Honor 60 vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Honor 60 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Honor 60, powered by the Snapdragon 778G 5G, prioritizes performance and fast charging, while the Galaxy A53 5G leans on Samsung’s established brand, software ecosystem, and a bright, vibrant display. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and rapid charging, the Honor 60 emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 778G 5G offers a noticeable edge in processing power, and the 66W charging is significantly faster than the A53’s 25W. However, the Galaxy A53 5G remains a strong contender for those deeply embedded in the Samsung ecosystem and valuing a brighter display.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 60 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2021, December 012022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 10Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions161.4 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.35 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight179 g (6.31 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G68
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5.0Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired, 50% in 15 min 5W reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 4800 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, Blue, PinkBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsLSA-AN00SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
PriceAbout 500 EUR$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14
SAR-0.75 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.89 W/kg (head)     1.60 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 113h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 60

  • Faster Snapdragon 778G 5G processor
  • Significantly faster 66W charging
  • Potentially more responsive gaming experience

  • Display brightness likely lower than A53
  • Software support may be shorter than Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Brighter 830 nit display for outdoor use
  • Samsung’s One UI software ecosystem
  • Potentially longer software support lifecycle

  • Slower Exynos 1280 processor
  • Slower 25W charging speed
  • May exhibit more throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured 830 nits. This is a significant advantage for outdoor visibility. While the Honor 60’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s likely lower in peak brightness. The A53’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a Super AMOLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vivid colors compared to the likely LCD panel in the Honor 60. However, without knowing the Honor 60’s panel type and refresh rate, a definitive judgment is difficult. The A53’s larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The absence of specific sensor details makes a direct comparison challenging. However, focusing on lens quality and image processing is key. Samsung’s image processing typically emphasizes vibrant colors and strong contrast, while Honor often aims for a more natural look. Without knowing the main sensor sizes and aperture values, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device would be a significant advantage for video recording and low-light photography, but this is not specified in the provided data.

Performance

The Honor 60’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) and the Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 (5nm) represent different approaches to mid-range performance. The Snapdragon 778G 5G features a more powerful prime core – a Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.4GHz – compared to the A53’s 2.4GHz Cortex-A78. The Honor 60 also utilizes three additional Cortex-A78 cores, while the A53 has six Cortex-A55 cores. This core configuration, combined with the 6nm process, gives the Snapdragon 778G 5G a performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The 5nm process of the Exynos 1280 should offer better power efficiency, but the architectural differences favor the Honor 60 in raw speed.

Battery Life

Both the Honor 60 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing approaches to charging. The A53’s endurance rating is likely achieved through a combination of its 5nm Exynos 1280’s efficiency and a larger battery capacity (not specified). However, the Honor 60’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing a 50% charge in just 15 minutes. The A53’s 25W charging is considerably slower, requiring significantly more time to reach a full charge. This difference in charging speed is a major advantage for the Honor 60, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 60 if you need a phone that can handle demanding apps and games smoothly, and if minimizing charging downtime is crucial. Its Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset and 66W charging are ideal for power users. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a phone with a consistently bright and vibrant display, a familiar Samsung One UI experience, and a longer-term software support commitment, even if it means sacrificing some processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the 5nm process of the Exynos 1280 is efficient, it can experience thermal throttling during extended gaming. The Snapdragon 778G 5G in the Honor 60, with its 6nm process and more aggressive core configuration, is generally better equipped to maintain sustained performance under load.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the Honor 60 compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
The Honor 60 utilizes its own 66W charging protocol. While it may work with some PD chargers, it’s best to use the included charger to ensure optimal charging speeds and compatibility. Using a lower wattage charger will significantly increase charging times.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Honor's Magic UI and Samsung's One UI?
Samsung’s One UI is known for its feature-rich interface and extensive customization options. Honor’s Magic UI, while improving, historically has been less polished and offers a different aesthetic. Samsung also typically provides longer software support with more frequent updates.
❓ What type of display technology does the Honor 60 use, and how does it compare to the Galaxy A53's Super AMOLED?
The Honor 60 likely uses an LCD panel, which generally offers less vibrant colors and lower contrast ratios compared to the Galaxy A53’s Super AMOLED display. Super AMOLED provides deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing experience, but LCDs can be more color accurate.