The Galaxy A53 5G is Samsung's new budget phone for 2022, but do you really need to upgrade if you already have the A52 5G? Samsung's mobile business is best known for its flagship devices. The Galaxy S series represents the best of what Samsung can offer in a smartphone. The Galaxy Z lineup houses the company's latest foldable devices. The old Galaxy Note family was a power-user's dream.
But flagships aren't the only phones Samsung is interested in. Just as important for Samsung — if not more so — is the Galaxy A series. Galaxy A phones pack big specs and impressive features into devices with affordable price tags. Last year's standout model was the Galaxy A52 5G, and for 2022, that title belongs to the Galaxy A53 5G. The A53 5G represents the latest and greatest affordable smartphone Samsung offers. But is it worth getting if you already have the A52 5G? Let's take a closer look at what exactly is different.
Design-wise, the A53 5G and A52 5G are virtually identical. Besides the A53 5G being ever-so-slightly shorter and thinner, the two phones are basically the same. They both have a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, a hole-punch cutout for the 32MP selfie camera, and a matte plastic back. Each phone also includes IP67 dust/water resistance, a microSD card slot for expandable storage, stereo speakers, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. There is one area where the A52 5G actually has the upper hand. The Galaxy A52 5G includes a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio, but the Galaxy A53 5G does not. That may not matter for anyone who's transitioned to wireless headphones, but if you have a pair of wired headphones you still love using, the A53 5G may not be a good fit.
The A53 5G And A52 5G Are Very Similar Phones
Moving past the design, it quickly becomes evident that the A53 5G and A52 5G have more in common. Let's go back to the display for a moment. We already mentioned that the A53 5G and A52 5G have the same 6.5-inch AMOLED panel — but it doesn't end there. Both phones also tout 800 nits of max brightness, a 2400 x 1080 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Also identical is the rear camera system. Whether you have the A53 5G or the A52 5G, you're getting the same 64MP primary camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP macro camera, and 5MP depth camera.
But there are differences to be found! One of the biggest ones is the chipset powering the phones. Global versions of the A53 5G have Samsung's new Exynos 1280 processor. For its part, the A52 5G has the Snapdragon 750G chip. Whether the U.S. version of the A53 5G gets the Exynos 1280 chipset – or a Qualcomm Snapdragon equivalent — it should offer better processing, graphics, and power efficiency over the A52 5G. The Galaxy A53 5G also gets a big upgrade in the battery department, touting a 5000 mAh battery over the 4500 mAh one in the Galaxy A52 5G.
It's safe to say that the A53 5G is a small iteration of the A52 5G's formula. It has a faster processor, a bigger battery, and that's about it. Anyone who has the Galaxy A52 5G shouldn't feel like they need to run out and buy the A53 5G this very second. The Galaxy A53 5G is a great purchase for someone with an older smartphone that's on its last legs, but as a yearly upgrade, there's not much to get excited about. Call it boring if you want, but it's also a testament to how good Samsung's budget devices have gotten.
Source: Samsung