Samsung actually tricked out this 12 months’s A5X mannequin and arguably obtained it nearer to the Galaxy S line than ever. Probably the most notable improve this 12 months needs to be the general construct high quality. The A55 contains an aluminum body, Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the entrance and one other Gorilla Glass sheet on the again. The brand new Exynos 1480 chipset additionally affords a pleasant little uptick in each efficiency and effectivity in comparison with final 12 months’s mannequin. The Galaxy A55 has additionally grown notably in comparison with the A54 and now rocks a much bigger 6.6-inch show inside a proportionally bigger physique.
That being mentioned, final 12 months’s Galaxy A54 has depreciated properly and, at its enticing worth level, nonetheless affords a lot of the identical expertise because the Galaxy A55. Positive, the construct is not fairly as premium, however you continue to get IP67 ingress safety and two sheets of Gorilla Glass. All the opposite probably alluring further options are shared between the 2 gadgets as properly, just like the stereo speaker setup and microSD card slot for storage enlargement. And the 2 telephones have very related digital camera setups.
Desk of Contents:
For starters, you may examine the whole specs sheets or immediately proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.
Measurement comparability
As we talked about, the Galaxy A55 is the marginally larger system out of the 2. Samsung determined to stretch the show diagonal from 6.4 inches to six.6 inches, and the system physique grew alongside that as properly. Even so, the Galaxy A55 stays fairly pocketable and pretty simple to deal with, partly because of its thinner show bezels. The A55 boasts a screen-to-body ratio of round 85.8%, whereas the A54 sits someplace round 82.9% by our calculations.
That mentioned, the bezel distinction is not actually noticeable except you maintain the 2 gadgets aspect by aspect. Each look ok for midrangers from the entrance with moderately small selfie digital camera punch holes, equivalent under-display fingerprint readers and just about no different seen sensors or I/O on the entrance. Each telephones are just about flat on each side.
Nevertheless, there are nonetheless notable variations in design language throughout the 2 generations. The A54 is far rounder, with gently sloping corners and a center body tapering on the cellphone’s back and front. The A55 is rocking Samsung’s new design language with a flatter and far sharper center body that features an elevated portion for the aspect buttons to take a seat on. Samsung additionally gave a nod to the brand new aluminum constructing materials of the body by giving in a brushed end.
Talking of supplies, the Galaxy A55 has a extra premium construct than its A54 predecessor. This contains the aluminum body we already talked about and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the entrance. Some undisclosed sort of Corning glass additionally covers the again aspect of the A55. In the meantime, the A54 nonetheless has wonderful, however not fairly as sturdy, Gorilla Glass 5 on each its back and front, with a plastic center body.
The heavier metallic body and bigger show are the the reason why the Galaxy A55 is heavier than its predecessor. Not by lots, thoughts you. Samsung managed to protect the identical physique thickness throughout each generations, which is smart because the battery has remained the identical at 5,000 mAh.
Samsung arguably went with barely extra noted-down shade choices for the A55. These embody Iceblue, Lilac, Navy and Lemon. The A54 has an arguably extra conventional shade choice, together with choices like Graphite and White, in addition to the notably extra vibrant Lime and Violet.
As we mentioned, the A55 and A54 are very related when it comes to controls and format. Each have a stereo speaker setup and optical under-display fingerprint readers. NFC is market-dependent for each fashions. Each even have expandable storage through a microSD slot, shared with the second nano-SIM slot. Neither mannequin has a 3.5mm audio jack or an onboard FM radio receiver. It is usually price noting that, sadly, each even have digital proximity sensors.
Show comparability
As talked about, the Galaxy A55 has a barely larger show than its A54 predecessor. Apart from that, the 2 panels are fairly related when it comes to specs and efficiency. You get a 120Hz refresh fee with equivalent automated refresh fee dealing with. Decision can also be equivalent throughout the 2 telephones at 1080 x 2340 pixels with the identical 19.5:9 side ratio.
Each telephones have HDR10+ certification and assist. The utmost refresh fee can also be fairly related, though we did handle to get just a few nits extra out of the Galaxy A55 in our testing. You’ll be able to anticipate to get round 1,000 nits in auto mode, which is respectable and completely usable outdoor, although removed from industry-leading. Nevertheless, it could be unfair to not notice that some cheaper telephones beat Samsung at its personal sport and supply greater than 1,400 nits of brightness.
