Dual speakers do a great job Cameras produce solid image and video quality Cameras produce solid image and video quality Excellent battery life
Clean design Has microSD expandable storage Cons Disappointing haptics But if you opt to trade in a device you no longer use, you can get up to $275 off instant credit at Samsung.
Lightweight construction One of few dual SIM phones in the US Cons Priced very close to flagship models However, you can buy the phone with less storage space with a plan by one of the major service carriers.
And you also easily tell them apart: the S21 FE features a camera module that kind of blends with the frame of the phone, for that “flagship Samsung” look, while the A53 has a detached camera island on the back, which is kind of the older styling. Being plastic, both are quite lightweight and comfortable to carry around, which is one thing that budget phones seem to do better than top-end, expensive device. Being plastic, both are quite lightweight and comfortable to carry around, which is one thing thatseem to do better than top-end, expensive device. The pair also share a discreet punch hole front camera, and both support image-based face recognition. We do expect the larger size to also give a battery life advantage to the A53, which might just be a 2-day phone. So far, leaks indicate that you’d need to buy your charger separately with the S21 FE, while the A53 might actually get one in the box, but that is preliminary information based on rumors.
The S21 FE ships with “only” three cameras, but all of them are useful and it has a big advantage with that dedicated telephoto lens. Obviously, we cannot say much about image quality or video recording until we get to actually test both phones, so stay tuned for an update to this section as soon as we do that. Obviously, we cannot say much about image quality or video recording until we get to actually test both phones, so stay tuned for an update to this section as soon as we do that. We have heard various rumors: some say, the A53 will be powered by a MediaTek 900 chip, others say it will run on an Exynos 1200 processor, but what we know for sure is that the S21 FE will have the Snapdragon 888 roaring under the hood.
We are yet to hear more details about bands and mmWave support in the United States, and we’ll update you on that once we learn more. One advantage of the timing of the launch for both these phones is that they will ship with the latest and most up-to-date Android 12 version and Samsung One UI 4.0 on board.
Galaxy A53 5G vs. Galaxy S21 FE: Cameras, Speed and Battery Make the Biggest Difference
Galaxy A devices accounted for 58% of Samsung’s overall smartphone unit sales in 2021, while other models made up the remaining 42%, according to Counterpoint Research. It has a large screen with a high refresh rate for smoother scrolling, a decent camera for the price and impressive battery life. Here’s a closer look at how the two phones compare when it comes to design, performance, battery life and camera quality. Both phones have a borderless screen with a centered hole punch cutout for the selfie camera.
The back of each device is smooth with a matte finish, and unfortunately they both collect fingerprint smudges easily. I noticed an occasional lag when closing apps and navigating between home screens and settings menus, but it’s not frequent enough to ruin my experience with the phone.
Benchmark tests that measure general performance and graphics showed similar results, as you can see below. Both phones also offer long enough battery life to get you through more than a day of usage, and they each support 25-watt fast charging. For this test, I continuously played local video on the device in airplane mode with the screen brightness set to 50%.
But the key takeaway is the Galaxy A53’s lack of a telephoto lens means you won’t be able to take great photos from far away.
Many phone manufacturers tend to highlight megapixel count as being the primary metric for measuring a device’s camera quality. Even with the intentionally blurred background, the S21 FE does a better job of making the tree stand out against the sky.
Despite image quality sometimes looking the same, I think the Galaxy S21 FE’s telephoto lens and better low light performance ultimately gives it the upper hand. But if you don’t care about that and just want an inexpensive phone that takes decent photos, the Galaxy A53 5G will do just fine.
The build quality is slightly better, the performance is smoother and the camera takes sharper photos in low light and from a distance. The Galaxy A53 punches above its weight most of the time — especially when it comes to battery life — making it easy to forget how cheap it is. You also won’t get the same camera quality as Samsung’s higher-end phones, although the A53 takes good photos for the price. Overall, the Galaxy A53 5G is the right choice for those shopping for a phone on a tight budget, as long as you’re willing to cope with the occasional performance hiccup.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Display size, resolution 6.5-inch AMOLED (2,400×1,080 pixels); 120 Hz 6.4-inch AMOLED; FHD Plus (2,400×1,080); 120 Hz Pixel density 405 pixels per inch 401 pixels per inch Dimensions (Inches) 6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in 6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in Dimensions (Millimeters) 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm Weight (Ounces, Grams) 6.67 oz; 189g 6.24 oz; 177g Mobile software (at launch) Android 12 Android 12 Camera 64-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth) 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 8-megapixel (telephoto) Front-facing camera 32-megapixel 32-megapixel Video capture 4K 4K Processor Exynos 1280 Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (in the US) Storage 128GB 128GB/6GB; 128/8GB; 256GB/8GB RAM 6GB 6GB/8GB Expandable storage Up to 1TB None Battery 5,000 mAh (charger not included) 4,500 mAh (No bundled charger) Fingerprint sensor In-display In-display Connector USB-C USB-C Headphone jack None None Special features 5G-enabled (Sub-6 and mmWave); IP67 rating; 120Hz display;supports 25W wired fast charging, lacks wireless charging; Samsung Pay 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), 120 Hz display, IP68 rating, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging Price off-contract (USD) $450 $700 (6GB/128GB); $770 (8GB/256GB) Price (GBP) £399 £699 (6GB/128GB); £749 (8GB/256GB) Price (AUD) AU$699 AU$899 (6GB/128GB); AU$999 (8GB/256GB) It boasts a far larger screen and more versatile camera cluster than the iPhone SE, though Apple’s budget model delivers snappier performance.
