Apple iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the cheaper of the two at $449 versus $799, a difference of about $350. The Apple iPhone 17 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 17 stands out for a19 chip with improved efficiency, while Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is praised for outstanding battery life with 5000 mah. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 if…
- →A19 chip with improved efficiency
- →Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- →48MP main camera with improved processing
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if…
- →Outstanding battery life with 5000 mAh
- →120Hz Super AMOLED display at mid-range
- →IP67 water resistance
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17
Pros
- A19 chip with improved efficiency
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- 48MP main camera with improved processing
- ProMotion 120Hz display
Cons
- Still only 27W wired charging
- No telephoto lens
- 8GB RAM vs 12GB on Pro models
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Pros
- Outstanding battery life with 5000 mAh
- 120Hz Super AMOLED display at mid-range
- IP67 water resistance
- Four major Android updates promised
- microSD card slot for expandable storage
Cons
- Exynos 1280 performance is sluggish
- No headphone jack
- No wireless charging
- Slow 25W charging
- Depth and macro cameras add little value
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy A53 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 189 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 147 x 71 x 7.8 mm | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 64 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9, Center Stage | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode | 4K@30fps |
| Depth | — | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3600 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | 5-core GPU | Mali-G68 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 | Samsung Exynos 1280 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.1 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 17 or the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.