vivo S15e vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and quick charging, the vivo S15e is the better choice. Its Exynos 1080 offers a slight edge in processing power. However, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G wins for those valuing all-day battery life and a more polished software experience, despite its slower charging speeds.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S15e | Samsung Galaxy A53 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 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, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 25 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 30 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.7 x 73.6 x 8.5 mm (6.29 x 2.90 x 0.33 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 | 190 g (6.70 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 2404 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.0 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 1080 (5 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP10 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS Ocean | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| 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 | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 50% in 18 min | 25W wired |
| Type | 4700 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver/Pink | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | V2190A | 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 300 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) |
vivo S15e
- Faster 66W charging significantly reduces downtime.
- Potentially better single-core CPU performance with the Exynos 1080.
- Likely more affordable price point.
- Battery life is likely inferior to the Galaxy A53 5G.
- Software support may not be as extensive as Samsung’s.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Excellent 113-hour battery endurance.
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility.
- Samsung’s established software ecosystem and update promise.
- Slower 25W charging.
- Potentially lower single-core CPU performance.
- Generally higher price compared to the vivo S15e.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 830 nits, making it more usable in direct sunlight. While the vivo S15e’s display specs aren’t provided, Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology typically delivers vibrant colors and excellent contrast, with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio. The A53’s brightness advantage is crucial for outdoor users, while the S15e’s display quality is likely adequate but potentially less visually striking. The lack of LTPO on either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on higher-end models.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G likely features a more refined image processing pipeline, leveraging Samsung’s extensive camera software expertise. The A53’s camera system is likely to prioritize versatility, while the S15e may focus on specific strengths. Without sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s track record suggests a more consistent and reliable camera experience. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and offers minimal practical benefit.
Performance
Both phones utilize 5nm Exynos chipsets, but the vivo S15e’s Exynos 1080 has a slightly different CPU configuration. The S15e features a 1x2.8 GHz Cortex-A78 core, alongside 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 cores, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, while the A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 has 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This suggests the S15e may offer a small advantage in single-core performance. However, the Exynos 1280 in the A53 5G benefits from a newer GPU architecture, potentially improving graphics performance. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, limiting memory bandwidth compared to newer standards like LPDDR5X.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the vivo S15e’s battery capacity is unknown, its 66W wired charging is a significant advantage, promising a 50% charge in just 18 minutes. The A53 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower. This means the A53 5G excels at lasting a full day on a single charge, while the S15e prioritizes the ability to quickly top up when needed. The trade-off is between longevity and convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S15e if you frequently game, edit videos, or need a phone that charges incredibly quickly. Its Exynos 1080 chipset and 66W charging are geared towards power users. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prioritize battery life, a reliable software experience with guaranteed updates, and a brighter display for outdoor visibility. It’s the safer, more consistent choice for everyday use.