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Brands like Motorola and Samsung have dominated the competition in the North American midrange smartphone market for quite some time. And year after year, they continue to release devices that look modern, have a good set of features and are available at attractive prices. The latter is especially true when linked to carrier offers.
But with the new Google Pixel 6a at $449 and an improving share in the smartphone market, Google faces an opportunity to grow its presence. Therefore, this article pits the new entrant against the Samsung Galaxy A53, a phone that is part of a proven range and is also priced at $449, to see which of the two devices you should choose!
Design
When comparing the Pixel 6a and the Galaxy A53, it is apparent that the Samsung device has its unique elements, while the Pixel 6a borrows a lot from its flagship brethren. The Pixel 6a’s adoption of the design is a positive on our books, especially as it will help boost brand awareness.
So on the 6a, you’ll see the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro-like camera bar housing its dual camera lenses and a two-tone finish on its thermoformed rear panel. If you flip it over, you’ll see a screen with a punch-hole cutout, and to hold the two sides together, Google uses a midframe made from recycled aluminum.
The Galaxy A53 is in a similar boat with its polycarbonate back panel and centered punch-hole display, but it chooses to come with a plastic frame instead of metal. The Samsung’s camera array is also quite traditional, as it features a camera island housing all four lenses.
Looking at the buttons and ports, you’ll find that the Pixel 6a has its USB C port on the bottom and its volume rockers and power button to the right. The Galaxy A53 features the same idea, although the power button is below the volume rockers, unlike the 6a, where it’s above. Finally, each device also uses under-display fingerprint scanners and comes with an IP67 rating.
Display
From the images you’ve seen so far, you might have noticed that the Pixel 6a and the Galaxy A53 have similar screens, but their specs are quite different. The Galaxy A53 is the larger of the two, with a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel having a 120Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the Pixel 6a comes with a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display which can only refresh at 60 Hz.
As mentioned earlier, both of these panels have a centered cutout and feature an under-screen fingerprint sensor.
The Galaxy A53’s spec advantages continue with its use of Gorilla Glass 5, while the Pixel 6a uses years of Gorilla Glass 3.
Processor
When you look at the midrange market, a high degree of performance isn’t always high on the checklist for many, with OEMs trying to get “just enough” to ensure a device can manage daily activities and multitasking. Such a notion isn’t wrong at all, as it allows them to focus on other aspects of a device, but at the same time, it also puts phones like the iPhone SE 2022 in a separate league – in due to its use of Apple’s flagship A15 Bionics.
But with Pixel 6a, Google delivers the exact processor of its flagship. While this decision doesn’t give Apple a hard time, it does make it a bit tough for other Android devices to compete. The Google Tensor is said to be similar (or better) to the Snapdragon 860 in terms of performance, and in North America there aren’t many budget devices that can match that!
The Exynos 1280, found on the Galaxy A53, offers a level of performance that puts it behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G (a common processor in budget phones), and even that chipset doesn’t match the Google Tensor in terms of raw power. . Therefore, if longevity and the overall ability to multitask are anything to go by, the Tensor does hold one advantage worth keeping in mind. Not to mention its prowess in AI-related tasks, which Google leverages for its unique set of assistant-based features.
Camera hardware
When it comes to camera performance, Samsung and Google have continually impressed with the hardware they offer as a package and the overall image quality they produce. Therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that both phones will do the trick in your daily adventures.
The article previously stated that the Google Pixel 6a comes with a dual camera setup, and that includes a 12.2 MP Wide and 12 MP Ultrawide camera. The Galaxy A53 has twice as many lenses, including a 64MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP depth, and 5MP macro lens, but the 5MP sensors aren’t worth too much. ‘Warning.
If you focus on the front, Samsung has the upper hand thanks to the higher-resolution 32 MP sensor, while the Pixel 6a comes with a much lower-resolution 8 MP fixed-focus sensor.
Images from both phones should be more than satisfactory, and if you were impressed with the photos taken by the Google Pixel 5a last year, the Pixel 6a is about to deliver an even better experience.
Battery
Focusing on the batteries on offer here, the Pixel 6a and its smaller chassis come with a 4410mAh cell. This cell should last most users for a day of use, but it remains to be seen how Google has optimized the operation of the smartphone. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A53 has a larger 5000mAh cell which should also be able to deliver a full day of use.
If you’re wondering how these devices charge, the Pixel 6a supports 18W fast charging, while the Galaxy A53 can accept 27W. Neither phone supports Qi wireless charging.
Verdict
Choosing between the Pixel 6a and the Samsung Galaxy A53 can be confusing for many, as the devices are similar on many fronts. While Samsung holds an edge in the display and battery segments, the Pixel 6a excels in performance and is bound to deliver a better camera experience if past results are any yardstick!
So, we think if you’re looking to access Google’s famous photo algorithm and an Android user experience like Google intended, the Pixel 6a is the device to get. But suppose you need a phone with better endurance and enjoyable viewing experience. In this case, the Samsung Galaxy A53 is in a strong position with its less powerful chip and larger battery, not to say that it will also charge faster if needed.
Google Pixel 6a
Google Pixel 6a offers best-in-class features and specs, comes with Google Tensor, high-performance camera hardware and refreshed design, valued at $449.
Samsung Galaxy A53
The Samsung Galaxy A53 packs a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, Exynos 1280 and a 5000mAh battery along with a decent set of camera sensors. For $450, it offers a combination that’s a perfect balance between price and spec.
Technical specifications
| Category | Google Pixel 6a | Samsung Galaxy A53 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9mm | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm |
| Weight | 178g | 189g |
| Display | 6.1-inch, 60Hz FHD+ OLED display Corning Gorilla Glass 3 High brightness mode >1,000,000:1 Contrast ratio |
6.5-inch, 120Hz, FHD+ (1080 x 2400) Super AMOLED display |
| Processor | Google Tensor Security Titan M2 |
Exynos 1280 |
| Memory storage | 6GB LPDDR5 with 128GB (UFS 3.1) | 6 GB of RAM with 128 GB |
| Expandable storage | Nope | Yes (up to 1TB) |
| Rear cameras | Wide: 12.2MP, ƒ/1.7, 1.4μm Ultra wide: 12 MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.25 μm, 114 degree FoV |
64MP, ƒ/1.8, OIS 12MP, ƒ/2.2, ultra-wide 5MP, Depth, ƒ/2.4 5MP, Macro, ƒ/2.4 |
| Front camera | 8 MP, 1.12 μm pixel width, ƒ/2.0, fixed focus, 84 degree FoV | 32MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture |
| Video | Rear camera: 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p HD at 30/60/120/240 fps Front camera: 1080p at 30 fps |
Rear camera: 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p HD at 30/60/120/240 fps Front camera: 1080p at 30 fps |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | 5G, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 | USB-C |
| Battery | 4410mAh 18W wired charging |
5000mAh 25W wired charging |
| Water resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Operating system | Android 12 (launched with Android 12) | A 4.1 UI based on Android 12 |
| Colors | Charcoal, Chalk, Sage | Black, Blue, Peach, White |
| Price | $449 | $449.99 |