Samsung is once again presenting us with new smartphones in 2022, which is still quite young. This time it’s the company’s hottest A-Class. As always, there is an overview of the most important technical data of the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 to get you started:
| Samsung’s mid-range for 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| product | |||
| Illustration |  | ||
| screen | 6.4 inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 90Hz Infinity-U Display | 6.5 inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 120Hz Infinity-O Display | |
| SoC | Exynos 1280 5nm Octa core (2 x 2.4 GHz, 6 x 2 GHz) |
| |
| Storage | 6GB RAM | 128GB internal | 6/8GB RAM | 128 / 256 GB internal | |
| microSD | Yes, expandable up to 1TB | Yes, expandable up to 1TB | |
| software | Android 12 with OneUI 4.1 | Android 12 with OneUI 4.1 | |
| rear camera | Main camera: 48MP, f/1.8, OIS, AF Ultra wide angle: 8MP, f/2.2 depth: 2MP, f/2.4 Macro: 5MP, f/2.4 | Main camera: 64MP, f/1.8, OIS, AF Ultra wide angle: 12MP, f/2.2 depth: 5MP, f/2.4 Macro: 5MP, f/2.4 | |
| camera in front | 32MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.2 | |
| battery pack | 5,000mAh 25 watt quick charging Charging plug sold separately | 5,000mAh 25 watt quick charging Charging plug sold separately | |
| connectivity | 5G, LTE, WLAN 802.11 a/b/g (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi 4.5 (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1 | 5G, LTE, WLAN 802.11 a/b/g (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi 4.5 (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1 | |
| IP certification | IP67 | IP67 | |
| Colours | Awesome Blue, Awesome Black, Awesome Peach, Awesome White | Awesome Blue, Awesome Black, Awesome Peach, Awesome White | |
| measurements and weight | 74.0 x 159.7 x 8.1mm, about 186g | 74.8 x 159.6 x 8.1mm, about 189g | |
| Prices | From 369 euros | From 449 euros | |
| To offer* | will follow shortly | will follow shortly | |
All models can be pre-ordered from today, but will not be delivered until April. So enough time for us to first look at the differences between the two mid-range handsets.
The new A-Class looks delicious, doesn’t it? / ©Samsung
Contents:
display and housing
If we take a look at the two smartphones, they initially look almost identical. Samsung installs Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and follows the well-known design language in both models. The camera island merges into the housing, which is IP67-certified on both devices.
Samsung itself speaks of a “beautiful and functional” design, but you could also call it a little boring. However, we do notice a difference at the front: Only the A53 has a punch hole for the selfie cam. The A33 comes with a classic notch and also has a chin that is too long for my taste.
The classic notch and the bold lower edge distinguish the A33 from the A53. / ©Samsung
When it comes to the display itself, the Koreans don’t show any weaknesses: the almost equally sized panels (A33 with 6.4 inches, A53 with 6.5 inches) offer an FHD+ resolution and rely on SuperAMOLED technology. The display of the A33 lets you repeat images at 90 Hertz, the A53 creates 120 Hertz. Unfortunately, the refresh rate is not adaptive, but you can also manually switch to 60 Hertz to save battery. Unfortunately, the brightness is rather meager at less than 500 nits.
The Koreans have made sustainability a priority, and as with the Galaxy S22 series, we also notice this in the first components of the A-Class: Both the side buttons and the SIM card compartments consist of so-called “mail consumer materials”, i.e. made from recycled plastic.
performance and connectivity
There’s a first under the hood because the Exynos 1280 is brand new. As nice as that is, we can’t say much about the performance of this SoC so far. Test devices are requested and we can then tell you more about them in the reviews. What we know so far: The Exynos 1280 relies on eight cores that clock at up to 2.4 GHz and is manufactured using the 5 nm process.
The Galaxy A33 only comes in a single configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. The A53 is also available with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
When it comes to connectivity, the two devices are absolute twins again: Both are in the 5G network and are not quite up to date with WLAN (no Wi-Fi 6 yet) and Bluetooth (only 5.1).
cameras
As is so often the case in the middle class, Samsung is also big on big when it comes to the number of camera sensors. So you get four cameras on the back of both smartphones – how useful they are is of course another matter. With the A53, the quartet is led by a 64 MP snap, with the A33 it is 46 MP – in both cases with optical image stabilization.
