Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: It’s A Flagship-Lite Device
May 5, 2022Performance: Octa-Core (2.4GHz, 2GHz), 8GB RAM / 120Hz
Main Display: 6.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED (1080×2400)
Weight: 189g
Dimensions & weight: 74.8 x 159.6 x 8.1mm
Storage: 256GB
Battery: 5,000mAh
Features: 4K /1080 Video recording
Rear Camera: 12 MP Ultra wide, 64 Wide, 5 MP Macro, 5 MP Depth
Front Camera: 32 MP, 4K / 1080 Video Recording
Rate:8.5/10
Price:RM1,849.00
Today’s mid-range phone market is filled with decent phones that are priced affordably. Samsung’s A5x series fits into this category. The A53 5G is the latest iteration of the nomenclature and is being touted as “premium affordability”. That means that it’s designed to look like a flagship but not carry the same hefty price tag.
The Looks
As such, it has a slightly improved design borrowed from the A52s, which includes the matte texture rear case and matching aluminum frame. The matte color scheme is a smidgen more vibrant than its predecessor. This is especially obvious when the two phones are placed next to each other. The A53 “pops” more because of the subtle changes made to various elements.
You can choose to have the phone in Black, White, Blue or Peach. The aluminum frame is colored to match the rear case. If you choose peach, which is the most prominent of all four colors, the frame will have a slightly less pronounced hue. Our review unit, which is black in color, is the best option for people who appreciate subtlety and lack of a glossy shine.
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The only major difference between the A53 and its predecessor is the omission of the 3.5mm headphone jack. I knew that it was only a matter of time before Samsung phased out the legacy port but didn’t think 2022 would be that year. The SIM Tray, which was located at the top for the A52s, takes its place at the bottom.
There’s a slight change in the A53’s proportions, making it slightly taller, narrower and thinner than the phone it replaces. This is why cases made for the A52 and A52s won’t fit perfectly on this phone. This is evidenced by the power button and volume rocker placement and the camera array that sits further to the left than that of its predecessor.
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What’s It Like?
It feels substantial when held but not enough to be overly bulky, which is a trait shared with the flagship S22 series. This seems to be a recurring theme with Samsung phones. Compared to previous years, more emphasis has been placed on material choice and their perceived quality.
This boosts its appeal over the mid-range competition, making it feel more premium and to an extent desirable. It has a 6.5-inch, super AMOLED display (120Hz refresh rate) that provides bright and vibrant colors (800 nits). It is great for streaming videos as it is for reading content. Due to the aspect ratio, certain videos will be flanked by black borders on each side.
The screen is protected with Gorilla Glass 5, which should provide adequate protection against light bumps and scrapes. But it would be prudent to have a screen protector installed for your peace of mind. As good as said glass may be, They aren’t 100% effective, especially when dealing with drops from an elevated position.
The underscreen fingerprint sensor is as quick to respond as that of the A52. The phone ships with Android 12 and as such benefits from Samsung’s One UI 4.1 Material You color palette. The UI color scheme changes based on your theme and chosen wallpaper. It’s Google’s way of trying to personalize the overall look and feel.
There’s a speaker at the top, near the ear piece and another bottom firing one next to the USB Type-C port. They support Dolby Atmos but the overall acoustic experience is slightly better than average – nothing to write home about. When the volume is set to maximum, they do get very loud without introducing crackling or other disturbances.
Samsung says the A53 5G is rated for IP67, which means it can stand up against being dunked into freshwater to a depth of 1 meter for about 30 minutes. That said, it would be wise to keep the phone away from soapy, salty or chlorinated water.
The Performance
Samsung has given the phone the Exynos 1280 (5nm), which is a very capable chipset. It’s able to power through most tasks without much fuss. Judging how well the A52s held up against most of our tests, the new and improved A53 performs just as well if not better at certain things. It serves as proof that you don’t need a flagship phone to experience blisteringly quick performance.
As a fan of the A53 series, I’m glad that careful thought has been placed into the design and overall hardware of this phone. The chipset and responsive 120Hz display make most apps launch in an instant. This is also true when switching between apps or launching demanding gaming sessions. That said, you might face frame drops for more CPU intensive games.
Multitasking should be a breeze considering that the phone has 8GB RAM. During our time with it, the A53 5G didn’t exhibit any noticeable lag when switching between messaging apps, YouTube and Chrome tabs in succession. This leads us to believe that the performance limit is high enough that average users will probably never reach it.
The Cameras
Little has changed in the camera hardware department. On the rear, there’s a 64MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro and 5MP depth one. What is new however, is the improved AI algorithm that helps with the post processing. As a result, pictures look vibrant, sharp and with the right amount of exposure.
The contrast selection might be a little aggressive, which makes scenes look slightly “boosted” but it doesn’t take away much from the overall picture. Said camera software can accurately detect a subject or the area of focus and make necessary settings adjustments as necessary. Once the picture is taken, the AI goes to work to “clean” things up.
In the end, you get a decent picture with a good amount of detail, but without putting in much effort. You could take this a step further by making “pro” level adjustments yourself. There are several options that allow you to mess with exposure, white balance and various others. But the hardware and software work so well together that you won’t have the need to intervene.
This is also true of shots taken with the wide angle lens. The results are quite sharp and vivid, considering that you’re working with a 12MP sensor. The A53 5G’s cameras are great for close up shots, but not adequate at capturing subjects that are far away. The digital zoom can’t take the place of a dedicated telephoto lens, so keep that in mind.
Night time photography is a little better on the A53 than it was on its predecessor. Pictures taken in poor lighting conditions still look fairly decent and devoid of noise. Though this pales in comparison to what the S22 Series can do, for the average user, the results are more than adequate.
At the front, the 32MP sensor that’s backed up by clever software, takes very good selfies and portrait shots. It can accurately carve out the outline of a subject, which can then be used to add background blur or various other filters. There are also AR capabilities and emoji-style effects that can be used to create funky messages or reactions – if you’re into that kind of thing.
Optical image stabilization (OIS) is only available on the 64MP (wide) sensor. Footage that you capture on it is quite sharp and smooth. Again, it’s no match for the S22 Series, but is really good for a mid-range device. It’s a capable option for people who take casual videos that they’d share on social media platforms.
Battery Life
Samsung has chosen to give it a 5,000mAh battery, which is slightly bigger than the A52’s 4,500mAh unit. As such, you can expect close to two days worth of use out of a single charge. It supports 25W fast charging, so with the appropriate charger, you can expect to receive a full charge in under 2 hours.
The phone doesn’t support wireless charging. It’s something that should be “standard issue” by now, considering that it’s 2022 and Samsung has priced it at RM1,899. That said, we can’t expect the moon from a mid-range phone.
When playing games or recording videos, the A53 5G doesn’t get uncomfortably warm to hold. It’s proof that the cooling system is doing its job to keep the temperature in check. If you’ve slapped on a silicone case, then you’ll be further insulated from said heat.
Should You Buy One?
The A53 5G is a good improvement over its predecessor. It looks good, performs really well for a mid-range device and takes better than average pictures. Think of it as a step down from the S22 Series, that’s it.
It carries a price tag of RM1,849, which is identical to the A52s 5G but far more expensive than the original A52 (non 5G). There isn’t a non-5G option for the A53, so if you want something a little cheaper, you’ll need to look at the A33 5G.
That said, the A53 5G is a great option for someone looking for a phone that costs less than RM2,000. It doesn’t exhibit any performance issues that could impede your regular use/workflow. The Exynos 1280 is a really good chip that’s capable of giving “flagship” chips a run for their money. Buy it if you’re upgrading from something like the A51 or older.
