Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Which deserves your $450?

At Google I/O 2022, Google revealed the Pixel 6a, one of the most anticipated phones in the Pixel lineup. With a price of just $449, the 6a is a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy A53, a phone that offers a lot of value for money. Both of these phones are among the best budget Android phones available, but which one should you choose?

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Android and security updates

Both phones have good update commitments from their manufacturers, and so far, both have been living up to the promises made. The Pixel 6a received Android 13 in August alongside the other Pixels, and the Galaxy A53 followed suit in November. In addition, both phones are guaranteed security patches for five years from their release date, but while the Pixel 6a will end its support life on Android 15, the A53 will see the fourth update to Android 16, just like the Samsung Galaxy S22 series.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Display

Samsung’s mid-range phones all have great displays relative to their price, and the Samsung Galaxy A53 is no exception: it’s got a vibrant 1080p OLED panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The Pixel 6a’s screen is also a 1080p OLED display; however, it has a lower refresh rate: just 60Hz. It’s capable of showing half as many still frames per second — 60 to the A53’s 120 — which means motion won’t look as smooth on the Pixel.

While we’d argue that you should get a comparable spec for the money, a lot of people don’t care or notice the difference in the refresh rate. However, they will notice poor viewing angles and color uniformity on the 6a display. The Galaxy A53 has a better display, hands down.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Performance and connectivity

The Snapdragon 7xx series chips found in the A52 5G and A52s were great performers, and those phones feel as smooth today as they did when they launched last year. The A53, on the other hand, uses one of Samsung’s Exynos chipsets, and the difference is noticeable. It’s usable for a mid-range phone, but compared to the Pixel 6a and the phone that came before it, there are more stutters and hitches than there should be. Meanwhile, the 6a uses the same first-generation Tensor SoC as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but with slightly less RAM. Tensor might not offer class-leading performance compared to the flagships the 6 and 6 Pro compete with, but it blows everything out of the water at the $450 price point. Getting all of Google’s AI smarts at full speed for this price is incredible.

Both phones come with 5G support. The Galaxy A53 works with sub-6 and ultra-fast mmWave, but the Pixel 6a isn’t so cut and dry. The unlocked version that’ll sell for $449 supports regular ol’ sub-6 5G; only the Verizon-branded variant, which costs $50 extra, supports mmWave. That’s kind of annoying, but mmWave is still limited in functionality and availability, so it’s irrelevant to most people.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Cameras

Source: Google

Before the official unveiling, we optimistically hoped the Pixel 6a would see some major camera upgrades over the Pixel 5a. Turns out, it didn’t. The 6a has the same 12-megapixel primary camera sensor. Google’s been using that sensor for a long time, though, and it can produce some great photos — ones that can compete with recent flagships. The 6a’s ultra-wide camera uses the same sensor as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which is good, but not great.

The Galaxy A53 has a higher-resolution main camera (50 whole megapixels!) and more cameras overall thanks to its spec sheet-padding macro and depth shooters, but the phone takes pretty average photos for a mid-range device. The Pixel 6a might not have the best camera hardware, but Google’s software gives it the edge here — the 6a takes better photos.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Battery life and charging

At 5,000 milliamp hours, the Samsung Galaxy A53 has a considerably larger battery than the Pixel 6a. Google’s new phone only manages to pack in 4,410 hours. Also, the A53 has great battery life, easily lasting 48 hours on a charge with lighter use. The Pixel 6a is about the same. In our review, we saw about six hours of screen time across two days before the battery conked out. That’s not as impressive as the Pixel 5a’s marathon longevity, but neither phone should cause much battery anxiety.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 charges at up to 25 watts with compatible USB-C chargers, while the Pixel 6a can hit 18 watts. Neither supports wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A53 is available now, unlocked directly from Samsung, as well as through Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and others for an RRP of $450, although it’s regularly on sale for $300-350. Google sells the Pixel 6a directly for $449, and Verizon carries a $499 version that supports mmWave. It’s also available through Amazon, Google Fi, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Best Buy.

While Samsung phones are available in a wide range of markets, the Pixel 6a is only available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. That’s a marked improvement over the Pixel 5a, which was available exclusively in the US and Japan.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Choose your fighter

So, which mid-range phone should you pick? In most cases, the Pixel 6a is the best option. While it lacks 120Hz and many of the useful features offered in One UI, the 6a will provide the best overall experience. The cameras may be the same as the older Pixels of yesteryear, but that’s not a bad thing when they still take good photos, especially with Tensor’s help. Unless you can grab the Galaxy A53 while it’s heavily discounted, the Pixel is the way to go.

• Google Pixel 6a

  The Pixel 6a is everything you could hope for in a budget device — great performance, an excellent camera, and battery life that easily sees you through a day. After the disappointment that was the 5a, which only saw the light of day in two countries, seeing the 6a burst out of the gate with Tensor and a competitive price point in several markets was a relief.

• Samsung Galaxy A53

  The Galaxy A53 has a superb display and solid performance for its price, but its weaker performance compared to the A52 5G it replaces leaves a sour taste, and makes it harder to recommend.