Galaxy S20 Fe Vs A53 5g Is It Worth Upgrading Or Am I Missing Out

If you're weighing the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE against the Galaxy A53 5G, you're likely caught between flagship heritage and mid-range innovation. Both phones deliver strong performance for their price brackets, but choosing between them isn't just about specs—it's about how they fit your lifestyle, usage habits, and expectations. The S20 FE brought flagship energy to a more accessible price in 2020, while the A53 5G arrived in 2022 with modern features and improved longevity. So, should you upgrade from the S20 FE to the A53 5G—or stick with what you have? Let’s break it down.

Design and Build Quality: Premium Feel vs Practical Durability

The Galaxy S20 FE featured a polycarbonate body with an aluminum frame, giving it a surprisingly premium feel despite not using glass on the back. It was available in vibrant colors and had an IP68 water and dust resistance rating—rare at its price point. At 190g, it was slightly heavier than average but felt solid in hand.

In contrast, the A53 5G uses a plastic frame and back, making it lighter at 189g, but lacks IP68. Instead, it has an IP67 rating, meaning it can survive brief submersion but not prolonged exposure. While less flashy in material quality, the A53 5G has a flatter, more modern design that fits better in pockets and offers a larger 6.5-inch display with thinner bezels.

Tip: If you frequently use your phone outdoors or near water, the S20 FE’s IP68 rating gives it a real edge over the A53 5G.

Performance and Software: Flagship Power vs Long-Term Updates

The S20 FE launched with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (or Exynos 990 in some regions), a true flagship chipset that still holds up well in 2024 for multitasking, gaming, and heavy app usage. Paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, it offered smooth performance across demanding tasks.

The A53 5G, however, runs on the Exynos 1280—a capable mid-range chip. It handles everyday apps efficiently and supports 5G, but struggles under sustained loads like extended gaming or video editing. With 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB RAM options, higher variants perform adequately, but the processor limits peak performance.

Where the A53 5G shines is software support. It promises four major Android OS updates and five years of security patches—until 2027. The S20 FE, released in 2020, maxed out at three OS upgrades and is now nearing the end of its support cycle.

“Long-term software support is becoming as important as raw power. For users who keep phones beyond two years, update policy can be a deciding factor.” — David Kim, Mobile Analyst at TechPulse Insights

Display and Battery Life: Brightness, Size, and Endurance

The S20 FE boasts a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate—still a standout feature in 2024. Its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and buttery-smooth scrolling make it ideal for media consumption and gaming.

The A53 5G also features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, but capped at 120Hz only in certain modes (defaulting to 60Hz in some settings). More importantly, it delivers exceptional brightness—up to 800 nits—making it far more usable in direct sunlight compared to the S20 FE’s 470 nits.

Battery capacity favors the A53 5G with a 5,000mAh cell versus the S20 FE’s 4,500mAh. In real-world testing, the A53 5G consistently lasts a full day and a half with moderate use, while the S20 FE often requires daily charging. However, the S20 FE supports faster 25W wired charging and wireless charging; the A53 5G only offers 25W wired and no wireless option.

Display & Battery Comparison Table

Feature	Galaxy S20 FE	Galaxy A53 5G
Display Size	6.5\" Super AMOLED	6.5\" Super AMOLED
Refresh Rate	120Hz	120Hz (adaptive)
Peak Brightness	~470 nits	~800 nits
Battery Capacity	4,500 mAh	5,000 mAh
Charging	25W wired, 15W wireless	25W wired, no wireless
Water Resistance	IP68	IP67

Camera Performance: Versatility vs Consistency

The S20 FE packs a triple rear setup: 12MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), and 8MP telephoto (3x optical zoom). The telephoto lens allows lossless zoom up to 3x and digital zoom up to 30x, giving it an advantage in framing distant subjects. Low-light photos are detailed, though dynamic range can falter in high-contrast scenes.

The A53 5G ditches the telephoto lens entirely, replacing it with a 5MP macro and 5MP depth sensor. Its 64MP main sensor (pixel-binned to 16MP) captures sharper daylight images with excellent detail, and its night mode is surprisingly competent. However, without optical zoom, you’re limited to digital cropping, which degrades quality quickly.

Videography remains stronger on the S20 FE, supporting 8K recording at 24fps and smoother stabilization. The A53 5G maxes out at 4K/30fps and lacks advanced stabilization features.

Tip: If you regularly take zoomed or night videos, the S20 FE remains superior. For social media-focused stills, the A53 5G may actually deliver more pleasing results.

Real-World Example: Should Maya Upgrade?

Maria, a freelance photographer and traveler, used her Galaxy S20 FE daily for three years. She loved the telephoto lens for capturing landscapes and portraits from a distance and relied on wireless charging during long shoots. By 2023, her phone slowed down slightly, and she worried about future app compatibility.

She considered the A53 5G for its brighter screen and longer software support. After testing both side-by-side, she found the A53 5G’s camera lacked the versatility she needed, especially when shooting wildlife. Despite the older software lifecycle, she opted to keep her S20 FE with a battery replacement and added cloud backup for longevity.

Her decision highlights a key truth: upgrading isn’t always about newer = better. It’s about whether the new device aligns with your actual needs.

Is It Worth Upgrading? A Step-by-Step Decision Guide

Before making a move, follow this practical checklist to evaluate your situation:

1. Assess your current phone’s condition: Does your S20 FE still run smoothly? Has the battery degraded significantly?
2. List your top priorities: Are you focused on camera zoom, display brightness, software updates, or battery life?
3. Test real-world usage: Try the A53 5G in-store or through a friend. Use the camera, scroll through apps, and check outdoor visibility.
4. Evaluate long-term value: Will you keep the phone beyond 2026? If yes, the A53 5G’s update promise matters more.
5. Consider cost: If buying outright, weigh the price difference. Refurbished S20 FE units may offer better value than a new A53 5G.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the A53 5G replace the S20 FE for gaming?

For casual games like Candy Crush or Among Us, yes. But for intensive titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, the S20 FE’s Snapdragon 865 provides significantly smoother performance and better thermal management.

Does the A53 5G support expandable storage?

Yes, both phones support microSD cards up to 1TB, so storage expansion isn’t a differentiator.

Am I missing out by not upgrading?

Not necessarily. You’re trading raw power and zoom capability for better screen visibility, longer software support, and slightly improved battery. If those trade-offs align with your usage, then yes—you might be missing out. Otherwise, your S20 FE still holds strong.

Final Verdict: Upgrade Only If Your Needs Have Changed

The Galaxy S20 FE remains a powerful device in 2024, especially for users who value performance, camera flexibility, and premium features like wireless charging. The Galaxy A53 5G isn’t a direct successor but rather a different kind of phone—one optimized for longevity, outdoor usability, and consistent mid-tier performance.

If you're still satisfied with your S20 FE, there’s no urgent need to upgrade. However, if you’ve noticed slowing speeds, poor battery life, or want guaranteed updates until 2027, the A53 5G offers meaningful improvements in sustainability and daily comfort.

🚀 Ready to decide? Audit your phone usage this week: track battery drain, app responsiveness, and how often you use zoom or night mode. The data will tell you whether upgrading brings real benefits—or just change for change’s sake.