Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A52: The Ultimate Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy A series consistently delivers excellent value, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we're pitting the newer Galaxy A53 5G against its predecessor, the Galaxy A52, to determine which phone offers the best overall experience. We'll dive deep into their specs, features, and performance to help you make an informed decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A53 5G edges out the A52 thanks to its brighter display, more efficient chipset, and 5G connectivity. While the A52 remains a solid choice, the A53's upgrades make it the slightly better pick for most users, especially those prioritizing future-proofing and a smoother experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A53 5G	Samsung Galaxy A52

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V	-

Launch
Announced	2022, March 17	2021, March 17
Status	Available. Released 2022, March 24	Available. Released 2021, March 26

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)	159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	189 g (6.67 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 (~405 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)	Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
Chipset	Exynos 1280 (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPU	Mali-G68	Adreno 618
OS	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	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	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 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	-
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	FM radio
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 Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	Virtual proximity sensing	-

Battery
Charging	25W wired	25W wired, 50% in 30 min
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Blue, Peach	Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
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	SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS
Price	$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14	C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89
SAR	0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.89 W/kg (head) 1.60 W/kg (body)	0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 113h	Endurance rating 105h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-26.5 LUFS (Good)	-27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Brighter Display
More Powerful Chipset (Exynos 1280)
5G Connectivity
Slightly Better Battery Life
Improved Image Processing

Slightly Higher Price
Charging speed not significantly faster

Samsung Galaxy A52

Lower Price
Fast Charging (50% in 30 min)
Reliable Performance
Excellent Camera

Less Powerful Chipset (Snapdragon 720G)
Lower Peak Brightness
No 5G

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A53 5G boasts a peak brightness of 830 nits, noticeably brighter than the A52's 794 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), resulting in vibrant colors and deep blacks. The A53's slightly higher brightness provides a better viewing experience in direct sunlight. Both feature Super AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature versatile camera setups, but the A53 generally produces slightly better images, particularly in low-light conditions, due to its improved image processing. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities. The A53 also benefits from newer software features and algorithms.

Performance

The A53 5G utilizes the Exynos 1280 (5nm), a more modern and efficient chipset compared to the A52's Snapdragon 720G (8nm). This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance on the A53. While the A52 is still capable, the A53 offers a noticeable performance boost.

Battery Life

The A53 5G has a slight edge in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 113h compared to the A52's 105h. Both phones offer 25W wired charging, but the A52 advertises a 50% charge in 30 minutes, which is a slight advantage. However, the A53's more efficient chipset helps it last longer on a single charge.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G? Users seeking 5G connectivity, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a slightly more powerful processor. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A52? Budget-conscious buyers who still want a reliable Samsung phone with a great camera and display, and don't need 5G.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G worth the upgrade from the A52?

If you value 5G connectivity, a brighter display, and improved performance, then the A53 5G is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're on a tight budget and don't need those features, the A52 remains a solid option.

❓ Which phone has better water resistance?

Both the A52 and A53 have an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning they can withstand immersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for 30 minutes.