Samsung Galaxy A53 Now Available to Pre-order

Samsung's all-new sub-$500 smartphone is now available to pre-order. The Samsung Galaxy A53 continues to build upon the success of past A-series handsets. In essence, it's much the same approach taken by Apple with its SE models.

The Galaxy A53 follows directly in the footsteps of the Galaxy A52. With that, it should be precisely the sort of highly capable smartphone that buyers have come to expect from Samsung. That's now true even in terms of its most affordable, entry-level devices.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 largely builds upon the spec of the existing Galaxy A52. That said, it makes improvements in numerous areas. That means a bigger battery and a new processor, for starters, as well as 5G connectivity as standard. It also promises at least four years of operating system updates in the future.

Galaxy A53 buyers can choose from various specifications, topping out at 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. As with most current-generation Samsung smartphones, the latter figure is expandable up to 1TB with a suitable memory card.

Elsewhere, there are more than a few similarities between the Samsung Galaxy A53 and last year's Galaxy A52. Both enjoy IP67 dust- and water-resistance ratings, for example. The Galaxy A53 also sports an identical camera setup to its predecessor. And while its 6.5-inch display is undoubtedly impressive, it's the same screen used by Samsung for the outgoing model.

Any new A-series Samsung smartphone will always find itself compared to the latest iPhone SE. In this instance, the $449 Samsung Galaxy A53 is $20 more expensive than Apple's $429 iPhone SE 3. However, it's also significantly larger, measuring in at 6.5 inches to the iPhone's comparatively tiny 4.7 inches.

As we've already learned, the Samsung Galaxy A53 borrows heavily from the Galaxy A52 that it replaces. It's the same story with the iPhone SE 3, too, with Apple following a very similar recipe to the one used for the SE 2.

Like the iPhone SE 3, the Galaxy A53 gets a brand-new chip. In the revised Samsung handset's case, that means a move away from past processors such as the Snapdragon 720G. Instead, the Galaxy A53 receives an all-new Exynos 1280 chip, likely produced by Samsung Foundry.

Samsung first unveiled the new phone on March 17. Pre-orders started immediately, but customers were advised to expect a wait of around two weeks before their handsets would ship. That comes as the Samsung Galaxy A53 gets an official release date of April 1.

There's a small treat in store for T-Mobile and Verizon customers, though. Those who pre-order through either carrier can expect to receive their new phones a little earlier. That said, it's only a fraction earlier, with T-Mobile and Verizon customers told that their handsets would be available 24 hours ahead of schedule on March 31.

For a limited time, all pre-orders from U.S.-based customers will also ship with a free pair of wireless Samsung Galaxy Buds Live headphones worth $169.99. Samsung's mid-range model sits between the cheaper Galaxy Buds+ and the top-tier Galaxy Buds Pro.

The Galaxy A53 comes with Samsung's standard one-year limited warranty. Buyers can also upgrade their warranty with Samsung Care+. Samsung's Care+ policies are largely comprehensive, although they do feature an ever-growing list of restrictions. Unfortunately, they're also extremely costly.

Right now, a two-year extended warranty for Samsung's flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra will set interested parties back $220. So, while Samsung Care+ no doubt offers peace of mind, it does so at a considerable cost. Thankfully, though, pricey coverage from the manufacturer isn't the only option.

Upsie offers comparable or superior Samsung Galaxy warranties that cost just $9.99 per month, and customers can cancel the warranty at any time without fees or penalties.

At the same time, Upsie also boasts numerous perks. For example, accidental damage protection is included as standard. Customers can make two claims per 12 months, and Upsie has low deductibles. For example, Upsie's cracked screen repair deductible is $0.

Furthermore, activating an extended warranty takes just moments, either via the Upsie website or using the Upsie smartphone app. Upsie also offers non-subscription warranties for tablets, smartwatches, laptops, TVs, and more.