The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G dazzles in the midrange segment, serving as one of the headliners for the new Galaxy A series. Following its predecessors’ footsteps, the Galaxy A53 5G, which we’ll call A53 for brevity, aims to build on its legacy as the sweet spot for most consumers.

In fact, its predecessor from 2020 — the Galaxy A51 — sold the most for Android smartphones during the year’s first quarter. A testament to the Galaxy A series’ dominance in the midrange market. Can this year’s headliner dominate once again? And more importantly, can it be your GadgetMatch? It’s time to find out.

Subtle, gentle design

At a glance, it exhibits the same design language as its siblings in the new Galaxy A series. The lineup took semblance to its predecessor, albeit altering a few iterations that are quite visible if you take a closer look.

The camera island’s edges are gentler and the cameras themselves aren’t protruding nor sunken anymore. It also has a matte finish on its back, which looks quintessential when paired with pastel colors.

Our unit came in Awesome Blue, which I am indifferent about despite having a penchant for anything blue. If it came in White or Peach, I might’ve been ecstatic.

Nevertheless, the A53 is still a beaut and a sight to behold even if its design is already exhausted. There’s a small change though. Its side frames are made of glossy metal that racks up smudges but offers a gentle yet inconspicuous curve.

This made way to a flat front panel, which we truly adore because we’re over curved screens. (And it doesn’t really make sense when it comes to user experience in the long run.)

As premium as it gets

Looking at its sides, you’ll realize it’s quite reminiscent of the Galaxy S22+. The resemblance is uncanny when you take them side by side. But judging by the colors, you’ll know the Galaxy S22+ is the premium one.

Of course, some would say the A53 is as premium as its gets. It probably is for the price it commands. However, the best indicator for a phone to be called premium is the experience when you hold and use it.

Which, for me, the A53 doesn’t quite to deliver. In spite of that, I like how the A53 felt secure in my hands. It’s comfortable to hold and use, it felt sturdy and it fits snugly. You can actually use it with one hand since the weight is evenly distributed.

It may not have an elegant air in the way you experience the phone, but it surely can promise a daily driver you’ll be comfortable using day in and out.

Frankly, not even my photos can do justice to the beauty that the A53 exudes. If you have a chance to check its vibe on any Samsung Experience store, only then will you understand how magnificent its look and feel are.

Got me walkin’ side-to-side

Of course, there are some questions that need to be answered. Here are some closeups of the Galaxy A53 5G, but in an Awesome Peach colorway.

On the right side of the frame, you can find the volume rocker and power button. Meanwhile, the left side is empty and the top side houses a tiny hole for the microphone.

The bottom part houses the SIM tray which allocates a dedicated slot for your primary SIM card, while the second hybrid slot gives you a choice between using a secondary SIM card or a microSD card.

You can also find the earpiece which works in tandem with the bottom-firing speaker for a stereo setup, and a USB-C port that can handle USB 2.0 data transfers. There is no 3.5mm audio jack, so it’s time to use USB-C wired earphones or just switch to the wireless side.

For privacy, the A53 uses an under-display optical fingerprint reader, which is quite swift and reliable.

Ideal for binge-watching

The Galaxy A53 5G continues the display that was passed on from the Galaxy A52s 5G and the Galaxy A52. It comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O display, which we quite enjoyed using for entertainment.

As a midrange smartphone, the display surely isn’t top-of-the-line but it still gave a reasonable audio-visual experience. In fact, I was able to watch Spy x Family on Netflix while sipping my favorite Maple Vanilla Cold Brew outdoors. Even with glaring sunlight around three in the afternoon.

I wasn’t afraid to drink my cold beverage, which quickly condenses due to the scorching heat from dining outdoors leaving water drops and getting the table wet. I worry a lot because I tend to forget that some phones don’t have IP67 certification that can handle water and dust resistance. Luckily, the A53 has one.

Furthermore, its screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, so rest assured that your screen can get away unscathed on sudden falls (as long as you don’t drop it high and with impact). It’s not scratchproof, though.

Nearly smooth performance

If you play games casually or competitively, the A53 allows you to choose between a 60Hz (Normal) or 120Hz (High) refresh rate. My unit runs on an Exynos 1280 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, yet I was still able to play Call of Duty Mobile smoothly.

There weren’t any sudden lags and/or delays during the gameplay, although the phone heats up gradually when you keep playing even if you are indoors chilling in a frosty, airconditioned room.

The only time I experienced delays was when I connected the A53 to the Samsung The Premiere, a premium ultra-short-throw projector (it costs a fortune) that can be controlled using Samsung’s SmartThings along with many Samsung devices.

I was able to tap in and mirror my phone wirelessly to watch the different kinds of content I enjoy consuming. Should I insert a winky face here? Regardless, the experience with Samsung’s ecosystem drew the line between a midrange and a flagship smartphone.

I don’t think taking an A53 with the highest configuration can improve the wireless mirroring mishap. However, I do believe that it’s enough to revel in the seamless connectivity that Samsung offers through its products. After all, the A53 responded well to my Galaxy Watch4 Classic, my Galaxy Buds2, and even as a remote control for Samsung TV.

One UI goodness

The Galaxy A53 5G runs on One UI 4.1. Apologies for the previous infographics we shared during the launch. Initial information showed Samsung slapped a One UI Core for its midrange headliners.

I was afraid to use a One UI Core phone for security purposes. With One UI 4.1, I get to enjoy the same user experience I had with Samsung along with the features and security I enjoyed previously.

There’s the Secure Folder where I keep all my intimate photographs and important notes, and the updated Knox security gives me peace of mind, too. If you’re unsure how it works, here are two stories for you to munch on: “Why the White House prefers Samsung” and “How Samsung Knox protects your smartphone.”

