The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is possibly the all-time mid-range telephone you’ll see all year. Featuring a luscious 6.v-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, information technology looks stunning. Its functioning isn’t to be sniffed at either, with its five-nanometer Exynos 1280 chip, 6GB of RAM, quadruple-lens rear photographic camera setup, and 5,000mAh battery.
Of course, in a world where overachieving mid-range phones are at present becoming the norm, its bid for supremacy isn’t unchallenged. If you’re an Android fan, one of its biggest rivals is the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G. This is some other device that punches in a higher place its weight in performance, helped by an alluring 6.43-inch AMOLED display, a triple-lens photographic camera, and 65W fast-charging. However, with the strengths of each phone residing in different areas, it’s difficult to decide which is the better device for y’all.
That’s where this head-to-caput comes in. Past looking at each device, nosotros should help you lot determine which is the mid-range Android smartphone for you.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | OnePlus Nord CE ii 5G | |
Size | 159.6 x 74.eight x 8.1mm (six.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 inches) | 160.6 x 73.2 x 7.eight mm (half dozen.32 x 2.88 x 0.31 inches) |
Weight | 189 grams (6.67 ounces) | 173 grams (6.ten ounces) |
Screen size | 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O Display | 6.43-inch AMOLED Display |
Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 pixels (407 pixels per inch) | 2400 10 1080 pixels (409 pixels per inch) |
Operating system | Android 12, OneUI four.ane | Android xi, OxygenOS xi |
Storage space | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB |
MicroSD card slot | Yep | Yes |
Tap-to-pay services | Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Google Pay |
Processor | Samsung Exynos 1280 (5nm) | MediaTek MT6877 Dimensity 900 5G (6 nm) |
RAM | 6GB, 8GB | 6GB, 8GB |
Camera | 64-megapixel wide, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP depth, 5MP macro rear. 32MP forepart. | 64MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro rear. 16MP front end. |
Video | Up to 4K at xxx frames-per-second | Upwardly to 4K at 30 fps |
Bluetooth version | Bluetooth v.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
Fingerprint sensor | Yes, in-display | Yeah, in-brandish |
Water resistance | IP67 | No official IP rating |
Battery |
five,000 mAh 25W fast charging |
four,500 mAh
65W fast-charging |
App marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
Network support | All major carriers | All major carriers |
Colors | Black, White, Blue, Orange | Grey Mirror, Bahama Blueish |
Price | $450 | $405 |
Review score | Easily-on review | 4 out of 5 stars |
Design, display, and durability
-
i.
Samsung Milky way A53 5G -
ii.
OnePlus Nord CE ii 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A53 is much like terminal twelvemonth’south A52, sporting a absurd edge-to-edge display with narrow bezels, and a dial-pigsty camera at the top of the screen. The rear photographic camera bump, which was a highlight with the A52, has been further refined with the A53. It now blends fifty-fifty more seamlessly into the phone’s rear, looking tidier and more than natural than the modules on about other modern phones. Arguably, this includes the OnePlus Nord CE 2
Looking at each brandish, the A53 features a half-dozen.five-inch Super AMOLED Total Hard disk+ display, with a 120Hz refresh charge per unit, every bit well as a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. This happens to be the aforementioned number of pixels you’ll find on the Nord CE 2, which combined with a 6.43-inch display makes for a very similar level of detail and clarity. 1 difference, however, is the A53’s 120Hz refresh rate, which allows for some impressively fluid visuals. This is just plenty to give information technology an border over the OnePlus, which tin back up a refresh rate of one 90Hz.
Some other edge for Samsung’south device is an official IP67 rating, indicating it can survive immersion in up to one meter of h2o for 30 minutes. The Nord CE 2 carries no such rating, then combined with the arguably more attractive photographic camera module (and noticeably smoother display), this round goes to the Galaxy.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Performance, battery life, and charging

