Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Apple vs Samsung for the US mid-range market

In the case of evaluating telephones, there isn’t any comparability extra apt than Apple’s iPhone towards Samsung’s Galaxy, as a result of they’re the 2 greatest and most outstanding cellphone manufacturers on the earth, and in chunks of the world together with and particularly the US, they characterize iOS vs Android for the typical shopper. We’ve already pitted the absolute best premium offerings from each manufacturers towards one another, now it’s time for the mid-range battle: the third-generation iPhone SE vs the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Value and Availability

Each the Galaxy A53 and third-generation iPhone SE, which we are going to name iPhone SE 3 going ahead for simplicity, can be found virtually throughout the globe. Costs are:

• The iPhone SE 3 begins at $429 for the 64GB base variant and jumps to$479 for 128GB or $579 for 256GB storage
• The Galaxy A53 within the US is available in solely a 128GB variant, priced at $449. Though in some elements of the world, together with Hong Kong the place I’m primarily based, the A53 has a 256GB variant priced on the equal of round $510

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Specs

About this comparability: This assessment was written after testing an iPhone SE (2022) supplied by Apple Hong Kong and a Galaxy A53 supplied by Samsung Hong Kong for the previous couple of weeks. Neither Apple nor Samsung had any enter on this article

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Design and {Hardware}

With the intention to meet this sub-$500 value that’s lower than half of what their prime telephones value, each Apple and Samsung needed to compromise on {hardware} and options, and it’s attention-grabbing to see the opposing method every model has taken. Apple has nearly sacrificed appears to be like and trendy design with the iPhone SE 3: it recycles the identical outer shell and parts of the five-year-old iPhone 8. And if we’re being sincere, the iPhone 8’s design was outdated even again in 2017 — so the iPhone SE 3’s almost inch-thick bezels, 60Hz LCD show with pointy display screen corners really feel even older than 5 years outdated. However whereas the cellphone isn’t any looker, it packs Apple’s absolute flagship 4nm A15 Bionic chip, which is at the moment the strongest cell processor on the earth. Let that sink in.

Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G, in the meantime, has trendy appears to be like, with skinny bezels, a 120Hz OLED show, and a quad-lens digicam system. In fact, if you realize your smartphones and also you nitpick, you’ll be able to shortly discover areas of compromise just like the plastic again and the truth that two of the cameras are considerably pointless depth and macro sensors. However to the layman’s eyes, the Galaxy A53 5G wouldn’t look misplaced subsequent to different 2022 launch. Nevertheless, the Galaxy A53 5G is powered by a noticeably mid-tier Exynos SoC.

In different phrases, Apple selected to decide on appears to be like, and Samsung selected to decide on brains.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Show

The enormous bezels of the iPhone SE 3 are a divisive level. For a gadget geek like me, and I’m guessing many XDA readers, they’re simply far too giant, consuming into what ought to be actual property for the display screen. However I’ve heard different shoppers — typically the older, extra informal crowd — say they don’t thoughts the bezel, and even welcome the return of the house button, which presents a tactile approach to function the cellphone in addition to convey again Contact ID. That’s tremendous, I’m keen to concede possibly not everybody cares about skinny bezels.

However what can’t be argued is that iPhone SE 3’s 60Hz LCD display screen is objectively inferior to the Galaxy A53’s 120Hz OLED panel. Whether or not it’s taking a look at photographs, watching movies, or studying textual content, it’s only a extra pleasant expertise on the Galaxy A53 — colours pop off the display screen extra, the show will get brighter and pumps out higher distinction. The iPhone SE 3’s 4.7-inch display screen can also be very cramped by nearly any trendy smartphone requirements. And regardless of the Galaxy A53 having a a lot bigger 6.5-inch show, I don’t discover the cellphone harder to make use of with one hand, as a result of Android is extra one-hand pleasant: I can, for instance, simply put all my core apps on the backside of the display screen, I can use a extra dense grid so the area between app icons are smaller (thus much less more likely to spill out of attain of my thumb vertically or horizontally).

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Silicon and Efficiency

Apple’s A15 Bionic has no drawback outperforming the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that’s powering Samsung’s Extremely flagship, so it after all takes an simple win towards Samsung’s mid-tier Exynos 1280 chip. I’m not simply speaking about benchmark numbers, the place the A15 Bionic crushes the Exynos 1280, however in real-world utilization, I can really feel that slight sluggishness within the Galaxy A53 that jogs my memory “ah this can be a mid-tier cellphone” whereas the iPhone SE 3 principally behaves like a flagship (save for the very fact I’m viewing content material on a show that belongs in 2015).

I wish to make clear that the efficiency of the Galaxy A53 isn’t unhealthy in a vacuum, and should you’re leaping over from one other mid-tier Android gadget, it’s possible you’ll not discover something, however when put next towards the iPhone SE 3 (or Android flagships), there are noticeable occasional stutters when doing issues like exiting out of an app. One noticeable instance of efficiency is once I leap into every cellphone’s default picture gallery app to make easy edits to movies, the method is sort of instantaneous on the iPhone SE 3 whereas the Galaxy A53 wants considerably extra time to course of. Simply take a look at the beneath clip, the Galaxy A53 takes a second or two simply to load the video edit menu, after which took 30 seconds to course of a brief trim (whereas the method was prompt on the iPhone SE 3).

In case you are not a demanding smartphone person — in case your utilization consists of texting, studying web sites, watching YouTube — the Galaxy A53 will probably be completely tremendous identical to the iPhone SE 3. However in case you are a heavier person who performs graphically intensive video games or does extra difficult duties like modifying movies, then the iPhone SE 3 is noticeably extra highly effective. However then once more, do you actually wish to play graphically intensive video games or edit movies on the iPhone SE 3’s display screen?