Battery life
The Galaxy A55 and A54 each have a 5,000 mAh battery on board. Nevertheless, the Exynos 1480 chipset contained in the Galaxy A55 is seemingly extra environment friendly than the Exynos 1380. This, alongside presumably some software program refinement (Galaxy A54 was examined on Android 13 and One UI 5.1, whereas the Galaxy A55 was examined with Android 14 and One UI 6.1), permits the Galaxy A55 to attain a notably increased Lively Use Rating in our standardized testing.
The distinction is frankly not huge, however it’s almost throughout the board in all exams apart from gaming. So, the Galaxy A55 technically has a small however notable edge when it comes to battery endurance.
Charging pace
Lots of Samsung’s present fashions assist the identical 25W Tremendous Quick Cost Samsung charging commonplace. Nevertheless, in our testing, we observed important variations in precise charging pace between the A55 and the A35 regardless of the identical 25W charging score.
This isn’t the case with the Galaxy A55 and A54. The 2 telephones cost at the very same fee. It’s miles from industry-leading, and you’ll positively get sooner charging from rivals on this worth vary. Nevertheless, for the needs of this comparability, the 2 telephones are equivalent.
Speaker take a look at
The Galaxy A55 and A54 have related hybrid stereo speaker setups with one devoted bottom-firing speaker and the amplified earpiece appearing just like the second channel.
Regardless of having fairly related speaker setups, the A55 has a transparent edge over the A54 on this division. High quality-wise, the audio system depart a bit extra to be desired from the high-frequency sounds at most or near-maximum quantity, however the bass is distinguished and the vocals sound manner cleaner than earlier than. In reality, the A54 sounds muffled in comparison with the A55.
The A55 can also be technically a bit louder than the A54, managing a VERY GOOD rating in our testing in comparison with GOOD on the A54.
Efficiency
One of many upgrades launched to the Galaxy A55 this 12 months is Samsung’s newer Exynos 1480 chipset. It’s a 4nm half from the start of 2024 that replaces the Exynos 1380 contained in the A54 – a 5nm half from the start of 2023.
Each chipsets use a 4 plus 4 CPU configuration with 4 Cortex-A78 cores and 4 Cortex-A55 ones. The distinction is that the Cortex-A78 cores contained in the Exynos 1480 have a noticeably increased max clock pace of two.75 GHz in comparison with 2.4 GHz on the Exynos 1380. This does give the 1480 an edge in CPU efficiency.
The brand new RDNA 2-based Xclipse 530 GPU contained in the Exynos 1480 is a a lot larger improve over the Mali G68 MP5 contained in the Exynos 1380. Which means that the Galaxy A55 performs higher in GPU exams than the A54.
The Galaxy A54 is often supplied in a 6GB/128GB base model. The total checklist of A54 configs contains 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, and 256GB 8GB RAM.
The Galaxy A55 comes with 8GB of RAM out of the gate, even within the base 128GB storage model. Its full checklist of variants contains 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 12GB RAM.
As a reminder, we examined the entry-level 8GB/128GB Galaxy A55 and the middle-level 8GB/128GB A54 unit, making them equivalent. So far as we are able to inform from the testing, each telephones use UFS 2.1 storage chips.
Taking a look at benchmark numbers, it’s clear that the Galaxy A55 affords a notable enhance in efficiency over the Galaxy A54. It isn’t huge, however it’s positively there.
The newer Exynos 1480 chipset affords connectivity choices just like its Exynos 1380 predecessor. This contains Wi-Fi 6 assist contained in the A55 and A54. Though the brand new chipset technically helps Wi-Fi 6E, that does not appear to be enabled for the A55. Bluetooth assist is equivalent at model 5.3 with LE assist. Each telephones even have USB 2.0 knowledge connection with out show output however with OTG/Host assist.
This can be a good place to say software program and assist. Each the A55 and A54 include the identical promise of 4 years of main OS updates and 5 years of safety patches. That is a giant dedication on Samsung’s behalf, and it is greater than most rivals have to supply on their midrangers. Whereas the 2 telephones have the identical assist interval, the A54 is already a 12 months into mentioned cycle, which could be price contemplating.
Digicam comparability
The Galaxy A55 and A54 have very related digital camera setups at first look. Each telephones have an OIS-enabled 50MP important digital camera with a 1/1.56″ sensor and 1.0µm pixels, sitting behind an f/1.8 lens. Nevertheless, the 2 sensors should not equivalent. The A55 makes use of a Sony IMX906, whereas the A54 makes use of both Samsung’s personal GN5 or the Sony IMX766.
The 2 ultrawide cams look fairly related at first look as properly, however additionally they use totally different sensors, at the very least so far as we are able to inform. The identical seems to be true in regards to the 32MP selfie cameras as properly.
