Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G

One of the things Samsung is known for is its diverse offering of midrange smartphones, and 2022 was no exception. On the higher end of the mid-tier spectrum was the Galaxy A53 5G, which improved upon its predecessor, and at the lower end, the Galaxy A23 5G, which sought to carve out a new middle ground in the budget phone market. Both phones are affordable options for everyday use, but the A53 5G has some notable advantages if you are willing to pay a little more. Let’s see which phone is right for you in this Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G matchup.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G: At a glance

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G: Specs

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G: Size comparison

Both smartphones are similar in size, although the Galaxy A23 5G is a smidgen taller at 6.6 inches across compared to the Galaxy A53 5G, which measures 6.5 inches diagonally. Part of what contributes to the larger size of the Galaxy A23 is its rather big bezels; a thick black strip at the top with a waterdrop notch and an even more sizable chin at the bottom. The Galaxy A23 5G is also a bit heavier than the Galaxy A53 5G, weighing 197g compared to 189g.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G: Camera

Both smartphones house a quad-camera set-up on an elevated island protruding from the backside. The Galaxy A53 5G has a 64MP primary shooter, which we found did a good job capturing color accuracy and detail, even in portrait mode. Above that is a 12MP ultrawide with a 123-degree field of view, and below is a 5MP depth camera to customize focus. To the side is a 5MP macro to get detailed close-up shots of smaller objects.

The Galaxy A23 5 G’s rear cameras follow a similar pattern but are overall an inferior imitation. That consists of a 50 MP primary shooter, which can take reliable pictures in most lighting conditions, but its portrait mode tended to impair the color profile. Above that is a 5MP ultrawide, which has the same 123-degree field of view but suffers more distortion at the edges, and below a 2MP depth sensor to help blur backgrounds. To the side is a 2MP macro which does a decent job of capturing closer details.

As for the front-facing cameras, the Galaxy A53 5G has a 32MP selfie shooter, which is four times as many megapixels as the Galaxy A23 5 G’s 8MP selfie camera. Both have good color accuracy, but the image quality on the former is sharper.

If you want to capture crisp video, the Galaxy A53 5G is the better option, offering 4K at 30fps on both front and back. In comparison, the Galaxy A23 5G settles for only 1080p at 30fps for the primary and selfie cameras. That makes for some pretty choppy footage which will age poorly if you’re looking to capture memories for the future.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G: Battery and charging

Both smartphones feature a 5,000mAh battery and support 25W wired charging, meaning it will take 80-85 minutes to charge from a depleted battery with a compatible power brick. Neither phone supports wireless charging.

Our testing found both phones capable of lasting a day and a half to two days of use for everyday tasks like web browsing, social media scrolling, and light gaming.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G: Price

The Galaxy A53 5G launched in 2022, starting at $449, a typical price we’d expect to see in the mid-range market. The Galaxy A23 5G tried something new, targeting the ~$300 price bracket, which was largely uncontested in the US. While both phones come with Android 12, they each carry an excellent update commitment and are upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.

While the Galaxy A23 5G remains the same price today, the Galaxy A53 5G has since dropped to $399 on Amazon, making it an even better deal. There are also many more color options with the A53 5G, whereas the A23 5G only comes in black.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Galaxy A23 5G:Which should you buy?

While the Galaxy A23 5G costs less, cheaper isn’t always better. Sure, it has a speedy Full HD display, durable Gorilla Glass 5 protection, and a headphone jack, an old-fan favorite feature of some. But ultimately, the inconsistent cameras and shortcomings in storage make it a solid but flawed budget-friendly device.

On the other hand, the Galaxy A53 has all that and more for only an extra $100. It’s a step up in price, but that gets you a better performance with the Exynos 1280 chipset, which offers higher GPU frequency and CPU clock speed than the Snapdragon 695 of the A23. It also brings an IP68 rating for better water resistance and stereo speakers for cleaner audio, and it is a clear upgrade across all of its cameras. The Galaxy A53 5G also offers a better software commitment to see you into the future, thanks to a guarantee of five years of security patches and four years of OS upgrades. We think spending that extra bit is worth saving you in the long run.

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