The Galaxy A55 is the following mid-range entry from Samsung, right here to switch the Galaxy A54 as a high worth for cash smartphone selection.
Nonetheless, the Korean model has determined to method it in an alternate approach, with its construct and cheaper price clearly indicating a brand new route for mid-range telephones within the Galaxy A sequence.
Is it actually price changing the older mannequin or choosing a brand new one if you’re selecting between the 2?
We evaluate the important thing elements of each telephones that can assist you resolve which one would be the higher purchase.
Variations between the Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy A55
Design & Construct
The Galaxy A54 boasts a modern design harking back to the flagship Galaxy S23 from the identical 12 months, characterised by rounded corners and a particular port-hole digital camera association.
It’s a stable cellphone, manufactured from two panes of glass separated by a plastic body. The construct high quality stays commendable, with Gorilla Glass 5 safeguarding the show and IP67 mud and water resistance.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Alternatively, the Galaxy A55 shares a number of similarities with the A54, whereas additionally incorporating important modifications.
Notably, the facility and quantity controls at the moment are positioned on the ‘Key Island,’ an elevated part on the aspect of the cellphone, and the body is crafted from aluminium for the primary time, enhancing sturdiness and including a extra premium really feel.
The design maintains rounded corners and a flat back and front, with a protruding rear digital camera module housing three lenses and an LED flash as properly. Whereas that includes extra sturdy Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the entrance and Gorilla Glass on the again, the A55 additionally maintains IP67 ranking for mud and water resistance.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
What’s extra, one other design change is the substitute of the silver bezels across the cameras on the again with black ones. This therapy makes the Galaxy A55 much like the flagship Galaxy S24.
So, when you worth a extra strong and premium design, the Galaxy A55 comes out on high.
Screens & Audio system
The Galaxy A54 provides a 6.4-inch AMOLED show with Full HD+ decision and a clean 120Hz refresh price, making certain vibrant colors and wonderful outside brightness typical of AMOLED know-how.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
The cellphone’s Adaptive mode offers clean efficiency, with the choice to modify to 60Hz for improved battery life. Moreover, it options an efficient embedded fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for machine unlocking. There may be additionally All the time-on Show.
Though it lacks a headphone jack, the built-in stereo audio system ship passable sound high quality, albeit doubtlessly missing in bass.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Alternatively, the Galaxy A55 sports activities a barely bigger 6.6-inch show in comparison with the A54. However moreover that, it is a nigh-on an identical display screen specification, with a 1080 x 2340 (Full HD+) decision and a 120Hz refresh price. It even will get to the identical 1000 nit brightness, when uncovered to vivid ambient lighting and with autobrightness left on.
Nonetheless, the bigger display screen on the Galaxy A55 will probably be extra appropriate for media consumption.
You additionally don’t get a 3.5mm headphone jack right here, however you do get respectable readability from its stereo audio system.
Specs & Efficiency
The Galaxy A54 has already seen a major enchancment in efficiency with the improve from the Exynos 1280 to the Exynos 1380 processor. This enhancement leads to a smoother and extra dependable expertise, particularly in day-to-day operations and gaming.
Though complicated duties like processing evening photographs or loading massive video games should take a while, general efficiency is commendable for a mid-range cellphone.
Nonetheless, US clients are restricted to 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, whereas different markets, together with the UK, provide choices as much as 256GB of storage and 8GB of reminiscence, doubtlessly impacting efficiency.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Alternatively, the Galaxy A55, powered by the Exynos 1480 chip, provides a major efficiency enhance over the Galaxy A54.
This interprets to clean on a regular basis efficiency, although it’s not one of the best cellphone for gaming at excessive settings, as complicated 3D video games could not run flawlessly.
Within the UK, the A55 is accessible in 8/128GB and eight/256GB configurations, with some nations providing a 12/256GB variant.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
In our Geekbench 6 multi-core take a look at, the Galaxy A55 scored 3447 factors, forward of final 12 months’s Galaxy A54, which scored 2888 factors in Geekbench 5. So, if you’re in search of a extra highly effective and extra environment friendly cellphone, the A55 is a better option.
Moreover, each telephones embody 5G connectivity together with commonplace options like NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. In addition they assist dual-SIM performance and features a microSD card slot for expandable storage, although utilizing the slot sacrifices one SIM slot.
Cameras
The Galaxy A54 encompasses a typical trio of rear cameras, together with a 50Mp fundamental digital camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a 12Mp ultra-wide digital camera, a 5Mp macro digital camera, and a 32Mp selfie digital camera.
The primary digital camera captures wonderful high quality photos in numerous situations, benefiting from an f/1.8 aperture and optical picture stabilisation (OIS) for regular pictures. Whereas low-light efficiency surpasses many mid-range rivals.
The ultrawide lens sacrifices some high quality for wider framing, whereas the macro lens offers pleasant close-up pictures regardless of being hidden within the ‘extra’ menu.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Samsung’s color tuning inconsistency, notably evident within the oversaturated Meals mode, is a disadvantage. Nonetheless, the selfie digital camera impresses with high quality and options like portrait mode and wider-angle choices.
Video recording, supported by OIS, provides high-quality footage as much as 4K decision with vibrant colors and clean movement, even in dynamic eventualities.
