TCL 20 R 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, the TCL 20 R 5G offers a viable alternative for those on a tighter budget where raw processing power isn't paramount.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | TCL 20 R 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 | 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, 7, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat13 400/100 Mbps, 5G 2.7 Gbps DL | 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 | 2021, September 07 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 23 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75 x 9 mm (6.47 x 2.95 x 0.35 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 | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, TCL UI | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | 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 | 13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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 | 10W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | T767H | 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 180 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) |
TCL 20 R 5G
- More affordable price point
- Functional 5G connectivity
- Acceptable battery endurance
- Slower charging speed (10W)
- Less powerful processor
- Likely inferior display quality
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster processor (Exynos 1280)
- Faster charging (25W)
- Higher price tag
- Similar battery endurance to TCL 20 R 5G
- Potential for Exynos chip throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 830 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the TCL 20 R 5G. This higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal for the Samsung), the A53's superior brightness is a key advantage. The TCL 20 R 5G's display specs are less detailed, suggesting a more basic panel, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing pipeline, potentially delivering more consistent and refined images. Without sensor size information for either device, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the A53’s brand reputation suggests a more capable camera system overall. The TCL 20 R 5G’s camera is likely more focused on basic functionality, and any 2MP macro lens included would offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is powered by the Exynos 1280 (5nm), featuring a more modern CPU architecture – Cortex-A78 cores – than the TCL 20 R 5G’s Dimensity 700 (7nm). The A78 cores in the Exynos 1280 offer a performance uplift over the A76 cores in the Dimensity 700, particularly in sustained workloads. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1280 also contributes to improved power efficiency. While both CPUs feature a 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cluster, the Exynos chip's overall architecture provides a noticeable performance advantage for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
Both the TCL 20 R 5G and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G supports 25W wired charging, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge time compared to the TCL 20 R 5G’s slow 10W charging. This faster charging is a significant convenience factor for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the TCL 20 R 5G if you need a functional 5G phone with basic features and are prioritizing affordability above all else. It's ideal for users who primarily browse, text, and make calls. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a more polished experience with a superior display, faster charging, and a more refined camera system, even if it comes at a higher cost.