vivo V50 vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo V50 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options. The V50 arrives with a newer Snapdragon chipset and blazing-fast charging, while the A53 5G has established itself as a reliable all-rounder. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the vivo V50 emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset offers a noticeable performance uplift over the Exynos 1280, and the 90W charging is a game-changer. While the A53 5G has a longer history, the V50’s modern features and efficiency give it the edge.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo V50 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Global2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2025, February 172022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, February 25Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions163.3 x 76.7 x 7.4 / 7.6 / 7.7 mm159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g or 199 g (6.67 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionDiamond Shield Glass, Mohs level 4Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10+, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, 1300 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 720Mali-G68
OSAndroid 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 15Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDRLED 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, HDRHDR
Single50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging90W wired, PD Reverse wired25W wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAncora Red (Rose Red), Satin Black (Titanium Grey), Starry Blue (Starry Night), Mist PurpleBlack, White, Blue, Peach
ModelsV2427SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
Price$ 487.61 / € 419.15 / ₹ 28,899$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14
SAR0.99 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)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)
EU LABEL
Battery52:45h endurance, 800 cycles-
EnergyClass B-
Free fallClass C (90 falls)-
RepairabilityClass B-

vivo V50

  • Significantly faster 90W charging
  • More powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset
  • Higher display brightness for outdoor visibility

  • Long-term software support is less certain than Samsung
  • Camera details are limited in available data

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Established brand reputation and software support
  • Proven reliability and user base
  • Potentially better color science in photos (based on brand history)

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Older and less efficient Exynos 1280 chipset
  • Lower display brightness

Display Comparison

The vivo V50’s display significantly outshines the Galaxy A53 5G in peak brightness, reaching a measured 1274 nits compared to the A53’s 830 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While Samsung boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, this is a marketing term; both phones utilize OLED panels offering excellent contrast. The V50’s higher brightness is particularly beneficial for HDR content consumption, offering a more dynamic and vibrant viewing experience. We lack PWM frequency data for both, but the V50’s newer panel tech *may* offer improvements for flicker sensitivity.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information beyond 'Photo/Video' is missing for the A53. The A53’s camera is known for its color science, but the V50’s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 likely offers improved noise reduction and dynamic range. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details for the A53, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the A53 is largely a marketing gimmick and offers limited practical benefit. The V50’s processing capabilities will likely provide a more versatile and consistently high-quality camera experience.

Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4nm) in the vivo V50 represents a substantial architectural leap over the Samsung Exynos 1280 (5nm). The Snapdragon utilizes a tri-cluster configuration with Cortex-A715 cores, offering improved single-core and multi-core performance compared to the A53’s Cortex-A78 and A55 cores. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. While both phones likely feature similar RAM configurations, the Snapdragon’s more efficient architecture will result in a smoother, more responsive user experience.

Battery Life

The vivo V50’s 52:45h endurance rating, coupled with 800 charge cycles, is a significant improvement over the Galaxy A53 5G’s 113h endurance. The V50’s active use score of 15:20h further demonstrates its superior battery life. Crucially, the V50 supports 90W wired charging with Power Delivery (PD), allowing for a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the A53’s 25W charging. This difference in charging speed is a major convenience factor, especially for users who frequently find themselves needing to top up their battery quickly. The V50 also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the A53.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo V50 if you prioritize performance for gaming and demanding apps, and value incredibly fast charging. You'll benefit from a more responsive experience and less downtime. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a phone with a well-established software ecosystem, a proven track record for reliability, and are less concerned with having the absolute latest chipset.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280 is known to throttle under sustained load, particularly during graphically intensive games. While not catastrophic, users may experience frame rate drops and reduced performance after extended gaming. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in the vivo V50, with its 4nm process, is more thermally efficient and less prone to throttling.
❓ Is the 90W charging on the vivo V50 compatible with all USB-PD chargers?
The vivo V50 supports USB-PD, but to achieve the full 90W charging speed, you'll need a charger specifically rated for that wattage. Using a lower-wattage USB-PD charger will still charge the phone, but at a slower rate. Vivo typically includes a compatible charger in the box, but it's worth verifying.
❓ How does the software update policy differ between vivo and Samsung?
Samsung generally offers a more robust and longer-term software update policy than vivo. Samsung typically guarantees 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches for its A-series devices. Vivo’s update commitment is typically shorter, though they are improving. This is a key consideration for users who prioritize long-term software support.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, no. 2MP macro cameras are often included as a marketing feature but deliver limited image quality. The small sensor size and fixed focus result in soft, noisy images. The V50's camera system, even without a dedicated macro lens, is likely to produce more detailed and usable close-up shots due to its superior image processing capabilities.