The Galaxy A55 reveals little development in its digital camera system in comparison with the Galaxy A54 5G, retaining the identical setup: a 50Mp fundamental digital camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, 12Mp ultrawide digital camera and 5Mp macro digital camera, alongside 32Mp entrance digital camera.
Picture high quality is much like its predecessor, with the principle digital camera delivering detailed, colour-rich photographs in good lighting however combating grain and softness in low mild. The ultrawide digital camera provides versatility however suffers from high quality drop-off and tonal inconsistency.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The 5Mp macro digital camera, although succesful, feels pointless and there’s no devoted telephoto lens. The primary sensor’s cropping system permits for stable 2x zoom pictures, however high quality diminishes at larger zoom ranges.
The 32Mp selfie digital camera excels with pure pores and skin tones, good topic definition and efficient background blur. It additionally provides a barely wider discipline of view for group pictures, with good element retention even when cropped.
Video recording helps 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, with OIS offering secure footage.
Battery & Charging
The Galaxy A54 boasts a 5000mAh battery with assist for 25W charging pace. Testing with a 67W quick charger from one other model, it charged as much as 16% in quarter-hour and 31% in half an hour, which isn’t the quickest.
Nonetheless, the cellphone compensates with spectacular battery life, able to lasting a full day of combined utilization with 4-5 hours of display screen time, and even as much as two days for lighter customers.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Equally, the Galaxy A55 maintains a constant method with a 5000mAh battery and 25W quick charging, mirroring its predecessor. Whereas the Galaxy A54 already provided respectable battery life, this selection is probably not a major concern.
Samsung appears to proceed this technique throughout its mid-range telephones, as even the bottom Galaxy S24 sticks with 25W quick charging. Nonetheless, the A55 will solely get to only over half a tankful from empty in half-hour of charging.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Throughout average use, it could final 15 hours with 4.5 hours of screen-on time, depleting to only 63%. Even on heavy utilization days, it manages practically 8 hours of screen-on time and ends the day with 22% battery remaining, suggesting it could last as long as two days underneath regular use.
Moreover, each telephones don’t provide wi-fi charging or a charging brick within the field.
Software program & Apps
By way of software program, each telephones run on Android 14 with One UI 6.1. Samsung’s OS pores and skin stays user-friendly and visually interesting, that includes handy options like a sidebar for favorite apps.
Nonetheless, the inclusion of quite a few pre-installed apps, together with undesirable video games, could frustrate customers regardless of the power to take away them. Nonetheless, different pre-loaded apps similar to Disney+, TikTok and OneDrive provide utility.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
With each telephones, Samsung guarantees 4 main OS updates and 5 years of safety patches, which is among the many finest at this value.
Nonetheless, the A55 got here out later, so it is going to be supported for a 12 months longer, as much as Android 18.
Worth & Availability
You should purchase the Galaxy A54 immediately from Samsung for $449/£449, which incorporates 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Within the UK, there may be additionally the choice of choosing the 8GB/256GB variant for £499. Regrettably, consumers within the US are restricted to the bottom mannequin.
The Galaxy A54 can also be obtainable from numerous retailers, together with Amazon, John Lewis, Very, and Currys.
For additional data on the place to purchase the Galaxy A54, please discuss with our devoted information.
The Galaxy A55 can also be obtainable immediately from Samsung, providing 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for £439. Curiously, Samsung has determined to cut back the beginning value of the Galaxy A55 within the UK by £10.
Apart from, Amazon, John Lewis, Very, Argos, and Currys are all promoting the Galaxy A55 at the same value.
Whereas some areas will even obtain a 12GB/256GB variant, UK clients should do with out it. Nonetheless, the A55 shouldn’t be at the moment obtainable within the US. Clients there’ll be capable to go for the Galaxy A35, which provides a lot of the Galaxy A54 and extra, however its value is but to be introduced.
Verdict
It’s instantly obvious that the Galaxy A55 wins on practically each entrance in opposition to its predecessor. In all places else, it’s a draw, so in the long run, the A55 comes out on high anyway.
It provides a extra fashionable and strong construct, higher efficiency, doubtlessly quicker charging and longer battery life, in addition to the nice cameras aware of the Galaxy A54.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
What’s extra, it’s all for £10 lower than the worth of the A54 when you reside within the UK. Alternatively, when you reside within the US the place the A55 isn’t obtainable, your only option is to purchase the Galaxy A35, because it’s quite a bit cheaper.
Try our chart of one of the best mid-range telephones to see all the highest options.
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 through microSD)
- Cameras:
- 50Mp f/1.8 OIS fundamental digital camera
- 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
- 5Mp f/2.4 macro
- 32Mp f/2.2 selfie digital camera
- Twin-SIM/microSD
- Stereo audio system
- NFC
- GPS
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Wi-Fi 6
- Beneath-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 through microSD)
- Cameras:
- 50Mp f/1.8 OIS fundamental digital camera
- 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
- 5Mp f/2.4 macro
- 32Mp f/2.2 selfie digital camera
- Twin-SIM/microSD
- Stereo audio system
- NFC
- GPS
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Wi-Fi 6
- Beneath-display fingerprint sensor
- 5000mAh battery
- 25W wired charging
- USB-C charging port
- 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2mm
- 202g