iPhone SE 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy A53: Battle for the Budget Throne

Are you looking for a good smartphone for not too much money? There is a good chance that you are in doubt between the Apple iPhone SE 2022 and the Samsung Galaxy A53. In this iPhone SE 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy A53 comparison, we pit the two devices against each other.

iPhone SE 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy A53

Apple and Samsung have both announced their new budget smartphones for 2022: the iPhone SE 2022 and the Samsung Galaxy A53. The smartphones cost about the same, but are very different. In this article we list the biggest differences for you, so that you can make the best choice.

Design: glass and aluminum, or a lot of plastic

The design of the iPhone SE 2022 cannot be compared with the design of the Samsung Galaxy A53. The smartphones look completely different. The iPhone has quite thick screen edges, with a large forehead and a thick chin. This is because Apple has put the smartphone in the same jacket as the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE 2020. The device is made of aluminum and has “the strongest glass in a smartphone,” according to Apple.

Samsung is taking a different tack with the Galaxy A53. The smartphone looks more modern thanks to its thinner screen edges and hole punch for the selfie camera. There is also no home button, which we do find with the SE 2022. The Samsung smartphone consists – except for the screen – completely made of plastic. This makes it feel cheaper than the iPhone. However, plastic is less likely to break than glass, so that’s a plus.

Finally, the A53 is a lot bigger, thicker and heavier than the SE. This is due to the larger screen and the larger battery. Are you looking for a compact smartphone? Then you better opt for the iPhone SE.

Screen: Samsung wins by a big lead

In the screen area, Samsung beats Apple. The Galaxy A53 has a large 6.5-inch AMOLED screen, with a Full HD resolution. Thanks to the AMOLED technology, colors are clear and black is really black. The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch LCD screen, with a fairly low resolution and a refresh rate of only 60Hz. That lower resolution is not a big problem, because the screen is relatively small. As a result, the pixel density is also quite high.

The large screen of the Samsung is of course ideal for watching series and movies. Gaming, surfing the internet and viewing photos also feels ‘more immersive’ with the Galaxy A53. In addition, the screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz, so that images look smooth. However, the large screen ensures that the smartphone is anything but compact and handy.

There is certainly something to be said for the smaller screen of the SE 2022. For example, you can easily operate the screen with one hand. The device itself has also remained nice and compact, making it easy to fit in any pocket.

Speed: iPhone SE 2022 is a true powerhouse

The iPhone SE 2022 is currently the fastest smartphone of the moment, along with the iPhone 13 (mini) and 13 Pro (Max). Apple has given the device the same powerful A15 chip as its most expensive smartphones. This provides unprecedented power in the budget segment.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 has a fast Exynos 1280 processor, which performs well in combination with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. However, you cannot compare this chip with the A15, which simply wins the ‘speed’ part by a huge margin.

Thanks to the A15 chip, the iPhone SE 2022 is future-proof. We expect that Apple will provide the device with software updates for many years to come. There is therefore a good chance that the device will still feel fast in 5 years.

Cameras: more isn’t always better

It will no longer surprise you, but the Galaxy A53 and the iPhone SE also differ considerably from each other in terms of camera. The SE has a single lens on the back, which shoots pictures in a resolution of 12 megapixels. Thanks to the A15 chip and Apple’s great image processing the pictures look fantastic.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 has no fewer than four cameras on the back. These are a 64 megapixel main lens, 12 megapixel wide-angle lens, 5 megapixel macro camera and a 5 megapixel depth sensor. The Galaxy A53 should take better photos in the dark with an improved night mode and the portrait mode has also been improved. The iPhone also has a portrait mode, but unfortunately no night mode.

The macro camera and the depth sensor of the Galaxy A53 already seem to be quite disappointing on paper, because of the low resolution. We haven’t tested the main lens yet, but we expect the iPhone SE to take better photos and videos overall. However, the wide-angle lens of the Galaxy A53 is a nice addition, which we miss on the iPhone.

A camera system is of course not complete without a selfie lens on the front. The iPhone SE has a 12 megapixel selfie camera, which is concealed in the large forehead of the smartphone. The selfie camera of the Galaxy A53 has a 32 megapixel sensor. This is hidden in a small hole in the screen.

Software: a lot of updates

The iPhone SE 2022 naturally runs on iOS 15, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. As a result, just about every app is in the App Store compatible with the device – and will remain so for many years to come. That’s because Apple updates its iPhones for up to seven years. With the power of the A15 chip, it is possible that the iPhone SE 2022 will remain up to date even longer.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 runs out of the box on Android 12, in combination with Samsung’s One UI. A very important and nice improvement is that the device receives longer updates than previous Galaxy A smartphones. Samsung promises that the smartphone will receive four major Android updates. The device will therefore receive an update to Android 13, 14, 15 and 16. Security patches, which keep hackers and other malicious parties at bay, appear for no less than five years. So the Samsung smartphone is more future-proof than ever.

Price: Samsung is cheaper

The Samsung Galaxy A53 is for sale in the Netherlands from 1 April for 449 euros. If you choose the version with more working and storage memory, you will lose 509 euros. If you choose to pre-order the new phone, you will temporarily receive a set of wireless earbuds as a gift. It concerns the Galaxy Buds Live, which currently cost about 70 euros.

• Samsung Galaxy A53 (128GB): 449 euros
• Samsung Galaxy A53 (256GB): 509 euros
• Colors: black, blue, peach

The iPhone SE 2022 is already for sale in the Netherlands at the time of writing. You pay at Apple itself 529 euros for the 64GB model. The 128GB version costs with 579 euros five bucks more. Prices may differ slightly per webshop and provider. You can find the device here:

Compare Apple iPhone SE 2022 prices

Conclusion iPhone SE 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy A53

With both the iPhone SE 2022 and the Samsung Galaxy A53, you have a top device in your hands, which you can use for a long time. In our view, there is no clear winner, because both devices have different strengths and weaknesses. It is therefore especially important what you find important in a smartphone.

Are you looking for a large, high-quality screen and would you like to take photos with a wide-angle lens? Then you choose the Samsung. Do you think speed and software are more important? Then the iPhone suits you better. The iPhone SE 2022 is also a better choice if you already use many other Apple products, such as a MacBook, Apple Watch and AirPods.

Are you curious about our experiences with the iPhone SE 2022? Keep an eye on the website for the extensive review. You can also follow us via the free iPhoned app and the newsletter.