Realme 9 Pro+ vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Realme 9 Pro+ and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a 5G experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches. The Realme prioritizes charging speed and raw processing power with the Dimensity 920, while the Samsung focuses on a brighter display and established brand recognition with the Exynos 1280.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better all-rounder. Its significantly brighter display and Samsung’s software support outweigh the Realme 9 Pro+'s faster charging and slightly more powerful chipset. However, gamers and power users will appreciate the Realme’s performance edge.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme 9 Pro+ 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 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, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International2, 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, February 162022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, February 21Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 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
Weight182 g (6.42 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Mali-G68
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
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, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, 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-bandWi-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
Charging60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min25W wired
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited EditionBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsRMX3392, RMX3393SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
Price£ 493.68$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     0.73 W/kg (body)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)

Realme 9 Pro+

  • Significantly faster 60W charging
  • More powerful Dimensity 920 chipset
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 6nm process

  • Dimmer display compared to the Galaxy A53
  • Less established brand reputation

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Samsung’s software ecosystem and support
  • Generally more refined user experience

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Less powerful Exynos 1280 chipset

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a substantial advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 830 nits compared to the Realme 9 Pro+'s 613 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED panels, the A53’s higher peak brightness and 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) provide a more immersive viewing experience. The Realme 9 Pro+ lacks specific contrast ratio data, suggesting it won't match the A53's deep blacks. While both likely employ similar PWM dimming rates (data unavailable), the A53’s overall display quality is superior for everyday use and media consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. Both are capable of Photo and Video capture. The Realme 9 Pro+’s camera system is likely tuned for vibrant, social media-ready images, while Samsung typically aims for more natural color reproduction. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device would be a significant advantage, but this information is not provided. The 2MP macro cameras on both phones are likely to offer limited utility, serving primarily as filler for marketing specifications.

Performance

Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs with a similar core configuration (2x Cortex-A78 and 6x Cortex-A55). However, the Realme 9 Pro+’s Mediatek Dimensity 920, built on a 6nm process, offers a slight edge in raw performance compared to the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 (5nm). The 6nm node generally translates to better power efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during extended gaming sessions. While the Exynos 1280 benefits from the slightly more efficient 5nm process, the Dimensity 920’s higher clock speeds (2.5GHz vs 2.4GHz) give it a performance lead in benchmarks and real-world applications. The A53's GPU performance is adequate for most tasks, but the 9 Pro+ will handle graphically intensive games more smoothly.

Battery Life

Both the Realme 9 Pro+ and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve similar endurance ratings of 117h and 113h respectively, suggesting comparable real-world battery life. However, the Realme 9 Pro+ significantly outperforms the A53 in charging speed, offering 60W wired charging with full charge in 44 minutes, compared to the A53’s slower 25W charging. This difference is substantial; the Realme can top up its battery much faster, minimizing downtime. While the A53’s slightly larger battery capacity (data unavailable) might offer marginally longer runtimes, the convenience of the 9 Pro+'s rapid charging is a major advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you prioritize fast charging and need a phone capable of sustained gaming performance. Its 60W charging and Dimensity 920 chipset offer a noticeable advantage for demanding tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you value a vibrant, easily visible display, a more refined software experience, and long-term software support. The A53’s brighter screen is ideal for outdoor use and media consumption.

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 can exhibit some thermal throttling during extended gaming. The 5nm process helps, but it's not as efficient as the 6nm Dimensity 920 in the Realme 9 Pro+. Expect some performance dips after 30-45 minutes of demanding gameplay on the A53.
❓ Is the 60W charging on the Realme 9 Pro+ compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers from other devices?
Yes, the Realme 9 Pro+ supports PD3.0 charging, meaning it's compatible with many standard USB-C PD chargers. However, to achieve the full 60W charging speed, you'll need a charger specifically rated for that wattage. Using a lower-wattage charger will still charge the phone, but at a slower rate.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Realme UI and Samsung's One UI?
Samsung's One UI is generally considered more polished and feature-rich, with a stronger emphasis on customization and a more mature ecosystem. Realme UI is lighter and faster, but may include more pre-installed bloatware. Samsung also provides longer software support, with more guaranteed updates.