The Xiaomi 12 Lite NE and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. The Xiaomi focuses on a sleek design and newer chipset, while the Samsung prioritizes a robust software experience and established brand recognition. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi 12 Lite NE emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, built on a more efficient 4nm process, delivers noticeably snappier performance than the Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280. Coupled with significantly faster 67W charging, the 12 Lite NE offers a more modern and responsive experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 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 | SA/NSA | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | 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 | Not announced yet | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 72.7 x 7.2 mm (6.27 x 2.86 x 0.28 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 | 171.8 g (6.07 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 1000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 644 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 13 | 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 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF
20 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.78", 1.0µm
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF
32 MP, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | - |
| Features | 2 Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) | 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/6, 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 | 67W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 40 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Violet, Silver | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | 2210129SG | 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 | - | $ 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) |
Xiaomi 12 Lite NE
- Faster Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset for smoother performance
- Significantly faster 67W charging
- Potentially more efficient 4nm process
- Display specifications are unknown
- Camera details are limited
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Established Samsung brand and software support
- 830 nits peak display brightness
- Good battery endurance (113h)
- Slower Exynos 1280 chipset
- Slower 25W charging
- 5nm process less efficient than Xiaomi's 4nm
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a peak brightness of 830 nits, a respectable figure for outdoor visibility. However, the Xiaomi 12 Lite NE’s display specifications are not provided, making a direct brightness comparison difficult. Given Xiaomi’s typical display quality in this segment, it’s likely comparable. Both devices feature an 'Infinite' (Samsung) or unspecified (Xiaomi) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. Without knowing the panel technology (AMOLED vs LCD) or refresh rate of the 12 Lite NE, it’s hard to definitively declare a winner, but the A53’s measured brightness gives it a slight edge.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor information (megapixel count, sensor size) for either device, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device would be a significant advantage for video recording and low-light photography. The A53’s brand reputation suggests a more polished image processing pipeline, but the Xiaomi could potentially offer a more vibrant or contrasty look. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are likely to offer limited utility, serving primarily as filler specs.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 12 Lite NE’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4nm) is architecturally superior to the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280 (5nm). The Snapdragon utilizes Cortex-A710 cores, offering a performance uplift over the A55 cores found in the Exynos. The 4nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon also translates to better power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon’s configuration (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) is geared towards more demanding tasks than the Exynos’ (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55).
Battery Life
Both the Xiaomi 12 Lite NE and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Xiaomi 12 Lite NE supports 67W wired charging, promising a full charge in just 40 minutes with PD3.0. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is limited to 25W charging, significantly slower. This difference in charging speed is a major advantage for the Xiaomi, reducing downtime and offering greater convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi 12 Lite NE if you prioritize performance for gaming and multitasking, and value fast charging to minimize downtime. It’s ideal for users who frequently switch between apps and demand a fluid user experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a more established brand with a focus on software longevity and a potentially more refined camera experience, and aren't as concerned with raw processing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280, being built on a 5nm process, is prone to some thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads like gaming. While it won't shut down, you may experience frame rate drops after extended play. The Xiaomi 12 Lite NE’s 4nm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is expected to manage heat more effectively.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using for detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited image quality. They often lack the detail and clarity needed for truly impressive close-up photography. They are best considered a novelty feature rather than a serious photographic tool.
❓ Can the Xiaomi 12 Lite NE handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile at high frame rates (90fps)?
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is capable of running PUBG Mobile at high frame rates, but achieving a consistent 90fps will depend on the game settings and the specific phone configuration. Expect to potentially lower graphics settings for a smoother experience.
❓ How does Samsung's software update policy compare to Xiaomi's for the A53 5G and 12 Lite NE?
Samsung generally provides longer software support for its A-series devices than Xiaomi. The Galaxy A53 5G is likely to receive more years of Android OS updates and security patches compared to the Xiaomi 12 Lite NE.
