The Honor X30i and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they take different approaches to achieving it. The X30i focuses on delivering solid performance at an aggressive price point, while the A53 5G emphasizes a more refined software experience and a brighter display.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and Samsung’s established software ecosystem, the Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, the Honor X30i offers a strong performance-per-dollar ratio, making it ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize processing power.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 28 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, November 02 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 74.7 x 7.5 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5.0 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver, Rose Gold | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | TFY-AN00 | SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL |
| Price | About 190 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 X30i
- Aggressive pricing offers excellent value.
- MediaTek Dimensity 810 provides solid performance for the price.
- Comparable battery life to the A53 5G.
- Display specifications are less detailed, potentially impacting viewing experience.
- Camera system details are limited, making performance prediction difficult.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter display (830 nits) for excellent outdoor visibility.
- Exynos 1280 offers a slight performance edge and better efficiency.
- Samsung’s established software and longer update support.
- Generally more expensive than the Honor X30i.
- Charging speed is only marginally faster than the X30i.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 830 nits, compared to an unstated value for the X30i. This brightness advantage translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, Samsung’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The X30i’s display specifications are less detailed, leaving questions about color accuracy and potential PWM dimming rates unanswered, which could impact users sensitive to flicker. The A53’s larger display size also provides a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the X30i. The A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms, potentially delivering more consistent and pleasing results. The absence of specific details regarding the X30i’s camera system makes a direct comparison difficult, but it’s reasonable to assume the A53 5G offers a more versatile and refined camera experience, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of OIS on the A53 would further enhance image stability and low-light performance.
Performance
The Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 (5nm) chipset offers a slight architectural advantage over the Honor X30i’s MediaTek Dimensity 810 (6nm). The Exynos utilizes Cortex-A78 cores, known for better single-core performance than the A76 cores in the Dimensity 810. While both CPUs feature the same 2.4GHz clock speed on their performance cores, the 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos generally leads to improved power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling under sustained load. Both phones feature 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, suggesting similar performance in less demanding tasks. The A53’s GPU is also likely to outperform the X30i’s, offering a smoother gaming experience.
Battery Life
Both the Honor X30i and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ slightly, with the A53 5G supporting 25W wired charging compared to the X30i’s 22.5W. This means the A53 5G will likely charge slightly faster, reducing downtime. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite potential differences in power efficiency between the chipsets, both phones are optimized to deliver all-day battery life under typical usage scenarios.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X30i if you need a phone that can handle demanding apps and multitasking without breaking the bank, and you're comfortable with Honor's Magic UI. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and the peace of mind that comes with Samsung’s brand reputation and longer software support.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 is a capable chip, it has been known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, particularly in graphically demanding games. However, Samsung’s software optimizations and the A53 5G’s thermal design generally prevent overheating from becoming a critical issue, though performance may dip slightly after extended play.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can be fun to experiment with, don't expect professional-quality macro photography from either the Honor X30i or the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G reliably maintain 60fps in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Galaxy A53 5G can typically maintain 60fps in PUBG Mobile at medium to high graphics settings. However, achieving consistently smooth frame rates at the highest settings may require reducing graphics quality or enabling frame rate optimization features within the game. The Exynos 1280's GPU is capable, but not a dedicated gaming powerhouse.
❓ How does Honor's Magic UI compare to Samsung's One UI in terms of software updates and features?
Samsung's One UI generally offers a more polished and feature-rich software experience, along with a commitment to longer software update support (typically 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches). Honor's Magic UI has improved, but historically lags behind Samsung in terms of update frequency and long-term support. One UI also benefits from a larger developer ecosystem and wider app compatibility.
