Technology

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A54: Which Is a Better Buy?

Published

2 days ago

June 30, 2024

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A54: Which Is a Better Buy?

The Galaxy A55 is the next mid-range entry from Samsung, here to replace the Galaxy A54 as a top value for money smartphone choice.

However, the Korean brand has decided to approach it in an alternative way, with its build and lower price clearly indicating a new direction for mid-range phones in the Galaxy A series.

Is it really worth replacing the older model or opting for a new one if you are choosing between the two?

We compare the key aspects of both phones to help you decide which one will be the better buy.

Differences between the Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy A55

Design & Build

The Galaxy A54 boasts a sleek design reminiscent of the flagship Galaxy S23 from the same year, characterised by rounded corners and a distinctive port-hole camera arrangement.

It is a solid phone, made of two panes of glass separated by a plastic frame. The build quality remains commendable, with Gorilla Glass 5 safeguarding the display and IP67 dust and water resistance.

Chris Martin / Foundry

On the other hand, the Galaxy A55 shares several similarities with the A54, while also incorporating significant changes.

Notably, the power and volume controls are now positioned on the ‘Key Island,’ an elevated section on the side of the phone, and the frame is crafted from aluminium for the first time, enhancing durability and adding a more premium feel.

The design maintains rounded corners and a flat front and back, with a protruding rear camera module housing three lenses and an LED flash as well. While featuring more durable Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and Gorilla Glass on the back, the A55 also maintains IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

What’s more, another design change is the replacement of the silver bezels around the cameras on the back with black ones. This treatment makes the Galaxy A55 similar to the flagship Galaxy S24.

So, if you value a more robust and premium design, the Galaxy A55 comes out on top.

Screens & Speakers

The Galaxy A54 offers a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring vibrant colours and excellent outdoor brightness typical of AMOLED technology.

Chris Martin / Foundry

The phone’s Adaptive mode provides smooth performance, with the option to switch to 60Hz for improved battery life. Additionally, it features an effective embedded fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for device unlocking. There is also Always-on Display.

Although it lacks a headphone jack, the built-in stereo speakers deliver satisfactory sound quality, albeit potentially lacking in bass.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

On the other hand, the Galaxy A55 sports a slightly larger 6.6-inch display compared to the A54. But besides that, this is a nigh-on identical screen specification, with a 1080 x 2340 (Full HD+) resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It even gets to the same 1000 nit brightness, when exposed to bright ambient lighting and with autobrightness left on.

However, the larger screen on the Galaxy A55 will be more suitable for media consumption.

You also don’t get a 3.5mm headphone jack here, but you do get decent clarity from its stereo speakers.

Specs & Performance

The Galaxy A54 has already seen a significant improvement in performance with the upgrade from the Exynos 1280 to the Exynos 1380 processor. This enhancement results in a smoother and more reliable experience, especially in day-to-day operations and gaming.

Although complex tasks like processing night photos or loading large games may still take some time, overall performance is commendable for a mid-range phone.

However, US customers are limited to 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, while other markets, including the UK, offer options up to 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory, potentially impacting performance.

Chris Martin / Foundry

On the other hand, the Galaxy A55, powered by the Exynos 1480 chip, offers a significant performance boost over the Galaxy A54.

This translates to smooth everyday performance, though it’s not the best phone for gaming at high settings, as complex 3D games may not run flawlessly.

In the UK, the A55 is available in 8/128GB and 8/256GB configurations, with some countries offering a 12/256GB variant.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

In our Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the Galaxy A55 scored 3447 points, ahead of last year’s Galaxy A54, which scored 2888 points in Geekbench 5. So, if you are looking for a more powerful and more efficient phone, the A55 is a better choice.

Additionally, both phones include 5G connectivity along with standard features like NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. They also support dual-SIM functionality and includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage, though using the slot sacrifices one SIM slot.

Cameras

The Galaxy A54 features a typical trio of rear cameras, including a 50Mp main camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a 12Mp ultra-wide camera, a 5Mp macro camera, and a 32Mp selfie camera.

The main camera captures excellent quality images in various conditions, benefiting from an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation (OIS) for steady shots. While low-light performance surpasses many mid-range competitors.

The ultrawide lens sacrifices some quality for wider framing, while the macro lens provides enjoyable close-up shots despite being hidden in the ‘more’ menu.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Samsung’s colour tuning inconsistency, particularly evident in the oversaturated Food mode, is a drawback. However, the selfie camera impresses with quality and features like portrait mode and wider-angle options.

Video recording, supported by OIS, offers high-quality footage up to 4K resolution with vibrant colours and smooth motion, even in dynamic scenarios.

The Galaxy A55 shows little advancement in its camera system compared to the Galaxy A54 5G, retaining the same setup: a 50Mp main camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, 12Mp ultrawide camera and 5Mp macro camera, alongside 32Mp front camera.

