The Motorola Moto G (2022) and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive sub-$300 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this, impacting performance, display quality, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, the Moto G (2022) offers a surprisingly capable processor for the price and a cleaner Android experience, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing raw performance on a tight budget.
| 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 22 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 19 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.4 x 75.8 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 2.98 x 0.37 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 |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | Water-repellent design | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.4% 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 (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 12, planned upgrade to Android 13 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | 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 | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm | 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 | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Moonlight Gray | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | XT2213, XT2213-3 | 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 | $ 65.00 | $ 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) |
Motorola Moto G (2022)
- More powerful processor for the price
- Near-stock Android experience
- Competitive 5G connectivity
- Slow 10W charging
- Likely lower display brightness and quality
- Less refined camera system
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter, more vibrant display
- Faster 25W charging
- More feature-rich software (One UI)
- Slightly less powerful processor
- One UI can feel bloated to some users
- Potentially more expensive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 830 nits, compared to the Moto G (2022)'s unspecified brightness. This difference is immediately noticeable in outdoor visibility. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels (based on brand history), Samsung’s display benefits from its higher peak brightness and 'Infinite' contrast ratio, resulting in richer colors and deeper blacks. The A53’s larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience. The Moto G (2022) likely prioritizes cost savings in this area, resulting in a less visually striking display.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited in the provided data. However, given Samsung’s camera expertise, the A53 5G likely features more sophisticated image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor. While the Moto G (2022) will be adequate for casual photography, the A53 5G is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A53 5G (likely, based on Samsung’s typical implementation) would further enhance image clarity and stability, a feature likely absent on the Moto G (2022).
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 (5nm) chipset offers a clear architectural advantage over the Motorola Moto G (2022)’s Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm). The Exynos utilizes Cortex-A78 cores, which are more efficient and powerful than the A76 cores found in the Dimensity 700. While both CPUs feature a 2x high-performance core and 6x efficiency core configuration, the 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos allows for greater transistor density and improved thermal efficiency. This translates to sustained performance during demanding tasks. The Moto G (2022) will handle everyday tasks well, but the A53 5G will exhibit less throttling during extended gaming or video editing.
Battery Life
Both the Motorola Moto G (2022) and the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The A53 5G supports 25W wired charging, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge time compared to the Moto G (2022)’s slow 10W charging. This means the A53 5G can be topped up quickly when needed, minimizing downtime. While the battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed gives the A53 5G a practical advantage for users who frequently need to recharge their devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto G (2022) if you need a phone that prioritizes processing power for basic tasks and light gaming, and you prefer a near-stock Android experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a vibrant display, a more versatile camera system, and Samsung’s feature-rich One UI software, even if it means a slight performance trade-off.
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's known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. However, the 5nm process helps mitigate this, and Samsung’s software optimizations generally prevent overheating from becoming a critical issue. Expect some performance reduction after extended gaming, but not a complete shutdown.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget phones are limited in their usefulness. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can capture a close-up perspective, don't expect professional-quality macro photography from either device. They are more of a marketing feature than a genuinely useful camera component.
❓ Can the Moto G (2022) reliably maintain 60fps in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Moto G (2022)'s Dimensity 700 can likely run PUBG Mobile at medium settings with a stable 60fps. However, pushing the graphics settings higher or engaging in prolonged gaming sessions may result in frame drops due to thermal throttling. It's best suited for casual gaming rather than demanding, high-graphics experiences.
❓ How does Samsung's One UI software impact the overall performance and user experience on the A53 5G?
Samsung's One UI is feature-rich and offers extensive customization options. However, it's also more resource-intensive than a near-stock Android experience like the Moto G (2022) provides. This can lead to slightly slower app launch times and a less fluid overall experience, particularly on a phone with mid-range specifications like the A53 5G. Some users may find the added features beneficial, while others may prefer a cleaner, more streamlined interface.
