Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs OPPO Reno8: Which phone takes the mid-range crown?

OPPO recently introduced the OPPO Reno8 to the Indian smartphone market with a Rs 29,999 starting price tag. In this price range, Samsung’s Galaxy A-series offering – Galaxy A53 5G- is a fav-favourite, and we decided to compare the two. Both handsets have a strong resume on paper with crisp AMOLED panels, impressive camera configurations, and massive battery capacities. To make it easier for you, we’ll look at both devices in these crucial departments (display, processor, camera, battery, and UI) to find out which smartphone is a worthy option for you. So, let’s see how the newly launched OPPO Reno8 fairs with the user’s popular choice – the Galaxy A53 5G.

Display and design – Size and refresh rate matter

A good display makes or breaks a user’s experience with a smartphone. Whether you’re playing your favourite game, binge-watching a show on Netflix, or scrolling social media – a smooth and crisp display can elevate your experience. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G flaunts a 6.5-inch Full-HD+ display with a Super AMOLED panel that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The OPPO Reno8, on the other hand, offers a smaller – 6.43-inch display, a regular AMOLED panel, and a slower – 90Hz refresh rate. With a larger display that is more vibrant and offers a higher refresh rate, the Galaxy A53 5G offers a more immersive experience between the two smartphones.

Galaxy A53 Water Resistance

While, the general design is a subjective choice, the Galaxy A53 comes with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which means the phone can easily sustain a trip to the beach or a fall in the pool. With OPPO Reno8, unfortunately, this isn’t the case. In case you live an active lifestyle or want to stay stress-free regarding your phone, the choice is pretty clear in this department.

Processor – Efficiency or power?

The processor is the heart of the smartphone and helps the handset tackle demanding modern needs. Choosing a well-balanced chipset is the best way to take care of your smartphone’s health while meeting your needs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G ships with the company’s own Exynos 1280 chipset, which means that the sync between the hardware and software allows for maximum efficiency. The optimisations do not just offer smooth performance but also enable a longer battery backup. On the other hand, the OPPO Reno8, with its MediaTek Dimensity 1300, offers more raw horsepower than the Exynos 1280 on Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, but that comes with a cost – it’s a power-hungry SoC. While the Exynos 1280 may not offer as much power as the Dimensity 1300, it’s a well-balanced chip and wouldn’t take much battery health from your device but will still tackle all your daily tasks.

Cameras – Galaxy A53 takes the cake

Optics are one of the most crucial elements – if not the most – that one looks for when buying a new daily driver. Having a decent portable camera at your disposal is the best way to capture every important detail of your life. And keeping exactly that in mind, Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes with a quad rear camera setup that comprises a 64MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and finally a 5MP depth shooter. With a variety of different sensors, the phone makes sure that you are ready to capture every shot or video in detail. The cherry on the top is the OIS support on Galaxy A53 5G, which ensures there is no blur in photos, a privilege the Reno8 lacks. What’s more? The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is loaded with amazing camera modes such as AI Image Enhancer – To improve old and low-resolution photos, Object Eraser – To remove unnecessary elements from your images, and Snapchat Lenses – To capture your best look and share them with your pals.

Galaxy A53 Camera
OPPO Reno8’s MariSilicon X-powered triple rear camera setup: 50MP primary, 2MP B&W, and 2MP macro sensors – although reasonable – are simply no match to Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s camera configuration and its amazing camera modes.

Battery capacity and UI – Crucial for user experience

A massive battery capacity is one of the strongest weapons a smartphone can have in its arsenal as it takes care of powering each component of the device, and extra juice helps to keep the handset going. If a long power backup is what you seek, the monster 5,000mAh battery of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has enough fuel for your long and heavy gaming sessions or an all-nighter binge-watching your favourite show. OPPO Reno8 comes with a 4,500mAh battery, which can fall short if you are into gaming or watching videos for long hours. In short, the extra battery capacity of the Galaxy A53 5G will give you a better experience in this regard.

Speaking of experience, another crucial feature that could ruin your experience is bad UI. Samsung’s UI is clutter-free and offers Knox security that protects your sensitive data from malware and malicious threats. For gamers, the device has a Game Booster that blocks background activities and notifications while optimising your device’s battery life. While the OPPO Reno8 ships with the latest Android 12-based ColorOS 12.1, it packs bloatware and pre-installed apps, which can deteriorate your overall experience.

Prices and verdict!

The Samsung Galaxy A53 retails at Rs 31,499 for a 6GB/128GB unit and Rs 32,999 for the 8GB/128GB model. On the other hand, the latest OPPO Reno8 comes with a starting price tag of Rs 29,999. While the OPPO Reno8 is a good package, adding a few extra bucks gets you a better display with a high refresh rate, an improved camera experience, a well-balanced chip, a bigger battery capacity, a clean UI, and a solid protection technology with the Samsung Galaxy A53 – making it a fantastic deal by ticking all the right boxes.