Image quality is similar to its predecessor, with the main camera delivering detailed, colour-rich photos in good lighting but struggling with grain and softness in low light. The ultrawide camera offers versatility but suffers from quality drop-off and tonal inconsistency.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The 5Mp macro camera, though capable, feels unnecessary and there’s no dedicated telephoto lens. The main sensor’s cropping system allows for solid 2x zoom shots, but quality diminishes at higher zoom levels.

The 32Mp selfie camera excels with natural skin tones, good subject definition and effective background blur. It also offers a slightly wider field of view for group shots, with good detail retention even when cropped.

Video recording supports 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, with OIS providing stable footage.

Battery & Charging

The Galaxy A54 boasts a 5000mAh battery with support for 25W charging speed. Testing with a 67W fast charger from another brand, it charged up to 16% in 15 minutes and 31% in half an hour, which is not the fastest.

However, the phone compensates with impressive battery life, capable of lasting a full day of mixed usage with 4-5 hours of screen time, or even up to two days for lighter users.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Similarly, the Galaxy A55 maintains a consistent approach with a 5000mAh battery and 25W fast charging, mirroring its predecessor. While the Galaxy A54 already offered decent battery life, this choice may not be a significant concern.

Samsung seems to continue this strategy across its mid-range phones, as even the base Galaxy S24 sticks with 25W fast charging. However, the A55 will only get to just over half a tankful from empty in 30 minutes of charging.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

During moderate use, it can last 15 hours with 4.5 hours of screen-on time, depleting to just 63%. Even on heavy usage days, it manages nearly 8 hours of screen-on time and ends the day with 22% battery remaining, suggesting it can last up to two days under normal use.

Additionally, both phones don’t offer wireless charging or a charging brick in the box.

Software & Apps

In terms of software, both phones run on Android 14 with One UI 6.1. Samsung’s OS skin remains user-friendly and visually appealing, featuring convenient features like a sidebar for favourite apps.

However, the inclusion of numerous pre-installed apps, including unwanted games, may frustrate users despite the ability to remove them. Nonetheless, other pre-loaded apps such as Disney+, TikTok and OneDrive offer utility.

Chris Martin / Foundry

With both phones, Samsung promises four major OS updates and five years of security patches, which is among the best at this price.

However, the A55 came out later, so it will be supported for a year longer, up to Android 18.

Price & Availability

You can purchase the Galaxy A54 directly from Samsung for $449/£449, which includes 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

In the UK, there is also the option of selecting the 8GB/256GB variant for £499. Regrettably, buyers in the US are limited to the base model.

The Galaxy A54 is also available from various retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis, Very, and Currys.

For further information on where to buy the Galaxy A54, please refer to our dedicated guide.

The Galaxy A55 is also available directly from Samsung, offering 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for £439. Interestingly, Samsung has decided to reduce the starting price of the Galaxy A55 in the UK by £10.

Besides, Amazon, John Lewis, Very, Argos, and Currys are all selling the Galaxy A55 at a similar price.

While some areas will also receive a 12GB/256GB variant, UK customers will have to do without it. However, the A55 is not currently available in the US. Customers there will be able to opt for the Galaxy A35, which offers much of the Galaxy A54 and more, but its price is yet to be announced.

Verdict

It is immediately apparent that the Galaxy A55 wins on nearly every front against its predecessor. Everywhere else, it’s a draw, so in the end, the A55 comes out on top anyway.

It offers a more modern and robust build, better performance, potentially faster charging and longer battery life, as well as the great cameras familiar with the Galaxy A54.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

What’s more, it’s all for £10 less than the price of the A54 if you live in the UK. On the other hand, if you live in the US where the A55 isn’t available, your best option is to buy the Galaxy A35, as it’s a lot cheaper.

Check out our chart of the best mid-range phones to see all the top alternatives.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy A55:

Android 14 with One UI 6.1
6.6-inch AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 ratio
Exynos 1480 chipset
8/12GB RAM
128/256GB of storage (expandable via microSD)
Cameras:
- 50Mp f/1.8 OIS main camera
- 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
- 5Mp f/2.4 macro
- 32Mp f/2.2 selfie camera
Dual-SIM/microSD
Stereo speakers
NFC
GPS
Bluetooth 5.3
Wi-Fi 6
Under-display fingerprint sensor
5000mAh battery
25W wired charging
USB-C charging port
161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2mm
213g

Samsung Galaxy A54:

Android 14 with One UI 6.1
6.4-inch AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 ratio
Exynos 1380 chipset
6/8GB RAM
128/256GB of storage (expandable via microSD)
Cameras:
- 50Mp f/1.8 OIS main camera
- 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
- 5Mp f/2.4 macro
- 32Mp f/2.2 selfie camera
Dual-SIM/microSD
Stereo speakers
NFC
GPS
Bluetooth 5.3
Wi-Fi 6
Under-display fingerprint sensor
5000mAh battery
25W wired charging
USB-C charging port
158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2mm
202g