Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review

Announced on March 17th, 2022, the Galaxy A53 5G is one of the latest models in the 8th generation of A-series phones from Samsung.
Primed to set tongues wagging in the tech community, the A53 5G follows its predecessors as an aesthetically pleasing, budget-friendly smartphone with a high-end feel. That’s not to say that nothing has changed, however. Complete with a host of premium features, four ‘Awesome’ colours to choose from, and an impressive battery life, the A53 5G is certainly an upgrade from the A52 series.
Join us as we delve into this new device in more detail, below.
A53 5G design and display
The A53 5G has a 6.5-inch display, protected by Gorilla Glass 5, and it boasts an IP67 rating, which means it is completely protected against dust, sand, and can withstand being submerged in a metre of water for up to 30 minutes. With slightly slimmer dimensions than the A52 (159.9 x 74.7 x 8.1mm), the A53 5G weighs in at 189g, giving it a lightweight feel. Music, film, and media lovers will be pleased to hear that this A-series, like the A52, offers stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos to enrich clarity and detail.
The backside of the phone is plastic, one of the characteristics that facilitate a lower price point, and there is an attractive silver band neatly joining together the slim bezel around the screen and the rear cover. On the front of the handset, you’ll see the familiar hole-punch camera sitting inside the screen, described as ‘Infinity-O’ by Samsung, and on the backside, a sleek, slight camera bump comprising the four lenses.
Full HD+ screen resolution and Super AMOLED display allow for the stunning definition and vibrant colouring, while the addition of a 120Hz refresh rate means the A53 5G provides seamless movement through social apps and games. Granting visibility with up to 800 nits of brightness, you’ll be able to see your screen even when you’re out in the sun, ideal for summer adventures with friends.
A53 5G camera system
As mentioned, the A53 5G features four rear cameras, comprising a 64MP main lens with optical image stabilisation for super-sharp everyday photography, a 12MP ultra-wide to boost your landscape shooting capabilities, a 5MP depth camera to keep your portrait subjects in focus with background blurring, and a 5MP macro camera for crisp close-ups. Up in front, you’ll find a 32MP selfie lens.
While this is the same camera set-up as the A52 models, it is a brilliant offering for a midrange, reasonably priced smartphone. Combined with the software updates baked into this handset, the A53 5G might just be an amateur photographer’s dream. Alongside enhanced night mode, which automatically takes up to 12 shots simultaneously, portrait mode provides new studio lighting options to give your shoots a professional-feeling edge.
Big fan of Snapchat? The social platform’s most popular filters have been built right into the A53’s camera app and will be regularly updated, so you can get playful with your photos and enjoy the A53’s higher-quality camera at the same time.
A53 5G hardware and power
The A53 5G is the first A-series phone to be powered by a 5nm chipset; specifically, Samsung’s brand-new Exynos 1280, which, according to the tech giant, will significantly improve AI performance, CPU performance, and GPU performance compared to the previous generation chip. If you’re heavily into gaming and use a lot of complex apps, this is great news.
Featuring a larger battery than the A52 models, with the 5000mAh, the A53 5G can last up to two days without charging. When you are running low, however, this handset supports 25W fast charging (charger sold separately), so you’ll regain 50% of your battery in half an hour.
Launching with One UI 4.1 and Android 12, Samsung guarantees up to four years of One UI and Android OS upgrades, plus five years of security updates, seriously increasing the phone’s potential lifecycle. This is a particularly interesting point if you’re considering longevity to get the most bang for your buck.
Discover our best A53 5G deals at mobiles.co.uk.