs 4500mAh) and a higher screen refresh rate (120Hz vs 90Hz).

Q: How Good is 120hz Refresh Rate?

A: A 120hz refresh rate is great for gaming and other activities that require a lot of movement on the screen. The higher refresh rate makes the image on the screen appear smoother and more fluid.

Q: How much does the Galaxy A53 cost?

A: The Galaxy A53 smartphone costs about $349 online. The Galaxy A53 5G is available in four different storage configurations: 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 8GB RAM. The price of the Galaxy A53 5G varies depending on the storage configuration that you choose. The 128GB 4GB RAM model is the most affordable option, while the 256GB 8GB RAM model is the most expensive option.

Q: What is the release date of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G was released in 2022.

Q: What is the screen size of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

Q: What is the battery size of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G has a 5000mAh battery.

Q: What is the processor of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G is powered by the Exynos 1280 processor.

Q: What is the storage capacity of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G is available in four different storage configurations: 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 8GB RAM.

Q: What is the RAM of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G is available in four different RAM configurations: 4GB RAM, 6GB RAM, 8GB RAM, and 12GB RAM.

Q: What is the main camera of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G has a 64 MP quad rear camera.

Q: What is the front camera of the Galaxy A53?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G has a 32 MP front camera.

Q: What are the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Features?

A: Some of the key features of the Galaxy A53 5G include a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, a 64 MP quad rear camera, a 32 MP front camera, a 5000mAh battery, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G waterproof?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G has an IP67 rating, meaning it can withstand 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes.

Q: Is Samsung A53 5G worth buying?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G is a great mid-range smartphone that offers a lot of features and capabilities. If you are looking for a phone with a great camera, a large battery, and a high screen refresh rate, the Galaxy A53 5G is a great option.

Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G have wireless charging?

A: The Galaxy A53 5G does not support wireless charging.

Q: Can I take pictures underwater with Samsung A53 5G?

A: Depending on how deep you go, the Galaxy A53 5G’s IP67 rating should allow you to take pictures underwater for up to 30 minutes.

Q: Why is my A53 so slow?

A: There are a few reasons why your Galaxy A53 5G might be slow. One reason could be that you have too many apps installed and running in the background. Another reason could be that your phone’s storage is full. You can try to speed up your phone by uninstalling unnecessary apps and clearing up your storage space.

Q: Why does my Samsung A53 5G get hot?

A: There are a few reasons why your Galaxy A53 5G might get hot. One reason could be that you are using your phone for extended periods of time. Another reason could be that you have too many apps installed and running in the background. You can try to prevent your phone from getting hot by taking breaks in between use and by uninstalling unnecessary apps.

Q: Why A53 battery is draining fast?

A: Your Galaxy A53 5G’s battery might be draining quickly if your phone battery is old. Also, if you have too many apps running in the background, your battery will drain faster. You can try to improve your battery life by closing apps that you are not using.

Q: How to fix Samsung A53 5G black screen?

A: There are a few things that you can try to do to fix a black screen on your Galaxy A53 5G. One thing that you can try is to restart your phone. If that doesn’t work, you can try to factory reset your phone.

Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 an Android Phone?

A: Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A53 is an Android phone.

Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Better than the Galaxy A53?

A: The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a higher-end phone than the Galaxy A53, so it has better specs. However, the Galaxy A53 is still a decent phone.

Q: What is a Samsung Account?

A: A Samsung account is an account that you can use to access Samsung services, such as Samsung Pay, Galaxy Store, Samsung Health, and more.

Q: What are Some of the Latest Galaxy Smartphones Available?

A: There are many Galaxy smartphones available, including the Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Fold 2, Z Flip, A51, A71, and much more.

Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 a 5G Smartphone?

A: Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A53 is a 5G smartphone.

Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 a Dual SIM Android Mobile Phone?

A: Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A53 is a dual SIM Android mobile phone.

Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A53 Phone has a Fingerprint Sensor?

A: Yes, the phone has a built-in on-screen fingerprint sensor.

Q: How bright is the phone’s display?

A: The phone’s display is 6.5″ in the full rectangle and 6.3″, accounting for the rounded corners. The actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera hole. The brightness values measured by the sensor may differ depending on the angle of light.

Q: What is a sensor?

A: A sensor is a device that detects or measures a physical property and converts it into a signal that can be read by an observer or an instrument.

Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A53 have a macro camera?

A: Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A53 has a 5MP macro camera.

Q: Is the Galaxy A53’s Camera Better than the A33’s?

A: The Galaxy A53’s camera is an upgraded version of the A33’s.

Q: How many cameras does the Galaxy A53 have?

A: The Galaxy A53 has four cameras: a 64MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor.

Q: How good is the Galaxy A53’s video camera?

A: The Galaxy A53’s video camera is pretty good. It has 4K video capabilities, decent pro controls for photos and videos, extra stabilisation, and high-megapixel shooting.

Image Gallery – Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review

References: Samsung Galaxy A Series, Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, Samsung.