The mid-range 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Realme V25, powered by the Snapdragon 695, and the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, featuring the Exynos 1280, both aim to deliver a balanced experience. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value and performance for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G emerges as the stronger contender. While the Realme V25 offers a more efficient chipset, the A53’s Exynos 1280 provides a noticeable performance uplift in demanding tasks, complemented by its superior display brightness.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 03 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 04 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 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 | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | 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, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| 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/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 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/2.1, 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, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | 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 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | - | 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 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) |
Realme V25
- Faster 33W charging for quicker top-ups.
- Potentially better battery efficiency due to the Snapdragon 695.
- Likely more affordable price point.
- Less powerful processor compared to the Exynos 1280.
- Likely lower display brightness and quality.
- Camera performance likely inferior to the A53.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- More powerful Exynos 1280 processor for smoother performance.
- Brighter and more vibrant display with Super AMOLED technology.
- Potentially superior camera quality and image processing.
- Slower 25W charging.
- Potentially higher price.
- Exynos 1280 may be prone to more thermal throttling.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured peak brightness of 830 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Realme V25’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to be lower, impacting outdoor usability. The A53’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a Super AMOLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the likely LCD panel on the V25. This difference is crucial for media consumption and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Realme V25. The Galaxy A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing pipeline. Without specific sensor sizes or apertures, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Samsung typically prioritizes camera quality in its A-series, suggesting a more refined camera experience on the A53. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the A53, if present, would further enhance image and video stability.
Performance
The Exynos 1280 (5nm) in the Galaxy A53 5G holds a clear architectural advantage over the Snapdragon 695 (6nm) in the Realme V25. The A53’s CPU utilizes 2x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, offering significantly higher single-core performance than the V25’s 2x Kryo 660 Gold cores at 2.2 GHz. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. While both are octa-core CPUs, the A53’s core design and smaller fabrication node contribute to superior overall performance. The 5nm process also implies better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both the Realme V25 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G share an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Realme V25’s 33W wired charging is faster than the A53’s 25W charging. This means the V25 can replenish its battery more quickly, offering a convenience advantage. The efficiency of the Snapdragon 695 might also contribute to slightly better real-world battery performance, despite the identical endurance rating.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme V25 if you need a reliable, efficient 5G phone for everyday tasks and prioritize battery life over raw processing power. It’s ideal for users who primarily browse, use social media, and occasionally game. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a brighter, more vibrant display, and demand smoother performance for gaming and multitasking. It’s the better choice for content creators and power users who need a more responsive experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 is a capable processor, it's known to generate more heat than some of its competitors. Samsung has implemented thermal management solutions, but extended gaming at high settings may lead to some throttling, reducing sustained performance. The 5nm process helps mitigate this, but it's still a potential concern for hardcore gamers.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget and mid-range phones offer limited detail and image quality. They often struggle with sharpness and dynamic range. While they can be fun to experiment with, don't expect professional-level macro photography from either the Realme V25 or the Galaxy A53 5G.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Galaxy A53 5G can achieve 60fps in PUBG Mobile, but you may need to adjust graphics settings to 'Balanced' or 'Smooth' to maintain a consistent frame rate. The Exynos 1280 is capable, but pushing for 'HD' graphics and 'High' frame rates may result in occasional stuttering or frame drops, especially during intense firefights.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 695's 5G performance compare to the Exynos 1280 in real-world usage?
Both chipsets support 5G connectivity, but the Exynos 1280 generally offers slightly faster download and upload speeds due to its more advanced modem. However, real-world 5G performance is heavily dependent on network conditions and carrier support, so the difference may not be noticeable in many areas.
