The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G: A Worthy Upgrade or Just Another M-Series Phone?
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G arrives as the new flagship of the M-series, boasting a compelling mix of features including a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC with vapor cooling, and a 108-megapixel primary camera. All this comes at a price that puts it firmly in contention with other popular mid-range options. But is the Galaxy M53 5G a true upgrade over its predecessor, the Galaxy M52 5G, and is it a smart choice for those seeking a phone under Rs. 30,000? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G Price in India
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G starts at Rs. 26,499 in India for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. The 8GB RAM variant with the same 128GB storage is priced at Rs. 28,499. Besides the Mystique Green color I reviewed, the phone is also available in a Deep Ocean Blue color.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G Design
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G feels sturdy, but its predominantly plastic build doesn’t scream premium. I previously praised its Mystique Green finish, which does make it stand out. However, after extended use, I noticed it picks up smudges easily, even though they weren’t immediately noticeable. Considering it’s the most expensive M-series device, Samsung could have included a case in the box.
Speaking of missing accessories, Samsung doesn’t bundle a charger, providing only a USB Type-C to Type-C cable. While you can use any existing USB Type-C charger, fast charging requires a compatible 25W charger, which costs about Rs. 1,200 for Samsung’s official offering.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is easily accessible, but the same can’t be said for the volume buttons. The Galaxy M53 5G is a large device, making one-handed use a bit challenging. It sports a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display similar to the Galaxy M52 5G, with a small hole at the top for the selfie camera. I found this camera cutout unobtrusive while using the phone. The Galaxy M53 5G weighs 176g, which I found manageable.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G Specifications and Software
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC. This smartphone features a vapor cooling chamber to manage heat. You get dual-SIM functionality with support for 12 5G bands and 4G VoLTE. Samsung also boasts of an auto-data-switching feature that can automatically switch between the two SIMs for uninterrupted data connection.
The Galaxy M53 5G uses a hybrid dual-SIM tray, meaning storage expansion comes at the cost of the second SIM. I feel Samsung could have offered a variant with even more storage. A portion of storage can be used as RAM Plus for additional RAM capacity. My 6GB variant allowed me to allocate up to 6GB of storage as RAM, which can be helpful for multitaskers. However, you can also reduce it to 2GB to free up storage space.
The Super AMOLED Plus panel on the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G boasts a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz maximum refresh rate. Only a few other smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 11i HyperCharge 5G and the Realme GT Master Edition offer similarly high-refresh-rate AMOLED displays at this price point. The screen refresh rate was set to 120Hz by default on the Galaxy M53 5G. You can also choose between Vivid and Natural color modes in the display settings and tweak the color temperature.
The phone runs Android 12 with Samsung’s OneUI 4.1 skin on top. Samsung has committed to two years of Android OS updates and four years of security updates, which should keep the Galaxy M53 5G running smoothly for a while. While OneUI is user-friendly, there’s a fair amount of third-party bloatware, most of which can be uninstalled. The Galaxy M53 5G also offers features like text and image transfer across Samsung devices via the same Samsung account, similar to Apple’s Continuity features. Lastly, the Galaxy M53 5G includes experimental features such as multi-window, allowing you to run multiple apps in resizable pop-up windows.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G Performance and Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G delivers solid performance for casual users. The sharp Super AMOLED display boasts excellent viewing angles and customization options for color profiles. The single speaker supports Dolby Atmos, but stereo speakers would have provided a more immersive experience.
The Galaxy M53 5G handled my daily tasks without any lag or slowdown. Apps and games loaded quickly, and multitasking was smooth. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner was consistently accurate, rarely requiring a second attempt to unlock the phone. The 120Hz refresh rate also made the UI feel incredibly responsive.
Gaming performance on the Galaxy M53 5G was impressive. It effortlessly ran Asphalt 9: Legends at 60Hz without any stuttering. After 15 minutes of gameplay, I observed a 3% battery drop, which is acceptable. The phone also remained comfortably cool.
In AnTuTu benchmarks, the Galaxy M53 5G scored 424,426 points. It achieved 731 points in Geekbench 5’s single-core test and 2,264 points in the multi-core test. While these scores are respectable, they are lower than those attained by the Realme GT Master Edition and the Xiaomi Mi 11i HyperCharge 5G, which have lower starting prices and slightly better SoCs.
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G provided excellent battery life. The 5,000mAh battery easily lasted beyond a full day with my usage pattern. In our HD video loop test, the phone managed an impressive 18 hours and 24 minutes. Due to the lack of a bundled charger, I used the USB Type-C charger from a MacBook Air (2020), and the Galaxy M53 5G did indicate "Fast Charging", although it’s difficult to confirm if it was charging at its full 25W capacity. I was able to charge the phone to 31% in half an hour and 58% in an hour.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G boasts a quad-camera setup on the back, comprising a 108-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth camera. This camera setup finds a similar counterpart in the Xiaomi Mi 11i HyperCharge 5G, a direct competitor to the Galaxy M53 5G.
The Galaxy M53 5G was quick to lock focus and effortlessly adjusted the exposure. It handled close-up shots well but required some patience when using the Portrait mode due to its processing time. Daylight shots were good and fairly detailed. The ultra-wide camera produced a very similar color tone to the primary camera, which is a positive aspect. However, the ultra-wide shots lacked the same level of detail compared to the primary camera. Ultra-wide photos exhibited minimal barrel distortion near the frame edges.
The macro camera captured decent photos, allowing me to get incredibly close to the subject. Low-light camera performance was decent, with nearby objects in landscape shots being recognizable. However, these shots lacked detail in darker areas. Night mode marginally improved this, but it took approximately 3-4 seconds to capture a shot. Night mode results were inconsistent, with some photos appearing soft.
The 32-megapixel selfie camera captured pixel-binned 8-megapixel photos by default. Daylight selfies looked fantastic, with natural colors, and the Portrait mode offered good edge detection. Low-light selfie performance was average in comparison.
Video recording maxed out at 4K 30fps, relying on electronic stabilization (EIS) for steadiness. Colors looked great in daylight, but the video suffered from shakiness and lacked proper stabilization. Low-light footage exhibited excessive jitter, which I found unappealing. The camera app does offer a SuperSteady mode that utilizes the ultra-wide-angle camera, but it crops the frame significantly to improve stabilization, resulting in a lower resolution of 1080p.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G is an incremental upgrade over the Galaxy M52 5G. It boasts a premium look and capable hardware. The guarantee of Android OS and security updates is a significant advantage, ensuring its relevance for an extended period compared to some of its rivals. In my view, the 6GB RAM variant provides better value for money than the 8GB variant. Considering the phone’s price, I also believe that Samsung should have bundled a 25W charger.
If the Galaxy M53 5G doesn’t fully convince you, consider examining its competitors within this segment. The Xiaomi Mi 11i HyperCharge 5G presents a compelling alternative as it not only offers a 120Hz AMOLED display and a 108-megapixel camera but also boasts the more powerful Dimensity 920 SoC and a significantly faster 120W charger bundled in the box. Those seeking exceptional smartphone camera capabilities should explore the Realme 9 Pro+. If you’re working with a tighter budget, the Mi 11i and the Realme GT Master Edition provide solid alternatives to the Galaxy M53 5G.
