Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a mid-range phone that builds upon the success of last year's models, the Galaxy A52 and A52s. While it retains a similar design, there are some notable upgrades, including a larger 5000mAh battery capacity and a new Exynos 1280 chipset. The A53 5G offers decent performance, with smooth UI navigation and an acceptable gaming experience. However, its benchmark scores are lower than those of the A52s, which makes it less desirable for those seeking raw power. The display is identical to last year's model, featuring a 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. While the high refresh rate provides a smooth experience, HDR10+ support has been omitted from this model. The camera quality is a mixed bag, with the main camera producing decent photos in various lighting conditions but suffering from oversaturated colors. The ultrawide camera takes a hit in low-light situations and struggles to produce sharp images. On the positive side, the A53 5G offers good software support, including four generations of One UI and Android OS upgrades, as well as five years of security updates. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a solid mid-range option that falls short in certain areas. Its high price point makes it less desirable compared to last year's model, which offers better performance and features at a similar cost.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a sleek design that is reminiscent of its predecessors, the Galaxy A52 and A52s. While at first glance it may seem like more of the same, closer inspection reveals a few subtle changes. The phone's matte back panel and camera bump are still a hallmark of the A series, but the glossy frame has been updated to a new design. One notable improvement is the build quality, which feels sturdy and smooth despite being made from plastic. The IP67 rating provides protection against water and dust, giving users peace of mind in harsh environments. While the phone's durability is commendable, it's worth noting that some may find the glossy frame to be a bit too premium for its price point. Design-wise, the A53 5G follows the same mold as its predecessors, with clean lines and an understated aesthetic. However, some users may feel that the design has become stale, with not enough new features or innovations to set it apart from other mid-range devices. In terms of build quality specifically, the A53 5G fares well, with no major complaints or issues reported in the review process. However, as a device that's meant to appeal to a wide audience, one can't help but feel that there's room for improvement - particularly when it comes to the design and overall aesthetic. Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G's build quality and design are solid, if not spectacular. While they won't blow anyone away with innovation or boldness, they do provide a reliable and trustworthy foundation for a mid-range device that's meant to get the job done without breaking the bank.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a larger 5000mAh battery capacity, which is an upgrade from its predecessors. However, the results of our battery life tests are somewhat underwhelming. Despite the increased size, the A53 5G scored a respectable 113-hour endurance rating, which is identical to last year's model. While this may be considered solid performance, it's hard not to feel that the larger battery capacity was an opportunity missed. The A53 5G's charging speed has also slowed down slightly, taking around half an hour to reach 45% from a dead start. Furthermore, in most markets, the phone doesn't come with a charger in the box, which might be seen as a cost-cutting measure. In today's era of always-connected devices and power-hungry apps, it's surprising that the A53 5G didn't aim higher for its battery life. While it may still get you through a day without too much trouble, it's not exactly setting the bar high. If battery life is a top priority for you, you might want to look elsewhere in the Samsung lineup. Ultimately, the Galaxy A53 5G's battery life is just another aspect of its overall package that feels somewhat compromised. It's not necessarily bad, but neither is it particularly impressive.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G's display is a departure from its predecessor in some aspects, while retaining the same design language. The 6.5-inch AMOLED screen boasts a 1080p resolution, gorilla glass 5 protection, and a fast 120hz refresh rate. The high refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and swiping, but unfortunately, it doesn't adjust to save energy when not in use. While the display quality is quite good, there are some caveats. Specifically, the Galaxy A53 5G's screen lacks HDR10+ support, a feature present on its predecessor, the Galaxy A52s. This omission might be a disappointment for those who value enhanced color accuracy and contrast. However, the brightness has improved, with our tests achieving almost 430 nits of peak luminance. The display also exhibits good color gamut coverage, although not to the same extent as some of its competitors. In terms of responsiveness, the touchscreen is accurate and quick to respond, making it a pleasure to use for everyday tasks like browsing and gaming. Overall, the Galaxy A53 5G's display is a solid offering that just falls short of greatness. While it's not the most impressive screen in its class, it still delivers good picture quality and decent brightness. If you're looking for an upgrade from last year's model, this might not be the biggest selling point. But if you value Samsung's ecosystem and software support, the A53 5G is still worth considering. 3.5/5 stars While the Galaxy A53 5G's display is decent, it's not enough to sway us from recommending last year's model if given the choice. The older device offers a more comprehensive feature set and similar performance at a lower price point.
