Oppo Reno8 Lite vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Contenders

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Oppo Reno8 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver a 5G experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches to achieving this. The Reno8 Lite prioritizes a streamlined experience with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695, while the A53 5G leverages Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device offers the best overall package.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Exynos 1280 chipset, despite potential thermal concerns, offers a noticeable performance edge, and the 830 nit display provides superior visibility. However, the Reno8 Lite’s faster charging is a significant advantage for those on the go.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno8 Lite Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 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, June 42022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, June 4Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions159.9 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)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight173 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
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)Super 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 11, ColorOS 12Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2-
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/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (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 YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD, 31% in 15 min, 100% in 63 min Reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCosmic Black, Champagne SilverBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsCPH2343SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
PriceAbout 250 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 Reno8 Lite

  • Faster 33W charging with PD
  • Reverse wired charging capability
  • Potentially more efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset
  • Likely more affordable price point

  • Less powerful CPU and GPU compared to Exynos 1280
  • Likely lower display brightness and quality
  • Potentially less refined camera image processing

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • More powerful Exynos 1280 chipset
  • Brighter 830 nit display with Super AMOLED technology
  • Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for improved camera performance
  • Samsung’s established software ecosystem

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
  • Generally higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality with a measured peak brightness of 830 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Reno8 Lite’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s likely to fall short of this figure. The A53’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a Super AMOLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the Reno8 Lite’s likely LCD panel. This difference is crucial for media consumption and gaming, making the A53 a more immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed with capable camera systems, but specifics are limited. The A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, potentially delivering more refined photos and videos. Without detailed sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the A53’s inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is a significant advantage, resulting in sharper images and smoother videos, especially in low-light conditions. The Reno8 Lite’s camera performance will likely be adequate for casual photography, but it’s unlikely to match the A53’s capabilities.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Oppo Reno8 Lite utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is powered by the Exynos 1280 (5nm). The Exynos 1280, built on a smaller 5nm process, generally offers superior performance and efficiency. Its octa-core configuration with 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores provides a more powerful CPU than the Reno8 Lite’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold cores. While the Snapdragon 695 is a capable chip for everyday tasks, the Exynos 1280 will handle demanding games and multitasking with greater ease. However, the Exynos 1280 is known to run warmer, potentially leading to thermal throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, the Reno8 Lite’s 33W wired charging with PD support offers a substantial advantage. It can achieve a 31% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 63 minutes. The A53 5G’s 25W charging is slower, requiring more time to reach 100%. The Reno8 Lite also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the A53, allowing it to top up other devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno8 Lite if you need a phone that charges incredibly quickly and you primarily use it for everyday tasks like social media, messaging, and light browsing. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a brighter, more vibrant display, demand more processing power for gaming or multitasking, and value Samsung’s established software ecosystem and potentially longer software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280 is known to generate more heat than some competing chipsets. While it offers strong performance, extended gaming or demanding tasks can lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance. Samsung’s software attempts to mitigate this, but it’s a potential concern for hardcore mobile gamers.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included for marketing purposes but rarely deliver truly impressive macro photography. Expect soft images and limited dynamic range.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G reliably maintain 60fps in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Exynos 1280 should be capable of running PUBG Mobile at 60fps on medium to high settings. However, achieving consistently smooth frame rates may depend on the specific game settings and the phone’s thermal conditions. Prolonged gaming could lead to some frame drops due to throttling.
❓ How does the Reno8 Lite's 33W charging compare to using a standard 18W charger?
The difference is substantial. While an 18W charger will still charge the Reno8 Lite, it will take significantly longer – potentially doubling the charging time. The 33W charger with PD support delivers a much faster and more efficient charging experience, reaching 100% in just 63 minutes.