Samsung Galaxy A23 5G vs A53 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

Samsung's Galaxy A series offers excellent value, but choosing between models can be tricky. The A23 5G and A53 5G are both solid mid-range contenders, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A53 5G generally offers a superior experience with its brighter display, more powerful chipset, and slightly more refined camera. However, the A23 5G boasts significantly longer battery life and might be a better choice for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A23 5G 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, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - 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, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2022, August 052022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 02Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight197 g (6.95 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 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypePLS LCD, 120HzSuper 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 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens64 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
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International32 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, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio (market/region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 Virtual proximity sensingVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Peach, BlueBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsSM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DLSM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
Price$ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14
SAR0.68 W/kg (head)     0.57 W/kg (body)0.75 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
SAR EU1.49 W/kg (head)     1.25 W/kg (body)0.89 W/kg (head)     1.60 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 138h Endurance rating 113h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.9 LUFS (Very good) -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A23 5G

  • Exceptional battery life
  • More affordable price
  • Decent display
  • 5G connectivity

  • Less powerful chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • Camera slightly less refined
  • Slower charging

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • More powerful processor
  • Better camera performance
  • Sleeker design

  • Shorter battery life
  • Higher price
  • Charging speed could be faster

Display Comparison

The A53 5G takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 830 nits, significantly higher than the A23 5G's 508 nits. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (1328:1 for A23, 'Infinite' nominal for A53), the A53's brightness makes it much more usable outdoors. The A53 also features a slightly more vibrant color profile.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera setups, but the A53 5G generally produces better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The A53's image processing tends to be more refined, resulting in more natural-looking photos. Video recording capabilities are also slightly better on the A53.

Performance

The Exynos 1280 in the A53 5G provides a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 695 5G in the A23 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A53. The A23 is still capable for everyday tasks, but may struggle with demanding games.

Battery Life

The A23 5G is the clear winner in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 138 hours compared to the A53 5G's 113 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making it ideal for heavy users.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G? Users prioritizing maximum battery life and a more affordable price point. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G? Those seeking a brighter, smoother display, better performance for gaming and multitasking, and a slightly more advanced camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the A53 5G worth the extra money?
If you prioritize performance, a better display, and a slightly more advanced camera, then yes. However, if battery life is your top concern and you're on a tighter budget, the A23 5G is a compelling alternative.
❓ What are the key differences in camera quality?
The A53 5G generally captures more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in low light. It also offers slightly better video stabilization and image processing. The A23 5G still takes good photos, but lacks the refinement of the A53.