Camera
The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a mixed bag, with some improvements over its predecessor, but also some notable downgrades. The camera setup remains largely unchanged from last year's model, featuring a 64MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide unit, a 5MP macro cam, and a depth sensor. One of the positives is that the 16MP photos taken with the main camera are decent, with good detail, low noise, and solid dynamic range. Contrast and colors can be a bit too strong at times, but this is not unique to the A53. Portraits shot in 12MP resolution look great, with plenty of detail and impressive edge detection. However, the ultrawide camera takes a hit in terms of quality, producing soft and dark images with limited dynamic range. The dedicated night mode available for this lens doesn't seem to make much difference either. In low-light conditions, the main camera is competent, delivering photos with plenty of detail, relatively low noise, and gentle sharpening. One of the most significant disappointments is the performance of the ultrawide camera in low light. Shots taken with this sensor are plagued by softness, darkness, and a narrow dynamic range. The dedicated night mode available for this lens can introduce some subtle improvements in tonal extremes, but at the cost of considerable image softening. For selfies, the A53 5G uses a 32MP front-facing camera that outputs images in 12MP resolution. Quality is generally good, with plenty of detail and decent noise levels. The main camera can also shoot video in up to 4K resolution at 30FPS, producing footage with ample detail, low noise, and reasonable dynamic range. In contrast, the ultrawide camera's videos suffer from more noise and softness than the main cam, which is expected given its limitations in still photography. Electronic stabilization is available for video recording, but only up to 1080p resolution. Overall, while the A53 5G's camera has some redeeming qualities, it falls short of expectations in several areas. Compared to last year's model, the Galaxy A52, the A53 5G's camera seems to have taken a step back. The main camera's tendency towards over-saturated colors and the decline in ultrawide camera quality make it less desirable than its predecessor. If you're looking for an upgrade from your current mid-ranger, you may want to consider other options before settling on the A53 5G based solely on its camera capabilities.
Price and Value
As we delve into the world of mid-range smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G stands out as a solid contender. However, when it comes to value for money, this device falls short of expectations. Priced slightly higher than its predecessor, the Galaxy A52s 5G, the Galaxy A53 5G is not an expensive phone by any means. However, considering its upgrades and features, we expected a more substantial price drop. Unfortunately, it's priced similarly to the last year's model, which makes it harder to justify the upgrade. One of the major downgrades compared to the A52s is the processor. The Exynos 1280 chip inside the Galaxy A53 5G may be an improvement in some areas, but it lags behind its predecessor in terms of performance and overall value for money. This decision makes us wonder if Samsung prioritized features over pricing strategy. In addition to this, the camera quality, although decent, is a slight step back from what we saw on the A52s. The saturated colors and contrasty tone may not appeal to all users, making it harder to recommend this device as a top choice in its category. Given these points, we'd say that the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is an okay mid-range phone, but it doesn't quite live up to its predecessor's value. If you're due for an upgrade and don't mind paying slightly more, then this may still be a good option for you. However, if you can find last year's model at a discount or have a budget in mind, we'd recommend opting for the Galaxy A52s 5G instead. Overall, while the Galaxy A53 5G is not a bad phone, its pricing strategy leaves something to be desired.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G's performance is a letdown compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A52s. While it boasts a new Exynos 1280 chipset, which provides solid mid-range level performance and 5G connectivity, it lags behind in terms of raw power. In our benchmark tests, the Galaxy A53 5G's CPU and GPU scores were lower than those of the Galaxy A52s, despite being an upgrade over the Snapdragon 750G. This means that if you're looking for a device with top-notch performance, you might be better off opting for last year's model. The UI runs smoothly, and gaming experience is decent, but it's not as seamless as we'd like. Thermals are also somewhat of a concern, which could impact performance in intense situations. One area where the Galaxy A53 5G shines is its ability to handle demanding tasks, such as video editing or photo processing. However, this is more a testament to the device's hardware than its software optimization. Overall, while the Galaxy A53 5G's performance is not terrible, it's a step down from what we've come to expect from Samsung's mid-range devices. If you can find last year's model at a discount, we'd recommend going with that instead. However, if you're in the market for an affordable 5G device, the Galaxy A53 5G is still a solid choice – just don't expect top-notch performance.
Pros
1. The phone has a sturdy and smooth design with a glossy frame made of plastic.
2. It comes with IP67 rated protection against water and dust.
3. The 5000mAh battery capacity is a significant upgrade over last year's model.
4. The phone has good software support, including Samsung software support for four generations of One UI and Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates.
5. It has decent camera quality, especially in well-lit conditions.
Cons
1. Compared to last year's model (A52s), the A53 5G has some downgrades.
2. The phone is more expensive than its predecessor.
3. Some features are missing, such as smart widgets and Dex for connectivity.
4. The ultrawide camera's video quality is also a bit of a letdown.
5. Overall, the A53 5G feels like an incremental update rather than a major upgrade over last year's model.