Further, the One UI 4.1 is based on Android 12 and it’s the same skin as the ones used in the Galaxy S22 series. There’s also an additional feature called RAM Plus that lets you virtually expand the RAM you want.

Documenting your trips and everyday life

Onto cameras, the A53 is equipped with a quad-camera system on its rear: a 64-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and an additional 5-megapixel shooter. Upfront, it comes with a 32-megapixel selfie shooter housed in a punch-hole.

It’s time to peruse these photos!

Wider and closer

Due to the focal length, the A53 takes sharp, dim photos indoors when you use the ultrawide angle mode. It gets brighter when you use the 1X and the 2X optical zoom.

The same scenario is evident when capturing the hallways of this church. Although, the regular shot has a hazy appeal which I often encounter when Samsung’s cameras are struggling between brightening a dim space on a scorching hot day.

Outdoors, the Namacpacan church looks vibrant when taken with the ultrawide angle mode. It still has that softened, hazy effect when using the 1x and 5x optical zoom.

Summer ready

On another note, the A53 takes vibrant yet nearly-natural photos during the daytime. The post-processing isn’t as aggressive as we’d think, so padding a built-in filter would give you social media-ready photos.

Instagrammable shots

Okay, we’re guilty: We’re fond of using the optical zoom to achieve that perfectly cropped ‘Instagrammable’ magazine-aesthetic shot. It’s nice to know that the A53’s optical zoom retains details and still produces an output with balanced colors.

Softer cutouts

What I would probably love about the A53 is its ability to take focused shots even when you use the regular Photo mode. It’s reminiscent of captures from flagship smartphones such as the Galaxy S, Fold, Flip, and even the older Note series. Just look at those creamy blurs, it’s not even from Portrait Mode! That feature really sucks.

The inconsistencies

Samsung has been consistent in producing inconsistent shots when it comes to color balance and temperature. Look at the burger and the sunflower, colors are either washed out or have a warmer and greener undertone. The color accuracy is just inconsistent.

Adequate selfies

I didn’t take plenty of selfies this time around, most likely because it never changes. I could probably insert a selfie from the Galaxy A51 or A52, and you’ll barely notice the difference except for the lighting on the face’s contour.

There are visible grains whether you take your selfies indoors or outdoors, but unnoticeable when you upload them on social media because of the compression.

Sunset vibes

I like how the A53 has a good grasp of backlit and sunset shots. The brighter, backlit shot was taken at 5 in the afternoon while the sunset shot was taken around six o’clock when the sun was setting. The color is accurate, and I’m happy that it didn’t pad any additional processing so I can have the freedom to apply a preset that aligns with my aesthetic.

Lowlight

The A53 struggles in taking photos in lowlight or dim spaces.

Night

It’s worse when taking photos at night, even if you use night mode. In a nutshell, the A53 is a good companion for your everyday life during the day but at night, you’re better off putting it down or keeping it inside your purse. It’s disappointing, but in reality, it’s one of the compromises and challenges that midrange smartphones offer.

Battery

I have used the Galaxy A53 5G as a daily driver, as a mobile hotspot, and as a binge-watching companion. Safe to say, that sizable 5,000mAh battery can last you through your full, eight-hour shift at work.

It’s better at being on standby, but not as good when compared to other midrange smartphones at the same price point.

The A53 handles 25W fast charging, although, it’s far from being fast. Using the old 25W Samsung Charger I have, I started charging at 1 percent. An hour later, the A53 had a 59% battery.

It reached a hundred percent later on after an additional 41 minutes. It really takes a while before you fully charge it. I hope Samsung can move past this slow ‘fast’ charging, I actually need my phone back asap when I charge it.

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes in different price points depending on the configurations: PhP 22,990 for 6GB/128GB; PhP 23,490 for 8GB/128GB, and PhP 25,490 for 8GB/256GB. It comes in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, and Awesome Peach.

The price it commands is quite steep, especially when you compare it to its predecessors. The range is competitive since most players in the market release their worthy midrange headliners with similar price tags.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

I could get away with using the Galaxy A53 5G as a daily driver if I’m out and about. Somewhat a secondary phone that can act as a mobile hotspot, especially in a city where crime is still prevalent. But for most people, that isn’t a privilege they can have.

So, let’s ask you these questions instead: Do you like binge-watching shows and streaming music on a daily basis? And do you like capturing your memories for the sake of preserving them?

Perhaps, sharing them on your social media accounts? If you answered yes to these two questions, then you found your GadgetMatch.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is quite a sturdy, reliable everyday phone that supports you in your daily activities. It’s got a battery that will go on with you as you get through your day; cameras that are clear and detailed to capture every moment passing by during the day; and an audio-visual treat that entertains you whether indoors or outdoors.

While there are still dealbreakers that should be considered depending on your preference, the Galaxy A53 5G truly dazzles in the midrange segment.

What could be your alternatives?

If you’re in need of a performance-oriented smartphone or a device that focuses on certain features, ’tis isn’t going to be the one. Maybe the Galaxy A73 5G can satisfy your camera needs.

Perhaps the Xiaomi 11T Pro, if you want better performance in all aspects? Or maybe, get the Xiaomi 11T if you want another all-arounder that leans towards a near-flagship experience.

Nevertheless, the midrange segment is crowded with well-rounded devices perfectly suited as everyday phones. It’s going to boil down to what brand you like to be associated with, and the ecosystem of the devices you use. In my case, I’ll probably go with Samsung or Xiaomi — you can never go wrong with these two.