Oppo K10 5G (China) vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Performance and Value Showdown

The Oppo K10 5G (China) and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. However, they take distinctly different approaches. The K10 prioritizes raw processing power with its Dimensity 8000 Max, while the A53 focuses on a well-rounded experience with Samsung’s established software and a bright display. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing performance and fast charging, the Oppo K10 5G (China) is the clear winner. Its Dimensity 8000 Max chipset significantly outperforms the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G. While the A53 offers a brighter display and Samsung’s software ecosystem, the K10’s speed advantage is too substantial to ignore for demanding users.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo K10 5G (China) Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 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, 3, 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
 CDMA2000 1x 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2022, April 242022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 30Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions164.3 x 75.8 x 8.7 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.34 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
Weight205 g (7.23 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionPanda GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.75 GHz & 4xX.X GHz)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8000 Max (5 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPU-Mali-G68
OSAndroid 12, ColorOS 12.1Android 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
 UFS 3.1-
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
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide)32 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 speakers (closed type)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging67W wired, 2-80% in 29 min Reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, BlueBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsPGJM10SM-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 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)

Oppo K10 5G (China)

  • Significantly faster processor (Dimensity 8000 Max)
  • Ultra-fast 67W charging
  • Potentially better gaming performance

  • Display specifications unknown
  • Camera details lacking

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Bright 830 nit display
  • Well-established Samsung software ecosystem
  • Consistent camera performance

  • Slower processor (Exynos 1280)
  • Slower 25W charging
  • Potential for throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 830 nits, providing excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Oppo K10 5G’s display specifications are not provided, Samsung’s panel offers an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. However, without knowing the K10’s brightness, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner based on display quality alone. The A53’s Super AMOLED technology is known for vibrant colors, but the K10 may compensate with a higher refresh rate (spec not provided), which would benefit scrolling and gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Oppo K10 5G. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s camera system is likely to rely on software processing to enhance image quality. Without knowing the main sensor resolution or aperture of the K10, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The A53’s image processing is generally tuned for vibrant, social media-friendly results, while the K10’s approach remains unknown. It’s safe to assume the A53 will offer a more refined and consistent camera experience, but the K10 could potentially deliver superior results with a larger sensor and optimized software.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Oppo K10 5G (China) utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 8000 Max (5nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with four cores clocked at a substantial 2.75 GHz. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 (5nm), which has a more conservative octa-core configuration (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). The Dimensity 8000 Max’s higher clock speeds and more powerful core configuration translate to significantly faster processing speeds, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The 5nm fabrication process on both chips offers good efficiency, but the architectural advantages of the Dimensity 8000 Max will likely result in superior sustained performance and less thermal throttling.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ dramatically. The Oppo K10 5G (China) supports 67W wired charging, capable of charging from 2-80% in just 29 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is limited to 25W wired charging, which will take considerably longer to fully replenish the battery. This faster charging capability gives the K10 a significant advantage for users who prioritize convenience and minimal downtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo K10 5G (China) if you need a phone for gaming, heavy multitasking, or content creation, and value rapid 67W charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a brand with a strong track record for software updates, even if it means sacrificing some raw performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280 is known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. While it won't shut down, you may experience frame rate drops and reduced performance after 30-45 minutes of intensive gaming. The Dimensity 8000 Max in the K10 5G is expected to handle heat more efficiently due to its more advanced architecture.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones are of limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can be fun for experimentation, don't expect professional-quality macro photography from the A53's 2MP sensor. The Oppo K10 5G's camera setup is unknown, but a higher resolution macro lens would be preferable.
❓ Can the Oppo K10 5G (China) run demanding games like PUBG Mobile at 90fps?
The Dimensity 8000 Max chipset is more than capable of handling PUBG Mobile at 90fps, assuming the game supports that frame rate and the phone's display has a 90Hz or higher refresh rate (spec not provided). The chipset's powerful GPU and CPU will provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
❓ What are the software update commitments for both the Oppo K10 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its devices. The Galaxy A53 5G is expected to receive several years of Android OS updates and security patches. Oppo's software update policy for the K10 5G (China) is less clear, and may be shorter in duration. This is a key consideration for users who prioritize long-term software support.