Galaxy A VS iPhone SE, Full-scale Battle in the Domestic Market... What’s the Outcome?

Samsung Electronics Galaxy A53 and Apple iPhone SE3 Pre-Order Simultaneously on the 18th
Galaxy A Camera and Battery Performance, iPhone SE3 Emphasizes High-End 'Brain'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] "Top-performance camera and long battery life VS high-performance brain-like semiconductor (AP)"

Samsung Electronics and Apple are going head-to-head in the mid-to-low-end smartphone market. The key point to watch is whether Apple can surpass Samsung Electronics with the iPhone SE series in the market. While the previously unveiled 3rd generation iPhone SE emphasized premium-level AP performance, the Galaxy A series highlighted camera and battery performance, which are considered weaknesses of the competitor. The first battle takes place in the domestic market. Samsung Electronics will start pre-orders for the Galaxy A53 5G, unveiled on the 17th, on the same day (the 18th) as the 3rd generation iPhone SE.

The Galaxy A Series Unveiled, Unprecedented 'Cost-effectiveness'

Samsung Electronics held the 'Samsung Galaxy A Event 2022' online and introduced the 'Galaxy A53 5G' and 'Galaxy A33 5G'. The key features include 5G support and enhanced camera performance using artificial intelligence (AI). Previously, the iPhone SE3 received harsh criticism from foreign media regarding battery life and camera performance. The iPhone SE3 is equipped with only a single 12-megapixel rear camera, lacking support for night mode, wide-angle, and telephoto camera functions, and its battery life was criticized for lasting less than 12 hours.

On the other hand, the Galaxy A series is equipped with flagship-level performance. The 'Galaxy A53 5G' features a rear quad camera setup including a 64-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 32-megapixel front camera, while the A33 5G includes a 48-megapixel rear camera and a 13-megapixel front camera. Additionally, AI technology based on a 5nm processor enables clear and bright video and photo shooting even in low-light environments. The series also introduces the 'AI Eraser' for the first time, which can remove unwanted objects from photos.

Battery life has also been strengthened. The Galaxy A series is equipped with a large 5000mAh battery that can last up to two days and supports 25W super-fast charging. It supports IP67-rated water and dust resistance for durability and features a Super AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display to differentiate the 'viewing experience.'

The iPhone SE3 improved AP performance by equipping the same Bionic chip as Apple's flagship iPhone 13 series. It is evaluated to be faster with almost no heat generation. The New York Times explained, "The iPhone SE3 is about 20% faster than Long-Term Evolution (LTE)." The Galaxy A series is equipped with the Exynos 1280 chipset based on a 5-nanometer (nm) process.

The product price is cheaper for the Galaxy A53. Although the iPhone SE3 starts at 590,000 KRW, when comparing the same storage capacity (256GB), the Galaxy A53 (599,500 KRW) is about 200,000 KRW cheaper than the iPhone SE3.

Intensified Competition for the World's No.1 Smartphone Market

The mid-to-low-end smartphone market is important for both Samsung Electronics and Apple. The results in this market can determine who takes the No.1 spot in the global smartphone market. The Galaxy A series has played a major role in helping Samsung Electronics maintain its position as the world's No.1 smartphone maker. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics ranked first in global smartphone shipments last year with 270 million units (18.9% market share). Apple sold a total of 237.9 million units (17.2% market share), ranking second. Samsung Electronics held an advantage in the mid-to-low-end phone market. According to market research firm Omnia, the best-selling smartphone model last year was Samsung Electronics' Galaxy A12 (51.8 million units). If Apple expands its presence in the mid-to-low-end market, the market landscape could be overturned this year.

If Samsung Electronics fends off Apple's pursuit, it will achieve the world's No.1 smartphone market position for 10 consecutive years. An industry insider said, "In terms of cost-effectiveness, the Galaxy A53 has the advantage," but added, "If young consumers who prefer Apple's sensibility switch to the iPhone SE3, it won't be easy for Samsung either."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.