The Xiaomi Poco M5 (India variant) and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Poco M5 prioritizes processing power for gaming at an aggressive price point, while the Galaxy A53 5G aims for a more balanced experience with a focus on display quality and Samsung’s established 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 with a brighter display and Samsung’s software, the Galaxy A53 5G is the better choice. However, gamers and those seeking maximum performance on a tight budget will find the Poco M5’s Helio G99 a compelling option.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 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 / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 05 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 08 | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.35 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 | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | Splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.58 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 13 | 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 |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| 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 | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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 |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Poco Yellow, Icy Blue, Power Black | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | 22071219CI | 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 160 EUR | $ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14 |
| SAR | 0.85 W/kg (head) 0.67 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) |
Xiaomi Poco M5 (India)
- More powerful CPU for gaming
- Aggressive price point
- Potentially better thermal management due to 6nm process
- Likely lower display brightness and quality
- Less refined camera system
- Slower charging speed
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant Super AMOLED display
- More versatile camera system
- Faster charging support
- Less powerful CPU compared to Poco M5
- Higher price point
- Potential for Exynos 1280 throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 830 nits, compared to the Poco M5’s unspecified brightness. This makes the A53 far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Poco M5’s display specs are limited in the provided data, it’s likely to be an LCD panel, whereas the A53 uses Super AMOLED technology, offering superior contrast (Samsung claims 'Infinite') and color reproduction. The A53’s larger display size also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience. The lack of refresh rate information for the Poco M5 suggests it may be limited to 60Hz, while the A53 supports 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited. The Galaxy A53 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor (though not specified). The Poco M5’s camera system is likely more focused on affordability, potentially sacrificing image quality in low-light conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the Poco M5 is a common, but often underwhelming, feature. The A53’s camera system is expected to offer more versatility and consistent results across different shooting scenarios, including better video stabilization and dynamic range.
Performance
The Exynos 1280 (5nm) in the Galaxy A53 5G and the MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm) in the Poco M5 represent different design philosophies. The Exynos 1280, built on a smaller 5nm process, generally offers better power efficiency and sustained performance. Its Cortex-A78 cores, clocked at 2.4 GHz, provide a performance advantage over the Poco M5’s Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz. However, the Helio G99’s 6nm process and optimized architecture allow it to deliver impressive performance for its price bracket, particularly in gaming scenarios. Both CPUs feature the same Cortex-A55 efficiency cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. The A53’s advantage in raw processing power may be less noticeable in everyday tasks, but will be apparent in demanding applications and multitasking.
Battery Life
Both the Poco M5 and Galaxy A53 5G achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Galaxy A53 5G supports 25W wired charging, while the Poco M5 is limited to 18W. This means the A53 will recharge faster, reducing downtime. While the battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the A53’s more efficient chipset and display technology likely contribute to its comparable endurance despite potentially having a smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco M5 (India) if you need a phone primarily for gaming and demand the best possible CPU performance within a limited budget. You’ll be sacrificing display brightness and camera versatility. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a vibrant display, a more refined camera experience, and the long-term software support and ecosystem benefits that Samsung provides, even if it means paying a premium and accepting slightly less raw processing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280 is known to exhibit some throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. While it won't shut down, you may experience a slight drop in frame rates after 30-45 minutes of intense gameplay. The Poco M5’s Helio G99, while less powerful overall, may maintain more consistent performance due to its more efficient architecture.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Poco M5 actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget phones offer limited detail and image quality. The small sensor size and fixed focus result in images that are often soft and lack sharpness. It's usable for casual snapshots, but don't expect professional-level macro photography.
❓ Can the Poco M5 run PUBG Mobile at 90fps?
While the Helio G99 is capable of handling PUBG Mobile, achieving a consistent 90fps frame rate will likely require lowering the graphics settings to medium or low. The Poco M5’s display may also be limited to 60Hz, negating the benefit of rendering at 90fps.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge the Galaxy A53 5G with the 25W charger?
Using the 25W charger, the Galaxy A53 5G typically takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to fully charge from 0% to 100%. The Poco M5, with its 18W charging, will take considerably longer, likely exceeding 2 hours.
