Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs. A53 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the better choice, especially if you can find it at a competitive price. However, the Galaxy A53 5G excels in battery endurance and offers a more modern software experience, making it ideal for those who value longevity and all-day usability.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G | Samsung Galaxy A53 5G |
| 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, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 04 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 07 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 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 |
| Weight | 177 g (6.24 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 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, auto-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 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 | 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 | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 | $ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14 |
| SAR | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) | 0.89 W/kg (head) 1.60 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 92h | Endurance rating 113h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.9 LUFS (Good) | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Significantly faster processor for gaming and demanding apps
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- Shorter battery life compared to the A53 5G
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load (Snapdragon version)
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Exceptional battery life for all-day usage
- More affordable price point
- Modern software experience with guaranteed updates
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Slower charging speeds due to larger battery capacity
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A53 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching 830 nits compared to the S21 FE’s 792 nits, making it more readable under direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels. However, the S21 FE’s panel is likely to offer faster response times, crucial for fast-paced gaming, though this isn't explicitly stated in the data. The A53’s larger size (not specified in data, but known) may also contribute to a more immersive viewing experience, while the S21 FE’s potentially higher peak brightness provides better HDR content visibility.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are equipped with versatile camera systems, but the S21 FE likely holds an edge in image processing capabilities due to its more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. While the provided data only states 'Photo / Video' for both, the S21 FE’s chipset allows for faster image processing, potentially resulting in better low-light performance and more detailed video recording. The A53’s camera system is likely tuned for a more balanced, consumer-friendly look, while the S21 FE may offer more control for experienced photographers. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is assumed on both, but sensor sizes and lens apertures are not specified, making a definitive comparison difficult.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipset: the S21 FE utilizes either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (Version 1) or the Exynos 2100 (Version 2), both built on a 5nm process, while the A53 5G is powered by the Exynos 1280, also 5nm. The Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 feature a more powerful CPU configuration – specifically the Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84/2.9 GHz versus the A53’s Cortex-A78 cores at 2.4 GHz. This translates to significantly faster processing speeds for the S21 FE, particularly in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The S21 FE’s Adreno 660 (Snapdragon version) or Mali-G78 MP14 (Exynos version) GPU also provides a substantial graphical advantage over the A53’s Mali-G68. While both phones support 5G, the S21 FE’s superior processing power will handle demanding 5G applications more effectively.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A53 5G clearly wins in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 113-hour rating compared to the S21 FE’s 92 hours. This difference is significant and translates to a noticeable advantage in real-world usage. Both phones support 25W wired charging, but the A53’s larger battery capacity means it will take longer to fully charge. The S21 FE also offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the A53 5G, providing added convenience for compatible devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you need a faster processor for gaming or demanding applications, a brighter screen for outdoor visibility, and don't mind potentially shorter battery life. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer exceptional battery life, a more affordable price point, and a consistently smooth experience for everyday tasks like browsing and social media.