T-Mobile REVVL 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and Samsung’s software ecosystem, the Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, the T-Mobile REVVL 5G offers a compelling value proposition for those on a tighter budget who don't need the A53's extra features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | T-Mobile REVVL 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | 2, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 27. Released 2020, September 04 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.4 x 76.2 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 3.00 x 0.37 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 |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765 5G (7 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, 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), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Nebula Black | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | T790W, T790Z | 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 | About 340 EUR | $ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14 |
| SAR | - | 0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.89 W/kg (head) 1.60 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 113h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
T-Mobile REVVL 5G
- More affordable price point
- Direct access to T-Mobile’s 5G network
- Acceptable performance for basic tasks
- Less powerful processor
- Lower display quality
- Likely slower charging speeds
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter, higher-quality display
- More powerful and efficient processor
- Faster charging (25W)
- Higher price
- Samsung’s software bloatware
- May not be ideal for users solely focused on affordability
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 830 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, something the REVVL 5G likely struggles with given its unspecified display brightness. While both offer 'infinite' contrast ratios (typical for OLED/AMOLED panels), the A53’s superior brightness and likely better color calibration provide a more immersive viewing experience. The A53’s panel technology is likely Super AMOLED, known for vibrant colors, while the REVVL 5G likely uses a standard AMOLED panel.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor (though sensor size is unspecified). The REVVL 5G’s camera system is likely more basic, focusing on providing acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A53 is largely a marketing gimmick and offers limited practical benefit. The A53’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) will provide sharper images and smoother video, especially in low light.
Performance
The Exynos 1280 (5nm) in the Galaxy A53 5G holds a clear architectural advantage over the Snapdragon 765 (7nm) in the REVVL 5G. The 5nm process allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, potentially leading to better sustained performance and less thermal throttling. While both CPUs feature octa-core configurations with similar peak clock speeds (2.4GHz), the A53’s Cortex-A78 cores are more efficient than the Kryo 475 Prime cores in the REVVL 5G. This translates to faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the A53. The A53’s GPU will also outperform the 765’s Adreno 620.
Battery Life
Both the T-Mobile REVVL 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G share an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the A53 5G’s 25W wired charging capability is significantly faster than the REVVL 5G’s likely slower charging speed (unspecified). This means the A53 can replenish its battery much quicker, reducing downtime. The efficiency gains from the Exynos 1280’s 5nm process also contribute to the A53’s overall battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the T-Mobile REVVL 5G if you need a functional 5G phone on T-Mobile’s network without breaking the bank, and are comfortable with a more basic software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a brighter, higher-quality display, a more polished software experience with longer update support, and are willing to pay a premium for those features.