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Cameras

The iPhone SE 3 packs simply two cameras: a 12MP, f/1.8 primary shooter and a 7MP, f/2.2 front-facing selfie digicam. The Galaxy A53 5G has 5 cameras in all: a quad-lens rear system consisting of a 64MP, f/1.8 primary digicam, 12MP ultra-wide, and a pair of principally pointless macro and depth sensors. Across the entrance, the Galaxy A53 presents a 32MP, f/2.2 selfie digicam.

Because the quantity suggests, Samsung’s digicam {hardware} is extra highly effective. So should you do issues like zoom into a picture and pixel peep, the Galaxy A53’s extra pixel-dense pictures will usually be sharper, extra detailed. Likewise, resulting from the usage of pixel-binning know-how and having a bigger picture sensor, the Galaxy A53’s primary digicam can collect extra gentle. So should you’re taking pictures in a very darkish scene, the iPhone SE 3 will generally outright fail (like within the final set of samples beneath). Samsung’s digicam additionally tends to dial up the distinction, which produces a shot that could be extra visually interesting even when it’s barely much less pure.

Nevertheless, it’s not all about digicam {hardware}. Software program processing is essential, and the A15 Bionic’s ISP (picture sign processor) is probably going vastly superior to the Exynos 1280’s ISP, as a result of in difficult pictures like towards harsh backlight (which requires the cellphone’s mind to investigate the scene and attempt to produce an HDR shot), generally the Galaxy A53 will misfire badly, like within the pattern beneath.

Selfies are tremendous for each telephones. Similar to the principle digicam, the iPhone SE 3’s selfie digicam {hardware} could be very dated so it’s going to battle very badly in low gentle scenes. However in most traditional situations, it’s completely serviceable. If I’ve to nitpick, I’d say I favor the iPhone SE 3’s consistency in publicity and protecting my pores and skin tone trying extra pure.

One space the Galaxy A53 wins is ultra-wide pictures as a result of the iPhone SE 3 doesn’t have an ultra-wide lens in any respect. So the Galaxy A53’s digicam system is only a bit extra versatile, in a position to seize pictures like these.

Video recording is one other main win for the iPhone SE 3, because it brings over Apple’s best-in-class digital picture stabilization and real-time HDR changes. The Galaxy A53, in truth, can’t supply stabilization at 4k/30, so that you nearly definitely should shoot at simply 1080p should you’re hand-holding the cellphone.

Different Elements

Whereas the iPhone SE 3 appears to be like extra outdated, it’s constructed with extra premium glass and aluminum materials in comparison with the Galaxy A53’s principally plastic physique. Nonetheless, my black model of the iPhone SE 3 attracts fingerprints badly and when it’s smudged up, appears to be like fairly unhealthy.

By way of in-hand really feel, each telephones really feel comfy within the hand for me, however the iPhone SE 3’s absolute dainty measurement and weight is especially simple to carry. It is a cellphone I can maintain onto whereas driving bikes or climbing stairs and never fear about it slipping out of my hand.

The iPhone SE 3’s conventional capacitive fingerprint scanner additionally works higher than the Galaxy A53’s optical in-display scanner, which is noticeably slower than not simply the ultrasonic scanner within the Galaxy flagship telephones, but in addition the optical scanners utilized in Chinese language.

By way of battery capability and battery life, the Galaxy A53 takes a much-needed win: Samsung’s mid-ranger packs a 5,000 mAh cell that may energy the Galaxy A53 all day, whereas the iPhone SE 3’s battery is tiny by comparability. Apple doesn’t disclose battery specs, however teardowns have revealed it’s a 2,018 mAh cell, one that may’t fairly energy the iPhone SE 3 all day for my heavy use.

Neither cellphone pack chargers within the field, however the iPhone SE 3 helps wi-fi charging whereas the Galaxy A53 5G can solely be charged wired. Quick charging on both cellphone is nothing to jot down residence about, however the iPhone SE 3 does quick charging worse than the Galaxy A53 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Software program

We now have coated iOS vs OneUI sufficient so we received’t dive too deep right here. For essentially the most half, should you’ve used an iPhone or a Galaxy cellphone in recent times, the person expertise will probably be acquainted within the respective household. The noticeable change for the iPhone SE 3 is that, resulting from it utilizing the older round residence button design, it nonetheless makes use of the outdated iOS technique of button-driven navigation as a substitute of swiping. This additionally means the iOS Management Middle is activated by swiping up from the underside of the show as a substitute of swiping down from the higher proper nook.

The Galaxy A53 5G additionally behaves principally like a typical Samsung cellphone, besides it’s lacking the flexibility to run Samsung DeX. As talked about earlier, there are slight efficiency points with the Galaxy A53, as I see the occasional animation stutter when leaping out and in of apps.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Apple iPhone SE 3: Which one do you have to purchase?

Each the iPhone SE 3 and Galaxy A53 5G are succesful mid-rangers that excel in some areas whereas clearly reducing corners in others, so your private preferences ought to make this an easy determination. In case you are somebody who actually values the show in your devices — in case your smartphone utilization is usually for visually-driven content material like browsing TikTok or watching Netflix — then the Galaxy A53 5G’s far more immersive, superior show has a transparent edge. It additionally has a battery that lasts all day if you push it.

But when your cellphone utilization isn’t pushed by consuming content material, then the iPhone SE 3 is only a higher performer, with a much more highly effective mind, smoother UI, and a digicam that’s typically extra in line with significantly better video capabilities too.