Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A71: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing between Samsung's Galaxy A series can be tough. Both the A53 5G and A71 offer compelling features at mid-range prices, but which one truly delivers the best experience? This comprehensive comparison will dissect every aspect, from display quality to camera performance, to help you make an informed decision.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A53 5G edges out the A71 thanks to its brighter display, more modern chipset, and slightly better battery endurance. While the A71 boasts a larger screen, the A53 5G's overall improvements make it the more appealing choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Samsung Galaxy A71
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 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, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536VHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
Launch
Announced2022, March 172019, December 12. Released 2020, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 24Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)179 g (6.31 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED Plus
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)
ChipsetExynos 1280 (5 nm)Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) - Philippines
GPUMali-G68Adreno 618
OSAndroid 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
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 lens64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
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@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensingANT+
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PeachPrism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink
ModelsSM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DLSM-A715F, SM-A715F/DS, SM-A715F/DSN, SM-A715F/DSM, SM-A715W, SM-A715X
Price$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14About 120 EUR
SAR0.75 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)0.98 W/kg (head)     0.90 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.89 W/kg (head)     1.60 W/kg (body)0.51 W/kg (head)     1.56 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB
Battery life Endurance rating 113h Endurance rating 102h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.5 LUFS (Good) -29.0 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 192 458(v7), 263396 (v8) GeekBench: 7039 (v4.4), 1733 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Brighter Display
  • More Modern Chipset (Exynos 1280)
  • Slightly Better Battery Life
  • 5G Connectivity

  • Slightly Smaller Screen
  • 25W Charging (Slow)

Samsung Galaxy A71

  • Larger Screen Size
  • Good Overall Performance
  • Solid Camera System

  • Less Bright Display
  • Older Chipset (Snapdragon 730)
  • Slightly Shorter Battery Life

Display Comparison

The A53 5G takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 830 nits, significantly brighter than the A71's 515 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the A53 5G's superior brightness makes it more usable outdoors and in bright environments. The A71's larger 6.7-inch screen might appeal to those who consume a lot of media, but the A53 5G's Super AMOLED panel is generally considered more visually appealing.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature versatile camera setups, but the A53 5G generally produces slightly better image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The A53 5G's image processing tends to be more refined. Both offer good video recording capabilities, but the A53 5G may have a slight edge in stabilization. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are similar across both devices, so the difference comes down to image processing and sensor performance.

Performance

The A53 5G's Exynos 1280 (5nm) offers a noticeable performance boost over the A71's Snapdragon 730 (8nm). The newer chipset and smaller manufacturing process translate to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance. While the A71 is still capable, the A53 5G provides a more future-proof experience.

Battery Life

The A53 5G demonstrates slightly better battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 113 hours compared to the A71's 102 hours. While the difference isn't massive, it suggests the A53 5G's more efficient chipset contributes to improved power management. Both phones support 25W wired charging, which is relatively slow by modern standards.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G? Users prioritizing a vibrant display, 5G connectivity, and a more recent processor. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A71? Those who prefer a larger screen size and are less concerned with having the absolute latest technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G worth the upgrade from the A71?
Yes, if you value a brighter display, faster performance, and 5G connectivity. The A53 5G offers a noticeable improvement in key areas.
❓ Which phone has the better camera?
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G generally produces slightly better image quality, especially in low light, due to its more refined image processing.