The Galaxy A53 runs on an in-house Samsung processor, the octa-core Exynos 1280. This uses 5nm transistors, meaning it packs more than transistors into the same area, making it faster than the 7nm and 8nm-based chips we were seeing a couple of years ago. It also makes it faster than the OnePlus Nord CE 2’south flake, the MediaTek MT6877 Dimensity 900 5G, which harnesses 6nm transistors and probably isn’t quite every bit nimble equally the Exynos 1280. Both phones do have 6GB of RAM as standard, then in that location won’t exist a massive in practice between the ii, merely the slightly more than advanced fleck in the Samsung should make it just a affect more capable in terms of multitasking and playing more than demanding games.
Both devices besides offer 128GB of internal storage equally standard, while they can each be had with 256GB of storage for more than money. They likewise both offer a microSD bill of fare slot, and then y’all shouldn’t have problem storing your photos and apps with either.
Things are also similar in the bombardment department. The A53 has a 5,000mAh jail cell, while the Nord CE ii has a 4,500mAh counterpart. In theory, this should make the A53 more than long-lasting, nevertheless our review of the Nord CE 2 found that information technology tin can become for two days without needing a recharge. We can’t say the same matter about the A53 with complete assurance, since nosotros haven’t given it a full review yet. And while the bigger battery size should result in equal (or superior) running time, the A53’due south 120 refresh rate could mean it depletes faster. Because of this, we’re calling this circular a tie, for at present.
Winner: Tie
Camera

The Samsung Milky way A53 comes with a quad-lens camera setup: a 64-megapixel main lens with optical epitome stabilization, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 5MP depth lens, and a 5MP macro lens. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Nord CE ii features a triple-lens setup, comprising a 64MP broad photographic camera, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro.
While their hardware is very similar, at that place’south a tangible departure in photograph quality. The A53 enables users to have well-counterbalanced and lively pictures in most conditions, with the use of A.I.-powered ‘intelligent algorithms’ enhancing scenes and generally ensuring good dynamics. By contrast, the Nord CE 2 isn’t quite equally impressive, because while its photos are mostly usable, they tin can lack the vividness and colour of the Samsung’due south.
Both phones are besides capable of capturing 4K video at 30 frames per second, but with the A53 existence more consistent and a piffling more vibrant, it takes another win.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A53
Software and updates

The Galaxy A53 operates using Samsung’s latest OneUI 4.i user interface, which is one of the best skins you can currently discover for Android 12. It’s highly customizable, is quick and easy to navigate, and is attractively designed. Of course, much the same goes for OxygenOS, which is what the Nord CE two uses. This besides has a reputation for being i of the all-time Android skins around, given that it’southward besides quick, intuitive, and well-designed.
However, the A53 takes the lead insofar as information technology includes four years of major Android update support and five years of security updates. This is quite rare for an Android phone, and it’southward something the OnePlus can’t quite match, given that it promises simply two years of cadre Android updates.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Special features

At that place’due south not much to separate either phone in terms of special features. They both back up 5G networks, which is obviously great for such inexpensive devices. Other than that, however, there isn’t much to write home about. They both offering slots for microSD cards, they both have in-screen fingerprint sensors, and they (not e’er not bad) macro lenses to help you take close-ups.
Having said that, the OnePlus boasts a couple of squeamish touches that arguably puts it ahead of the Samsung. Firstly, information technology features a humble 3.5mm headphone jack, something which the A53 lacks. It too offers fast charging at an impressive 65W, so yous won’t have to hang around for long between charges. These ii features are enough to requite it a narrow win.
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
Price and availability
The Milky way A53 5G costs $450 and will be released on April one through Samsung’due south online store, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Pre-orders starting time March 17 and you’ll become a pair of Galaxy Buds Alive with the phone if you social club early.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 begins at around $405, although it isn’t officially on auction in the Us right now (and may never be directly sold in the U.S.). You can nevertheless detect it online from various third-party retailers, and it looks like it’s compatible with the U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless networks in the U.South.
Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

They are broadly comparable, only the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G beats the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G in just enough areas to secure the overall win. It has a slightly more inviting design, a more impressive display, faster processor, better all-around camera, and longer software back up. It might be the all-time mid-range phone you lot can buy correct now. That’due south not to say that the Nord CE 2 is a bad phone, far from information technology, but the A53 is almost as good as phones at nearly double its price.
Editors’ Recommendations
- I used the Galaxy Z Fold 4 to relive my quondam PC gaming memories
- Stainless steel and aluminum Samsung Galaxy Picket 4s are on sale
- How to take a screenshot on the Samsung Galaxy Watch
- 5 deals you should shop in All-time Purchase’southward early Black Friday sale
- Samsung Milky way S22 vs. Galaxy S22 Plus vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra
Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-galaxy-a53-5g-vs-oneplus-nord-ce-2-5g/