The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo Y32 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver a well-rounded experience, they take different approaches to achieving it. The Y32 prioritizes efficiency with a Snapdragon 680, while the A53 5G leans on Samsung’s Exynos 1280 for a more powerful, albeit potentially less efficient, experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a brighter, more vibrant display and 5G connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, the vivo Y32 offers a compelling value proposition with its efficient Snapdragon 680, potentially leading to longer battery life and smoother performance in less demanding tasks.
| 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 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 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 | - | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 18 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 31 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.31 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 | 182 g (6.42 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 (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS 1.0 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro) | - |
| 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 | 8 MP, f/1.8 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8 | 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 | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
5W reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Light Blue | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | V2158A | 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 140 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 Y32
- More powerful Exynos 1280 chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster 25W charging
- 5G connectivity
- Potentially lower battery efficiency
- May be more prone to thermal throttling under heavy load
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset
- Potentially longer battery life
- 5W reverse wired charging
- More affordable price point
- Less powerful processor
- Dimmer display
- Slower 18W charging
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 830 nits. This is a substantial advantage in outdoor visibility compared to the vivo Y32, which lacks specific brightness data but is expected to be lower. While the A53’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite (nominal)’ – typical for AMOLED panels – the Y32’s panel type isn’t specified, suggesting an LCD. This impacts color vibrancy and black levels. The A53’s larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The A53 likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise and potentially a larger main sensor, though specifics are unavailable. The Y32’s camera system is likely more basic, focusing on providing adequate image quality for social media sharing. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the Y32 is unlikely to significantly enhance the photography experience, serving more as a marketing feature than a practical tool. Without detailed sensor specs, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s track record suggests a more refined camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G utilizes the Exynos 1280 (5nm), featuring a more modern CPU architecture with 2x Cortex-A78 cores for performance and 6x Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency. The vivo Y32, however, employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm). While the Snapdragon 680’s Kryo 265 Gold cores reach a higher clock speed (2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz), the Exynos 1280’s architectural advantages and 5nm process node generally translate to superior sustained performance and potentially better thermal management. The A53’s 5G capability is another key differentiator, offering faster data speeds where available.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Y32). However, the charging speeds differ. The Galaxy A53 5G supports 25W wired charging, while the Y32 is limited to 18W. This means the A53 will likely charge significantly faster, reaching a full charge in less time. The Y32 also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a useful feature for topping up accessories, which the A53 lacks.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y32 if you need a reliable, long-lasting phone for everyday tasks like calling, texting, social media, and light web browsing, and value battery life above all else. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a brighter, more immersive display, faster 5G connectivity, and the ability to handle more demanding applications and games, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.
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 exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. While it's a capable chip, its thermal efficiency isn't on par with some of Qualcomm's offerings. Expect some performance dips after prolonged gaming, but it shouldn't lead to complete shutdowns.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the vivo Y32 actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget smartphones offer limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. It's primarily a marketing feature and won't deliver professional-quality macro photography. You're better off using the main camera and cropping for close-up shots.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Galaxy A53 5G can generally run PUBG Mobile at 60fps with medium graphics settings. However, achieving consistently smooth performance at higher settings may be challenging due to the Exynos 1280's thermal limitations. Expect some frame drops during intense firefights.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the vivo Y32 with the included 18W charger?
With an 18W charger, the vivo Y32 will likely take around 2 to 2.5 hours to fully charge from 0% to 100%. While not the fastest charging speed, it's adequate for overnight charging or topping up during downtime.
