The mid-range 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Oppo Reno7 Z 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this goal, primarily in chipset choice and display characteristics. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and a well-established brand ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, users who value faster charging speeds and a potentially more efficient chipset for sustained tasks will find the Oppo Reno7 Z 5G a compelling alternative.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | 1, 8, 28, 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 | 2022, March 02 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 21 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm (6.30 x 2.88 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 | 173 g (6.10 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | IPX4, dust and water resistant
RGB ring lights around the cameras (notifications, charging progress) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 12, ColorOS 12 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| 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 | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm | 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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD, 31% in 15 min, 100% in 63 min
Reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Rainbow | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | CPH2343 | 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 350 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 Reno7 Z 5G
- Faster 33W charging for quick top-ups
- Potentially more efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Display brightness likely lower than A53 5G
- Camera specs less detailed, making quality assessment difficult
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter 830 nit display for excellent outdoor visibility
- Exynos 1280 offers a performance edge in CPU-intensive tasks
- Samsung’s established software and ecosystem
- Slower 25W charging
- Exynos 1280 may be prone to thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significant advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 830 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a scenario where the Reno7 Z 5G’s display specifications are not provided, suggesting it will likely fall short. While the A53’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite (nominal)’ – typical for AMOLED panels – the Reno7 Z’s panel type is unknown, potentially impacting color reproduction and black levels. The A53’s larger screen size (assumed, based on market positioning) also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are marketed with capable camera systems, but specifics are limited. The Galaxy A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor (based on typical Samsung A-series offerings). The Reno7 Z 5G’s camera specs are not detailed, making a direct comparison difficult. It’s important to note that the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit due to the small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS). Focusing on the primary sensor and its aperture will be key to assessing real-world image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G utilizes the Exynos 1280 (5nm), while the Oppo Reno7 Z 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The Exynos 1280, with its Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, offers a theoretical performance edge over the Snapdragon 695’s Kryo 660 Gold cores at 2.2 GHz. However, the 5nm process node of the Exynos 1280 should translate to better power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Reno7 Z’s 6nm node is still efficient, but the A53 has a slight architectural advantage. RAM configurations are not specified, but LPDDR5 or LPDDR5x would be beneficial for both.
Battery Life
Both the Oppo Reno7 Z 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Reno7 Z 5G supports 33W wired charging, achieving 31% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 63 minutes. The A53 5G is limited to 25W charging, meaning a full charge will take considerably longer. This faster charging capability gives the Reno7 Z 5G a practical advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo Reno7 Z 5G if you need rapid 33W charging and prioritize a chipset known for its efficiency, potentially leading to longer sustained performance in less demanding tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display for media consumption and value Samsung’s software features and broader ecosystem support.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280, while powerful, has been known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. While not a deal-breaker, users engaging in long gaming sessions may experience some performance dips. The Reno7 Z 5G’s Snapdragon 695, with its 6nm process, may manage heat more effectively in these scenarios, though it has a lower peak performance ceiling.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, no. 2MP macro cameras are often included for marketing purposes but deliver limited real-world benefit. The small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization result in images that are often soft, noisy, and lack detail. Focusing on the primary camera for close-up shots using digital zoom will typically yield better results.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Galaxy A53 5G can generally run PUBG Mobile at 60fps with medium to high graphics settings. However, achieving consistently smooth performance at the highest settings may be challenging due to the Exynos 1280’s thermal limitations. Expect some frame drops during intense firefights.
❓ How does the reverse wired charging on the Oppo Reno7 Z 5G compare to using a power bank?
Reverse wired charging allows the Reno7 Z 5G to act as a power source for other devices, like wireless earbuds or another phone, using a USB-C cable. While convenient, it's less efficient than using a dedicated power bank. The Reno7 Z 5G will drain its own battery significantly faster when providing power to another device.