Picture high quality
Wanting on the important cameras on each telephones, the pictures look fairly comparable when it comes to element. Dynamic vary and distinction are removed from good on both cellphone, however they’re additionally fairly comparable.
Samsung Galaxy A55: 12.5MP important digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy A54: 12.5MP important digital camera samples
The A55 tends to have barely extra laid-back and relaxed processing, so to talk. Its shade rendition is much less saturated, and also you get much less sharpening. It is not just like the Galaxy A54 is overly aggressive in its method, however there’s a noticeable distinction.
The 2 ultrawide cameras are additionally fairly comparable in high quality, although, trying on the samples, we do have to offer the A54 a slight edge. It appears to supply a bit extra element with much less sharpening artifacts.
Samsung Galaxy A55: 12MP ultrawide digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy A54: 12MP ultrawide digital camera samples
Against this, the Galaxy A55 captures barely noisier pictures with extra aggressive sharpening.
We actually cannot discover any significant high quality distinction between the selfie cameras of the A55 and A54. Each telephones do an ideal job of capturing selfies. Faces come out trying sharp and detailed regardless of the shortage of any autofocus. Pores and skin tones look nice, too.
Samsung Galaxy A55: 12MP important digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy A54: 12MP important digital camera samples
Each telephones seize very competent low-light pictures with their respective important cameras. Element is nice, even within the shadows. Highlights are properly developed, too and lightweight sources are dealt with very competently.
Samsung Galaxy A55 low-light: 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Samsung Galaxy A54 low-light: 0.6x • 1x • 2x
If we had to decide on, maybe we might give the A54 a slight edge intimately. The ultrawide cameras do moderately properly, too, however are nothing to cellphone residence about. Once more, it’s fairly comparable in general high quality.
Video high quality
Each the Galaxy A55 and A54 can do as much as 4K video seize on the principle cameras, ultrawides and selfie cameras. You get the identical AVC/h.264 video stream at round 50 Mbps on each telephones with stereo AAC audio inside an MP4 container. There may be additionally the choice to seize in HEVC/h.265 and save on some storage. The Galaxy A54 used to solely have video stabilization at 1080p decision, however Samsung has launched 4K@30fps video stabilization to the A54 as properly.
4K footage from the principle cameras of each telephones is comparable when it comes to general high quality. There may be loads of element, though we might say that the A54 has the sting on this division, producing noticeably cleaner and sharper movies.
Samsung Galaxy A55 video samples
Samsung Galaxy A54 video samples
Dynamic vary can also be comparable between the 2 telephones, although the A54 appears to have a slight edge. Colours are very related, although the A55 appears to have a barely extra saturated palette.
The Galaxy A54 tends to sharpen footage from its ultrawide digital camera a bit extra, although, but once more, there is not a significant distinction in general high quality between the A55 and A54.
So far as low-light movies go, but once more, the distinction is small, however as soon as once more, we now have to say that the A54 has a slight edge intimately.
Verdict
Selecting between the Galaxy A55 and A54 isn’t notably simple. First off, there may be all the time the worth, the place the A54 is a transparent winner.
You may additionally need to contemplate dimension. The A55 has positively grown. It is not by lots, however nonetheless, the A54 is the extra compact and “pocketable” system out of the 2.
If neither of the above is sufficient to sway you in the direction of the A54, the Galaxy A55 does all the things else as properly and even higher than the A54. It has a bigger display screen. It additionally has a distinctly extra premium construct with an aluminum body and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the entrance. It additionally has a transparent edge in general efficiency because of the brand new Exynos 1480 chipset. It is usually price noting that it comes with 8GB of RAM at least, in comparison with the 6GB you’ll usually discover the A54 rocking, making it extra futureproof. It is also the newer mannequin so it nonetheless has full 4 main OS updates and 5 years of safety patches forward of it. The Galaxy A54 is already one 12 months into its in any other case equivalent assist cycle.
The Galaxy A55 additionally has notably nicer audio system and a barely, however nonetheless measurably longer battery life.
On the finish of the day, the Galaxy A55 and A54 are expectedly very related gadgets. Each supply good quality-of-life options just like the IP67 score, HDR10+ assist and good stereo audio system, to call just a few. You will not go improper with both.
- The extra premium construct.
- The bigger show.
- The marginally longer battery life.
- The nicer audio system.
- The higher efficiency.
- It’s newer and has longer software program assist remaining.
Get the Samsung Galaxy A55 for: