The Realme 9 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they diverge significantly in their approach to display technology, processing power, and battery optimization. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a bright, usable display, the Realme 9 emerges as the stronger contender. Its superior endurance rating of 156 hours, coupled with a respectable 647 nits of brightness, outweighs the Galaxy A53 5G’s more powerful, but less efficient, Exynos 1280 chipset.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 07 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 12 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.2 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) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 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 | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, dual pixel PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 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 |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 75 min | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, Stargaze White | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | RMX3521 | 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 660 EUR | $ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14 |
| SAR | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.59 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 156h
|
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-30.4 LUFS (Below average)
|
-26.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 290097 (v9)
GeekBench: 1601 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9)
GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 9
- Exceptional battery life (156h endurance)
- Faster 33W charging
- Bright enough display for most users
- 4G only connectivity
- Less powerful processor than the A53
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- 5G connectivity
- More powerful Exynos 1280 processor
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Significantly shorter battery life (113h endurance)
- Slower 25W charging
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 830 nits compared to the Realme 9’s 647 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. Both phones feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, a marketing term indicating deep blacks, but the A53’s higher peak brightness is the more tangible benefit. While neither phone specifies refresh rate, the A53’s Super AMOLED panel likely offers better color accuracy and viewing angles. The Realme 9’s brightness is still adequate for indoor use, but the A53 clearly wins in outdoor scenarios.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a photo/video camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The absence of specific sensor details makes a direct comparison difficult. However, given the market positioning, it’s reasonable to assume the A53 5G may have a slightly more sophisticated image processing pipeline. The Realme 9 likely focuses on delivering vibrant, social media-ready images, while the A53 might aim for more natural color reproduction. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests limited utility for serious photography.
Performance
The Realme 9 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, a 4G-only chipset built on a 6nm process. The Galaxy A53 5G, conversely, features Samsung’s Exynos 1280, fabricated on a 5nm node. The 5nm process generally offers better power efficiency, but the Exynos 1280’s architecture (2x Cortex-A78 & 6x Cortex-A55) is more complex. While the A53’s CPU cores have a similar peak clock speed (2.4 GHz), the Snapdragon 680’s Kryo cores are optimized for efficiency. In real-world use, the A53 will handle more demanding tasks and multitasking with greater ease, but the Realme 9 will likely exhibit less thermal throttling during sustained loads.
Battery Life
The Realme 9’s endurance rating of 156 hours significantly surpasses the Galaxy A53 5G’s 113 hours. This difference is primarily attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset and potentially a more optimized software experience. While the A53 5G supports 25W charging, the Realme 9’s 33W charging is faster, reaching 50% charge in 31 minutes and 100% in 75 minutes. This faster charging mitigates some of the A53’s battery life deficit, but the Realme 9 remains the clear winner for users prioritizing longevity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 9 if you need exceptional battery life and a bright screen for outdoor use, and are comfortable with a more modest processor for everyday tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prioritize 5G connectivity, a slightly more powerful processor for demanding apps, and Samsung’s established software ecosystem, even at the cost of battery endurance.
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 processor, some users have reported thermal throttling during extended gaming. The 5nm process helps, but the chip's complexity and the A53's design may contribute to heat buildup. The Realme 9's Snapdragon 680, being less powerful, is less prone to overheating.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using for detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included as a marketing feature but rarely deliver truly impressive results. Expect soft images and a narrow depth of field.
❓ Will the Realme 9's 4G connectivity be a significant limitation for users in areas with 5G coverage?
If you live in an area with robust 5G coverage and frequently download large files or stream high-resolution video, the Realme 9's lack of 5G could be a noticeable limitation. However, for typical usage, 4G remains perfectly adequate for most users.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Realme UI and Samsung's One UI?
Samsung's One UI is known for its feature-richness and polished interface, but can also include more pre-installed apps (bloatware). Realme UI is generally lighter and more streamlined, offering a cleaner experience. Samsung typically provides longer software support, with more frequent updates.
