[REVIEW] Worth It? Samsung Galaxy A53 - Best Value Mid-Range Smartphone of 2022?

Hi merry goers!

I am back with my final thoughts and review after using the Galaxy A53 5G. If you need a recap, here's what the Galaxy A53 has to offer for the price tag of RM1,849, you will get

  • 6.5-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O 120Hz display 
  • Exynos 1280 processor 
  • 8GB RAM 256GB expandable storage 
  • Camera 
    • Rear: 64MP main with OIS + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro + 5MP depth 
    • Front: 32MP 
  • 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging IP67 One UI 4.1 on top of Android 12 

The Galaxy A53 5G has a 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 2,400x1,080-pixel resolution. That makes it a lot larger than the 6.1-inch Galaxy S22 and the 4.7-inch iPhone SE. It's also a hair larger than the 6.4-inch Galaxy S21 FE and slightly smaller than the 6.6-inch Galaxy S22 Plus.

Rated IP67 for water and dust-resistance, the Galaxy A53 5G stands up to 1.0 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. With additional protection from Gorilla Glass 5, rest assured that your device is now tougher and less prone to scratches. For more peace of mind, get 20% OFF Samsung Care+ Accidental & Liquid Breakage or Breakdown Plan for up to 2 years when you purchase the new Galaxy A53 5G. 

The multi-lens camera on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G takes photos to the next level. The 63MP OIS Camera captures crisper and clearer shots and you also get to expand your viewing angle with the Ultra Wide Camera, customized focus with the Depth Camera and get closer to details with the Macro Camera.

If you love the iPhone's Portrait Mode, you will be delighted with the sophisticated Portrait mode that was actually able to capture the outline and depth pretty accurately. It also allowed me to apply portrait lighting effects to alter the mood and feel of a portrait shot which I totally love. 

Thanks to the increased AI performance, portrait mode on both the front and back cameras is improved, including the ability to adjust the blur during that mode. Another feature that is possible thanks to the new chipset is the addition of portrait lighting while in portrait mode. 

Galaxy A53 Zoom



While there is no telephoto camera on the Galaxy A53 5G, the Exynos 1280 enables a feature that Samsung is calling AI zoom. If you're someone who enjoys taking photographs at night, the Nightmode feature in the A53 fares well even in comparison with the S22 series. Thanks to the brand new Exynos 1280 5nm processor, the AI-powered camera automatically synthesizes up to 12 images at once to produce brighter and clearer photos in dim settings, and even at night, with less noise. Check out the difference with and without the Night Mode activated. 

Normal Mode

With Night Mode

An additional feature that I enjoyed playing around with was the Fun Mode. Integrated with the new Snapchat Lenses which are updated regularly, you get to capture the funniest moments directly using the Camera app - giving a unique experience to express yourself and create content that is seamless, fast, and fun. 


Fun Mode with Snapchat Filters

How do I look?


In terms of videography, with OIS the Galaxy A53 was able to record videos smoothly and captured the details even when shooting at night. This was taken from a moving car while passing by KLCC. We still do get pretty good detail even with the ultra-wide camera and colors come out vivid but not too over the top. 

These remarkable camera features will definitely capture all your OOTD’s and moments with versatility and stunningly vibrant colors, but running out of room on your phone can be a disaster. So to help you put your mind at ease, the Galaxy A53 5G is equipped with the one feature that I will say I would want in my S22 Ultra - Expandable Storage. It comes with 16GB RAM (8GB physical RAM + 8GB virtual RAM) and is generous with its internal storage of 256GB PLUS it supports up to 1TB of expandable storage -- which is a rare find on today's phones!

Battery Life

In terems of battery life, the A53 comes with the power-efficient Exynos 1280 chipset with a 5,000 mAh battery which matches the Galaxy S Series and in a phone like the Galaxy A53, it can easily last you an entire day. With the built-in 25W fast charging support, this also means it charges up to 50% in 30minutes which definitely puts the heavy user like myself at ease. The Galaxy A53 also utilizes AI Power Management just as the Galaxy S22 Series so this helps manage any unused apps and puuting them into sleep or deep sleep mode to conserve as much energy. However, as mentioned during my unboxing Samsung no longer offers a charger in the box, which means you will have to either reuse your old charger or get a third-party charger. I strongly suggest you get a multi-port charger for your charging convenience.

Worth It?

At the official price tag of RM1,849, provides a flagship phone experience at a more affordable price with a great design and display, decent camera - 64 MP F1.8 main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 12MP F2.2 ultra-wide, 5 MP F2.4 depth, and 5 MP F2.4 macro snappers. 

Plus equipped with the Exynos 1280’s 5nm process combined with a higher capacity 5000mAh battery makes it an even better choice for heavy users like myself who don’t want to rely on a power bank. Let's not forget that the Galaxy A53 will also be receiving 4 years of software updates as promised by Samsung. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is an excellent phone for everyday usage, especially for those who want to experience flagship software experience from the Samsung One UI at a more affordable price range. 

The Galaxy A53 5G is now available for purchase and comes with a complimentary Protective Standing Cover worth RM99 from 1st April to 31st May 2022. For more peace of mind, get 20% OFF Samsung Care+ Accidental & Liquid Breakage or Breakdown Plan for up to 2 years when you purchase the new Galaxy A53 5G. Even better, enjoy great savings with the Purchase with Purchase “PWP” promotion when you trade-in your eligible device and receive additional rebate of up to RM150 added to the base trade-in-value.

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