Moto G82 vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: Which Mid-Range 5G Phone Wins?

The Motorola Moto G82 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly crowded mid-range 5G smartphone market. Both aim to deliver 5G connectivity and a modern feature set without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dives deep into their specifications and performance to determine which device offers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G emerges as the stronger choice. While the Moto G82 boasts a slightly better endurance rating, the A53’s significantly brighter display and more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset provide a more refined and versatile user experience, justifying its typically higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto G82 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2022, May 122022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, June 07Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions160.9 x 74.5 x 8 mm (6.33 x 2.93 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
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 Water-repellent designIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Mali-G68
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED 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
Triple50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)-
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio (market/region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging30W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMeteorite Gray, White LilyBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsXT2225-1SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
PriceAbout 290 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 130h Endurance rating 113h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.4 LUFS (Good) -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 380812 (v9) GeekBench: 1977 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Moto G82

  • Longer battery endurance (130h)
  • Potentially more efficient chipset (Snapdragon 695 6nm)
  • Generally more affordable price point

  • Less powerful processor (Snapdragon 695)
  • Dimmer display (690 nits)
  • Likely less refined camera system

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Brighter display (830 nits)
  • More powerful processor (Exynos 1280 5nm)
  • Likely better camera performance

  • Shorter battery endurance (113h)
  • Typically higher price
  • Potentially more software bloat

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G clearly leads in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 830 nits compared to the Moto G82’s 690 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable outdoors, where the A53 remains easily readable in direct sunlight. Both phones feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting standard OLED panels, but the A53’s higher brightness translates to a more dynamic and visually appealing image. While neither specification details refresh rate, the A53 is known to have a 120Hz display, offering smoother scrolling and animations, a feature absent in the G82.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. However, given the market positioning, it’s likely the A53 features a more sophisticated camera system. Samsung typically prioritizes camera performance in its A-series devices, often including features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the main sensor. While the Moto G82 likely offers a capable camera for everyday use, the A53 is expected to deliver better image quality, especially in low-light conditions, and more versatile shooting options. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit.

Performance

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G utilizes the Exynos 1280 (5nm), while the Moto G82 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The Exynos 1280, built on a smaller 5nm process, generally offers superior performance, particularly in CPU-intensive tasks. Its octa-core configuration with 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores provides a noticeable advantage over the Moto G82’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold cores. While both are 5G capable, the A53’s chipset is better equipped to handle demanding applications and multitasking. The 6nm process of the Snapdragon 695 in the G82 offers some efficiency gains, but doesn’t offset the architectural advantage of the Exynos.

Battery Life

The Motorola Moto G82 boasts an endurance rating of 130 hours, slightly exceeding the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s 113 hours. This suggests the G82 offers longer battery life under typical usage. However, the A53 compensates with faster charging at 25W, compared to the G82’s 30W. While the G82 has a higher wattage, the A53’s more efficient chipset and optimized software may result in comparable real-world charging times. The difference in endurance is likely due to the less power-hungry chipset in the Moto G82.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Moto G82 if you prioritize maximizing battery life and are comfortable with a slightly less powerful processor. It’s ideal for users who primarily browse, use social media, and make calls. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you value a brighter, more vibrant display, smoother performance for multitasking and gaming, and a more established brand ecosystem. This phone is better suited for content creators and power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 can get warm under sustained load, it generally doesn't exhibit significant thermal throttling. Samsung's software optimization and the phone's thermal design help manage heat effectively, allowing for extended gaming sessions without drastic performance drops. However, it won't match the cooling performance of flagship devices.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Moto G82 significantly faster than the 25W charging on the Galaxy A53 5G?
Despite the slightly higher wattage, the actual charging speed difference between the two phones is likely minimal. The Galaxy A53 5G’s more efficient chipset and software optimization can offset the lower wattage, resulting in comparable 0-100% charging times. Both phones will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for a full charge.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 695's 5G performance compare to the Exynos 1280 in real-world scenarios?
The Exynos 1280 generally offers faster and more stable 5G speeds due to its more advanced modem and processing capabilities. While both chips support 5G, the A53 will likely experience quicker download and upload speeds, especially in areas with strong 5G coverage. The G82 will still provide a functional 5G experience, but may not reach the same peak speeds.