Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The T-Mobile Vivacity, a budget-friendly option, faces off against the popular Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. We'll break down their key differences to help you decide which device best fits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the clear winner. While the Vivacity likely offers affordability, the A53 5G boasts a superior chipset, brighter display, and significantly better camera capabilities, making it a more well-rounded and future-proof choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 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 |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, November. Released 2011, November | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 115 x 58 x 10.5 mm (4.53 x 2.28 x 0.41 in) | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 118 g (4.16 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.5 inches, 34.9 cm2 (~52.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | - | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 512MB | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | 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 | 5 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | Yes | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | MP4/WMV/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 200 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| 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 |
| Price | About 170 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 Vivacity
- Likely very affordable
- Compact size (assumed)
- Unknown specs
- Likely lower performance
- Basic camera
- Limited features
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Excellent battery life (113h endurance)
- Bright and vibrant display (830 nits)
- Powerful Exynos 1280 chipset
- Versatile camera system
- 5G connectivity
- Higher price point
- 25W charging is relatively slow
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G's display shines with a measured 830 nits of brightness and an infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Vivacity's display is likely more basic, with lower brightness and contrast, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. Expect the A53 5G to be noticeably better for media consumption.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A53 5G's camera system is a major selling point, offering versatile photo and video capabilities. While specific Vivacity camera details are unavailable, it's safe to assume it won't match the A53 5G's image quality, features, or video recording capabilities. The A53 5G likely offers better low-light performance and more advanced shooting modes.
Performance
The Exynos 1280 chipset in the Galaxy A53 5G provides a significant performance advantage over the likely less powerful processor in the Vivacity. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A53 5G. The Vivacity may struggle with demanding apps.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A53 5G boasts an impressive endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The Vivacity's battery life is unknown, but it's unlikely to match the A53 5G's longevity. Expect the A53 5G to easily last a full day, even with heavy usage.
Buying Guide
The T-Mobile Vivacity is best for users on a very tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and are not concerned with advanced features or performance. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is ideal for those seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with a good camera, long battery life, and a smooth user experience, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the T-Mobile Vivacity a 5G phone?
It's unclear if the T-Mobile Vivacity supports 5G. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G explicitly supports 5G connectivity.
❓ What is the price difference between the two phones?
The T-Mobile Vivacity is expected to be significantly cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, but exact pricing varies by retailer and promotions.