If you're after a more affordable Samsung smartphone, the manufacturer's new A series are now available. At the top of the A series sits the Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy 73 5G. The pair are Samsung's most "premium" midrange phones, and as such, make the least compromises when compared to its more expensive S series devices.
The Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G have a lot of similarities, there are also some key differences you'll need to consider. If you're on the fence, we'll run through everything you need to know about the pair.
First, here are their specs:
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A73 Specifications
| Galaxy A53 5G | Galaxy A73 5G | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.5-inch flat | 6.7-inch flat |
| Resolution | 1080p+ with 120Hz | 1080p+ with 120Hz |
| Rear Cameras | 64MP + 12MP + 5MP + 5MP | 108MP + 12MP + 5MP + 5MP |
| Front Camera | 32MP | 32MP |
| Processor | Exynos 1280 | Snapdragon 778 5G |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| RAM | 6GB | 6GB |
| Water-Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $699 | $799 |
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A73 Price
Price is naturally a difference between the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A73, with the former being the more affordable phone. You'll pay $699 for the Galaxy A53 or $799 for the Galaxy A73.
This pricing is also reflected in plan options. When you buy a phone on a plan, the outright price of the device is simply divided by 12, 24, or 36 (depending on how many months you'd like to pay your phone off over) and popped onto the price of your base plan.
Every now and again, telcos offer discounts on handsets, but in short, the more expensive the outright price, the more expensive your phone plan will be. Sometimes promotions can skew the maths a little, but they're far from a given.
Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, and Woolworths Mobile all have the Galaxy A53 5G. The Galaxy A73 5G is being ranged by the same telcos, minus Optus.
Here's a selection of Galaxy A53 5G plans:
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A73 Camera
For the most part, the Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G have pretty similar camera configurations. No matter which you choose, you get the same three secondary lenses: a 12MP ultra-wide, a 5MP macro, and a 5MP depth lens. The key difference is the primary lens. On the Galaxy A53, you'll get a 64MP lens, while the has a 108MP primary lens.
Both phones do a pretty decent job at photography, especially in well-lit conditions. Neither is amazing in low or uneven lightning, but the Galaxy A73 5G has a slight edge and is more consistent in darker environments.
Galaxy A53 Camera Gallery
Check out these camera samples taken on the Galaxy A53 5G. Click or tap on any photo to see a larger version.
Galaxy A73 Camera Gallery
Check out these camera samples taken on the Galaxy A73 5G. Click or tap on any photo to see a larger version.
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A73 Design
The Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G are very much from the same cloth, with a few key differences. To start, the pair both have a predominantly plastic build with an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass 5 protecting the screen. Both are rated IP67 for water-resistance, which means they can survive depths of up to one metre for as long as 30 minutes. And both have a 120Hz display, just like Samsung's Galaxy S22 family.
The Galaxy A73 is the larger of the pair, however, with a 6.7-inch display. The Galaxy A53 has a smaller but still substantial 6.5-inch display.
You also have different colour options to choose from. The Galaxy A53 5G comes in black or blue, while the Galaxy A73 5G comes in grey and or mint.
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A73 Performance
The Galaxy A53 is powered by Samsung's in-house Exynos 1280 processor while the Galaxy A73 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G. Both deliver solid day-to-day performance and can run more demanding games pretty smoothly. The Snapdragon 778G you'll find in the Galaxy A73 has a bit more grunt to it, however, making it a better pick for mobile gamers.
Processor aside, you'll get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage no matter which you pick.
Both the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A73 will get four major operating system updates and five years of security updates, which is unrivalled when it comes to Android devices and quite generous for mid-tier phones.
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A73 Battery
The Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G both have a 5,000mAh battery. In our testing, we saw similar performance from both. You can expect a full day per charge - roughly four to five hours of screen time - with 5G switched on, which jumps up to seven or so hours if you're predominantly using 4G or WiFi. Both support fast charging, but neither come with a charger in the box. A wall plug will set you back an extra $29.
Should I buy the Galaxy A53 or the Galaxy A73?
The Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G are both great devices, but the Galaxy A73 5G pushes just that little bit further with a bit more grunt under the hood and slightly better low light photography. If you can spend the extra $100, we'd recommend the Galaxy A73 over the Galaxy A53.
That being said, you still can't go run wrong with the Galaxy A53 if you want to save some cash or prefer a smaller device.
If you need more advice, you can read our full Galaxy A53 5G review here, or our full Galaxy A73 5G review here.
Alex Choros
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