Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy A series consistently delivers excellent mid-range smartphones. The A53 5G was a popular choice, but the A54 has arrived to raise the bar. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A54 offers a noticeable upgrade over the A53 5G, primarily in display brightness and chipset performance. While battery life is similar, the A54's improvements make it the slightly better choice, especially for those prioritizing a vibrant screen and smoother experience. Both offer excellent value.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Samsung Galaxy A54
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, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
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-A536V25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, March 172023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 24Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)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 (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 1280 (5 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G68Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 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
Quad64 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-
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 Virtual proximity sensingVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PeachLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsSM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DLSM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
Price$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR0.75 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.89 W/kg (head)     1.60 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 113h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.5 LUFS (Good) -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Excellent value
  • Solid battery life
  • Good camera performance
  • Water and dust resistance (IP67)

  • Slightly older chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • 25W charging is relatively slow

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Brighter display
  • Improved chipset performance
  • Modern design
  • Good camera performance
  • Water and dust resistance (IP67)

  • Slightly higher price
  • 25W charging is relatively slow

Display Comparison

The A54 boasts a significant upgrade in display brightness, reaching 980 nits compared to the A53's 830 nits. Both feature excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal), but the A54's higher brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. The A54 also has a slightly improved refresh rate (120Hz vs 120Hz, but with better implementation).

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the A54 benefits from software improvements and potentially a slightly tweaked sensor. Low-light performance is generally better on the A54. Video recording capabilities are similar, offering stable footage at various resolutions.

Performance

The Exynos 1380 in the A54 offers a performance boost over the Exynos 1280 in the A53. The A54's CPU configuration (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78) provides better multi-core performance, resulting in smoother multitasking and gaming. While both phones are capable, the A54 feels noticeably snappier.

Battery Life

Battery life is remarkably similar between the two devices. The A53 5G has an endurance rating of 113h, while the A54 has 119h. Active use scores show the A54 lasting around 11:15h. Both easily provide all-day battery life for most users.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G? Those looking for a solid, reliable mid-range phone at a potentially lower price point, especially if they don't heavily prioritize display brightness or the latest chipset. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Users seeking a brighter, more responsive experience with a slightly improved chipset and a more modern design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A54 worth the upgrade from the A53 5G?
Yes, if you value a brighter display and improved performance. The A54 offers noticeable upgrades that justify the price difference for many users.
❓ What is the charging speed of both phones?
Both the A53 5G and A54 support 25W wired charging, which is relatively slow compared to some competitors.