We already know the arrangement of the sensors from Samsung. / ©Samsung
Both camera arrays then offer us an ultra-wide-angle cam and sensors for depth and macro. With the A53, these are shooters with 12 and 2 x 5 MP, with the A33 8 MP, 2 MP and 5 MP must be enough. There is also a 32 MP camera at the front for selfies.
However, Samsung would like to score points with the camera above all with new or improved functions: Both the night and the portrait mode have been optimized. The latter lets you use effects and filters and change the background. Compared to its predecessor, this now also works with the ultra wide-angle camera. Also on board is an eraser that is supposed to remove unwanted people or objects from the background.
software
The software has blossomed into Samsung’s parade discipline. The A33 and A53 also come with Android 12 and the popular OneUI 4.1. Above all, Samsung is exemplary because they currently have an unrivaled update policy. The two inexpensive A-Class cell phones will also benefit from this and will receive four major Android generations and security updates for five years.
Security also plays a major role with Samsung devices and so the two new smartphones also come with Samsung know-how. In addition, the “secure folder” is on board and with “Private Share” you control who can access your files for how long.
Battery and quick charging
First things first: no, the chargers are not in the box! Samsung refrains from stuffing you with the charging plugs in the package. According to Samsung, this is done for reasons of sustainability and as part of Samsung’s “Galaxy for the Planet” initiative. We can discuss that, but Samsung explains that it’s not just about the chargers themselves. By leaving out the packaging, which is also sustainable, it can be significantly reduced in size.
Means: Less material costs and, above all, the boxes take up significantly less space when things travel halfway around the world. The only question left is how much space will be saved if millions of chargers have to be sent on the next boat.
Speaking of sustainable: the SIM card tray is made from recycled plastic. / ©Samsung
Anything else you need to know about the batteries? Oh yes: Both come with a capacity of 5,000 mAh and can be charged with up to 25 watts. The fact that Samsung calls this “super fast charging function” is of course almost a bit funny in 2022. But the combination of large battery and 25-watt charger is actually one that should get you through everyday life very smoothly.
price and availability
So now of course you want to know what you have to shell out for the two new cell phones. Should you know: The A33 is only available in one version with 128 GB of memory and it costs you 369 euros (RRP). Logically, you have to dig a little deeper into your pocket for the larger A53: the model with 6 GB / 128 GB tears a 449 euro hole in the till. If it should be 8 GB / 256 GB instead, 509 euros will be due, so a fair 60 euros more. In terms of price, Samsung is thus based on the A52 series from last year.
You can pre-order the devices now and Samsung would also like to reward the early birds: If you pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy A53 in the Samsung online shop by March 31, 2022, you will receive an exchange premium of 50 euros plus up to 180 euros when you exchange an old device euros worth of old equipment on hand. The Galaxy Buds Live White are also included as a free gift.
However, it will still be a few weeks before you hold the parts in your hands: The Galaxy A53 will be available from April 1st, the Galaxy A33 will be available from April 22nd, 2022 – in both cases both in the Samsung online shop and in the German trade.
Four colors are available to you. Which is your favourite? / ©Samsung
Initial assessment
On paper, the new mid-range presents itself as a selective rather than significant update of the previous models. Samsung refrains from offering both 4G and 5G models, which I think is right. On the other hand, I don’t think it’s right that you also do without the chargers, because it also seems to me like a price increase through the back door.
To be fair, however, we have to say that we at least benefit from new SoCs, the battery is larger and we can look forward to improved cameras, at least according to the spec sheet. In terms of price, the two smartphones are a bit higher than some of the similarly equipped Chinese competitors. But here, too, one has to be fair and mention that Samsung shells out money for items like IP certification that others are happy to forgo.
Finally, we can only rate the phones as soon as we can examine them in detail. But until the test devices arrive in our editorial office, you can tell us in the comments what you think of Samsung’s new A-Class.