The Lava Agni 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they take different approaches to achieving it. The Agni 5G focuses on raw processing power with its Dimensity 810, while the A53 5G prioritizes a refined user experience and a brighter display, backed by Samsung’s established brand recognition.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more visually appealing display and a polished software experience, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, users focused on maximizing performance-per-dollar and potentially enjoying slightly better gaming performance will find the Lava Agni 5G a compelling alternative.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, November 09 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, November 18 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 168.8 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm (6.65 x 3.02 x 0.36 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 | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~84.2% 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 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 0.7µm, AF
5 MP, 115˚, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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 | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 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 | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Fiery Blue | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | LXX501 | 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 210 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) |
Lava Agni 5G
- Faster 33W charging for quicker top-ups.
- Potentially better raw performance due to the Dimensity 810.
- More affordable price point.
- Likely less refined software experience.
- Display likely lacks the brightness and contrast of the A53 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant Super AMOLED display.
- More polished and feature-rich software experience.
- Stronger brand reputation and potentially longer software support.
- Slower 25W charging.
- Exynos 1280 may throttle under sustained load.
- Generally more expensive.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 830 nits. This is a substantial advantage for outdoor visibility compared to the Lava Agni 5G, whose display brightness is not specified but is likely lower. While the A53 5G’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite’ (nominal), this is typical marketing language; the real benefit is the Super AMOLED panel’s inherent contrast. The Agni 5G’s panel type is not specified, but given its price point, it’s likely an LCD, which will have lower contrast and potentially narrower viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. The absence of specific sensor details makes a direct comparison difficult. However, Samsung’s image processing algorithms are generally more refined, offering better dynamic range and color accuracy. The A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s computational photography expertise. Without knowing the sensor sizes or apertures, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance, but Samsung’s larger R&D budget suggests a potential advantage in this area. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and unlikely to deliver significant image quality improvements.
Performance
Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs with a similar core configuration (2x2.4 GHz and 6x2.0 GHz). However, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280, built on a 5nm process, has a clear architectural advantage over the Lava Agni 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6nm). The 5nm node allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, potentially leading to better sustained performance and less thermal throttling during demanding tasks. The Exynos 1280 also uses Cortex-A78 cores, which are a generation ahead of the Cortex-A76 cores in the Dimensity 810, offering a performance uplift. While both support 5G, the Exynos 1280’s modem may offer wider band support.
Battery Life
Both the Lava Agni 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ: the Agni 5G supports 33W wired charging, while the A53 5G is limited to 25W. This means the Agni 5G should be able to charge from 0-100% faster, potentially offering a more convenient experience for users who frequently need to top up their battery. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite the faster charging, the A53 5G’s software and power management are efficient enough to offset the slower charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lava Agni 5G if you need a phone that prioritizes processing power for gaming and multitasking, and you're comfortable with a less refined software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a vibrant display, a more established brand with longer software support, and a smoother, more polished user interface, even if it means sacrificing some raw performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G suffer from significant overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 is a capable chip, it is known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. The 5nm process helps, but it's not immune. Expect some performance dips after 30-45 minutes of demanding gameplay. The Lava Agni 5G's Dimensity 810 might maintain slightly more consistent performance due to its lower peak performance ceiling.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using for detailed close-up shots?
Generally, no. 2MP macro cameras on budget and mid-range phones typically lack the resolution and optics to produce truly detailed close-up images. They often result in soft, noisy photos. You're better off using the main camera and cropping in, or simply foregoing macro photography altogether.
❓ Can the Lava Agni 5G reliably run PUBG Mobile at 90fps?
The Dimensity 810 is capable of supporting high frame rates in PUBG Mobile, but achieving a consistent 90fps will depend on the graphics settings and the phone's thermal management. You'll likely need to use balanced or low graphics settings to maintain a stable 90fps experience. The A53 5G may struggle to reach 90fps even at lower settings.
❓ How does Samsung's software update policy compare to Lava's for the A53 5G and Agni 5G respectively?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its devices. The Galaxy A53 5G is promised several years of Android OS updates and security patches. Lava's update policy is less well-defined, and users should expect a shorter support lifespan for the Agni 5G. This is a significant consideration for users who prioritize long-term software security and feature updates.
