The Tecno Pova 3 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Pova 3 aggressively targets gamers with a focus on raw performance and fast charging at a lower price point, while the A53 5G aims for a more balanced experience with a refined display, camera system, and Samsung’s software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. Its superior display brightness and more polished software outweigh the Pova 3’s gaming-focused chipset. However, gamers on a tight budget will find the Tecno Pova 3’s performance and charging speed compelling.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 25 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 25 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 173.1 x 78.5 x 9.4 mm (6.81 x 3.09 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | RGB notification light stripe on the back (Electric Blue model only) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~389 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 113.1 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, HIOS | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, HDR | 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 | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lenses | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP, (depth)
0.08 MP | - |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired
10W reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 7000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Electric Blue, Tech Silver, Eco Black | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | LF7n | 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 150 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) |
Tecno Pova 3
- Faster 33W charging
- Potentially better gaming performance for the price
- 10W reverse wired charging
- Less refined software experience
- Likely lower display quality
- Camera system likely less versatile
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- More powerful and efficient chipset
- Superior camera system with OIS (likely)
- Slower 25W charging
- Higher price point
- Potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 830 nits, compared to the Tecno Pova 3’s unspecified brightness. This makes the A53 5G far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Pova 3’s display size isn’t specified, the A53’s 6.5-inch panel offers a good balance between screen real estate and ergonomics. Samsung’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a strong AMOLED panel, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors, a likely advantage over the Pova 3’s panel type which is not specified.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited for the Tecno Pova 3. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms and potentially a more sophisticated camera system. While sensor sizes and apertures are unknown for the Pova 3, the A53’s camera system is expected to deliver more consistent results across various lighting conditions. The presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A53 (likely on the main sensor) is a significant advantage for capturing sharper photos and smoother videos, a feature likely absent on the Pova 3.
Performance
The Exynos 1280 (5nm) in the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represents a significant architectural leap over the MediaTek Helio G88 (12nm) found in the Tecno Pova 3. The A53’s CPU utilizes 2x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, offering superior single-core performance compared to the Pova 3’s 2x Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0 GHz. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1280 also translates to better power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature an octa-core configuration, the A53’s chipset is demonstrably more powerful for demanding tasks and future-proofing.
Battery Life
Both the Tecno Pova 3 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Pova 3’s 33W wired charging is considerably faster than the A53’s 25W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. While the A53’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the Pova 3’s focus on gaming likely necessitates a larger battery to sustain demanding gameplay. The Pova 3 also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the A53, allowing it to charge other devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Pova 3 if you need a phone primarily for mobile gaming and prioritize fast charging and maximizing performance-per-dollar. You’ll benefit from the Helio G88’s focus on gaming and the 33W charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a more refined user experience, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a more versatile camera system, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 is a capable chipset, it can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, Samsung’s software optimizations and the phone’s thermal design mitigate this issue, preventing significant performance drops. It won't reach the same sustained performance as the Pova 3, but it's generally manageable.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included for marketing purposes but rarely deliver truly impressive macro photography. The Samsung A53's camera system is likely to produce better results overall, even without a dedicated macro lens, due to its superior image processing.
❓ Can the Tecno Pova 3 reliably run demanding games like PUBG Mobile at 60fps with high graphics settings?
The Helio G88 in the Tecno Pova 3 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but achieving a consistent 60fps with high graphics settings may require some optimization. You might need to lower the graphics settings slightly to maintain a smooth frame rate. The Pova 3’s focus on gaming makes it a better choice for this than the A53.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G with the 25W charger?
Based on typical charging speeds for phones with 25W charging, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is expected to take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to fully charge from 0% to 100%. The Tecno Pova 3’s 33W charging will be noticeably faster.
