Hello fellow phone enthusiasts!
I'll be the first to admit, my first Samsung phone was a bit of a learning curve for me. The interface, design, and menu took some getting used to, but I've only had it for three months, so take my opinion for what it's worth.
Before this, I was rocking a Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, which was an absolute steal for the price. It had a great camera, decent performance for its time, and was a solid all-around phone.
What's in the box?:
The A53 comes with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, which was a bit of a surprise - I had to go out and buy a separate adapter for my wall charger.
There's also a little clip and some instructions. The one thing that caught me off guard was the charging cable itself - it's an extra expense I wasn't expecting.
I guess it was obvious that the charging block wouldn't be included, but still.
The downsides for me:
I've had this screen for a month now, and despite being super careful (no pockets, no keys, no drops), I already have a pretty deep scratch. I'm really disappointed, considering Samsung's claims about the device's durability. Scratch on the screenNo notification LED to alert me to new messages - I have to constantly check my phone to see if I've got any notifications.The camera is actually integrated into the screen, which I'm not a fan of because if the screen gets damaged, the camera will too.The fingerprint scanner is also on the screen, not on the back panel, and it's super finicky - I often have to try multiple times before it recognizes my fingerprint, and it's even worse in the cold. I end up having to use the code most of the time.No headphone jack - that's just a major pain.The phone doesn't have a DAC (digital-to-analog converter), which means if you buy a USB-C to mini-jack adapter, you need to make sure it's got a DAC in it.And if you're using this adapter to talk on the phone, the other person won't be able to hear you - the adapter blocks the microphone.Location services and navigation are a bit wonky - it often gets my location wrong, especially in buildings or tunnels. And it can take a while to lock onto my location.The flashlight is pretty weak, even on the highest setting (which you can adjust). I find myself using it a lot, though.The background blur on the selfie camera is pretty terrible - if you're trying to take a photo with people or objects behind you, it just looks blurry and smudged.The Samsung keyboard is a bit awkward and small, but it's easy to fix by downloading Gboard.Finding a screen protector without a black bezel is tough, as most protectors don't cover the entire screen.I've customized my interface to be more likeOne thing that's been bugging me is the bottom panel, which disappears when I'm gaming, and it's a real pain to switch between apps quickly. I have to call up the panel first, and then I can switch. Even on my old Xiaomi, I could set it up to switch instantly.
Where the arrow points, that's what I'm talking aboutPros:
Signal strength. It picks up signal in areas with poor coverage, like the metro in St. Petersburg or on the train from St. Petersburg to Moscow. My old phone couldn't even get a signal in those areas. Having two slots for SIM cards and a memory card isn't a minus for me, since I only have one SIM card.8GB of RAM lets the phone handle multitasking without freezing, lagging, or overheating. I haven't noticed any lag at all.Battery life is around 12-15 hours with heavy use, including gaming and long calls.Color reproduction is great – the screen isn't washed out, and the colors are vibrant.The screen is great for watching videos. I can zoom in to the max on any video, whether it's a TikTok, YouTube video, or one I've taken myself. I'm not sure how long this feature has been around, but it's unique and useful.The plastic back and side panels are a plus. The matte finish on the back doesn't slip out of my hand, and the phone feels comfortable to hold. My old Xiaomi had a metal back that was prone to slipping out of my hand, especially when I didn't have a case.The top speaker, combined with the bottom speaker, creates a great stereo sound.Water resistance is a big plus – I don't have to worry about dropping the phone in water up to 1.5 meters deep.The side menu is a convenient feature – I can stash my main apps in there, as well as my screenshot menu.Of course, being able to customize the interface to my liking is a plus. I can change the colors, font, even the color of my folders. I've removed the bottom panel of icons and set it up like an iPhone, and I've even removed that panel altogether so it doesn't get in the way.
Now, the most important part – the camera.
Four rear cameras. The primary camera resolution: 64 MP; portrait: 5 MP; macro: 5 MP; ultra-wide: 12 MP. The front camera resolution: 32 MP.
I'll start with the front camera. It's lacking focus. Sometimes, you get a blurry shot. The rear view looks terrible if you focus on it. The photo example shows how bad it can get. In general, I expected more from the front camera. Selfies taken during the day are okay, though.
Photo taken with the front camera The primary camera, on the other hand, is a different story. All the shots I took turned out great – clear, sharp, and excellent. Whether it's daytime or nighttime, the results are impressive.
Photo taken with the primary camera Photo taken with the primary camera indoors The ultra-wide camera, powered by Sony, is a nice touch. Each photo is unique, with some being over-saturated and others being dull and washed out.
Comparison shots with the main camera, wide-angle, and 'night' mode:
Main camera photo
Main camera in 'night' modexa0
Wide-angle camera photoxa0
Wide-angle camera in 'night' modexa0
Photo with 2x zoomIn portrait mode, there's a 'bokeh' effect that works perfectly, isolating the subject and not missing a beat.
Portrait modeFor macro shots, I'm not having any issues - the photos turn out great.
Macro Mode Macro ModeOne thing that's been bugging me is the autofocus in low-light conditions with decent or good lighting. It can take forever to lock in, but never quite adjusts. Sometimes when I'm in a rush to take a shot in the dark, the autofocus really lets me down and makes it hard to get a decent photo. Maybe that's just my experience.
Video recording in "video recording" mode is weird. There's only stabilization at specific settings, and the quality is terrible in low-light conditions. But, there's also UHD.
Stabilization in video mode Stabilization mode
When I switch to "photo" mode, the quality is better, and stabilization is available, but only if I choose 64mp resolution.
Image Stabilization in Photo Video Mode I was really impressed with the additional modes in the "more" tab - it's like having a whole different camera. You can even set it up like a mirrorless camera.
In the end, I have to say that the phone isn't as amazing as I thought it'd be, but it's still a solid choice. The front-facing camera is the only letdown for me, but the rest of the features are pretty great. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it or not - that's up to you to decide.