The Galaxy A53 5G has an ultrawide lens for taking photos with a broader field of view and also supports night-mode photography. Other highlights include a long-lasting battery, four guaranteed generations of Android operating system updates and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. Just keep in mind you might have to deal with some occasional lag, and the camera isn’t as advanced as those found on pricier phones.
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The A53 is really appealing because of the price and camera reviews seems pretty good.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: What is the difference?
has Mail Privacy Protection ✖ Samsung Galaxy A53 5G ✖ Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Mail Privacy Protection is a feature built into the default email app that blocks senders from using “tracking pixels” to see when you’ve read an email. Competing services upload the photos and perform this on their servers, which requires the sharing of personal data.
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Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. S21 FE: Which value phone is the real value?
It may not be as fast or have the camera prowess of the Galaxy S21 FE, but what it lacks in brute strength it makes up for in battery life. Plus, the Exynos 1280 inside is still plenty fast for gaming and most people’s daily needs. It’s got the same great display and internal hardware from Samsung’s more expensive Galaxy S21 line, just in a slightly different package. While it had a premium price tag when it launched, it’s now just $399 for Black Friday — $50 more than the Galaxy A53 — making it a standout value in Samsung’s mid-tier portfolio.
Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. They also both use Samsung’s AMOLED display technology, so you can expect gorgeous colors, perfect black levels, and some of the best picture quality you’ll find on any phone.
Swipe to scroll horizontally Category Galaxy S21 FE Galaxy A53 5G Price $600 $450 Software Android 12 with One UI 4.1 Android 12 with One UI 4.1 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Samsung Exynos 1280 RAM 6/8GB 6/8GB Storage 128/256GB 128/256GB Display 6.4-inch AMOLED | 2340×1080 (491ppi) | 60Hz refresh rate 6.5-inch AMOLED | 2400×1080 (473ppi) | 60Hz refresh rate Protection IP68 water/dust resistance | Gorilla Glass Victus IP67 water/dust resistance | Gorilla Glass 5 MicroSD card slot ❌ ✅ Security In-display fingerprint sensor In-display fingerprint sensor Rear Camera 1 12MP, ƒ/1.8 Main 64MP ƒ/1.8 Rear Camera 2 12MP, ƒ/2.2 Ultrawide 12MP, ƒ/2.2 Ultrawide Rear Camera 3 8MP, ƒ/2.4, 3x optical zoom Telephoto 5MP ƒ/2.4 Macro Rear Camera 4 ❌ 5MP ƒ/2.4 Portrait Front Camera 32MP, ƒ/2.2 32MP f/2.2 Battery 4,500mAh 5,000mAh Charging 25W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging 25W wired charging Connectivity 5G (sub-6, mmWave), Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6 5G (sub-6), Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 5 (ac) Colors White, Graphite, Olive, Lavender Black, White, Blue Dimensions 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9mm, 177g 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm, 189g Audio Stereo sound Stereo sound That massive gulf in performance is going to make the biggest difference for power users and mobile gamers, who are going to be the most pleased with the faster phone — the Galaxy S21 FE. The Exynos 1280 inside the Galaxy A53 5G is a more energy-efficient chipset than the Snapdragon 888 because it doesn’t run as fast. While the Galaxy S21 FE’s camera is lower resolution, it makes up for the difference by having physically larger pixels. When taking a photo, you will find that the Galaxy S21 FE can produce images with wider dynamic range and is more often able to capture moving objects with greater clarity. While we initially picked the Galaxy A53 because it was selling for half the price of the S21 FE, that situation has changed.
Black Friday savings on the S21 FE effectively make it one of the best values of 2022, and having used both devices side-by-side, it is an easy recommendation over the A53. The S21 FE takes gorgeous photos on par with the Galaxy S21 and S22, it is significantly faster in daily use, and the design feels more elegant.
With a great processor from Samsung that’s both battery-efficient and powerful enough to run the 120Hz AMOLED display on the phone, you’ll marvel at the Galaxy A53 5G every time you use it.
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