Is Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Worth Your Money? Our Review Breaks It Down

Samsung has refreshed its A series by introducing two latest smartphones, the Galaxy A34 and the Galaxy A54. Both devices have been placed in the mid-range segment, which is already crowded with multiple alternatives from OnePlus, Xiaomi, Nothing, and other similar brands. The Galaxy A34 is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor, while the Galaxy A54 runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1080 processor, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM. This write-up will concentrate on the Galaxy A54, which is the pricier phone among the two.

Samsung’s newest A series poster boy, the Galaxy A54 5G, boasts a sleek, minimalist design with a distinct camera layout and a Gorilla Glass 5 rear. The A54 5G packs a punch with its optically stabilized 50-megapixel primary sensor, a powerful 5000mAh battery, and cutting-edge software. However, it has been price is now nearly parallel to the price range of flagship-killer devices that are available in the market today.

Now the question that comes to my mind is whether the Galaxy A54 5G is truly worth its price, given its features and capabilities. Having tested the device for a week, I want to share my thoughts and impressions on the phone. Let us dive into the review to find out.

Samsung Galaxy A54 Review: Design

Samsung has clearly made notable upgrades to enhance the value of the higher price tag of the Galaxy A54 5G, and this is evident from the moment you hold the device in your hand. The phone’s youthful appearance is thanks to Samsung‘s tasteful selection of colors, which include the lively Lime, sleek Graphite, and striking Violet. We have the Violet color in-house for review which immediately captures everyone’s attention.

The Galaxy A54 5G boasts a stunning large screen that dominates the front, with a small chin below it for a sleek appearance. An in-display fingerprint sensor enhances the phone’s security and unlocks it quickly for easy access. The power button and volume rockers are conveniently located on the right side, with nothing on the left side. The bottom features the primary microphone, USB Type-C port, and loudspeaker grill, while the top houses the secondary microphone and hybrid dual SIM slot. Regrettably, the phone lacks a 3.5mm audio jack. The sides of the phone have a plastic frame, giving it a metallic appearance. Samsung has cleverly opted for a matte plastic frame that is free of antenna bands, resulting in a clean and polished side frame.

When you flip the phone over, you’ll notice that the camera sensors are independent, rather than being part of a camera module that protects the lens. Although the phone may slightly rock on a flat surface. The glossy back attracts fingerprints and smudges easily, which might be off-putting for some users. It is recommended to invest in a case since it is not included in the box, as the glass back can be fragile and prone to cracks or scratches.

In addition, the phone boasts an impressive IP67 rating, making it resistant to spills and splashes, and capable of withstanding immersion in fresh water for up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes the Galaxy A54 5G a reliable companion for those who frequently find themselves in wet or unpredictable environments. This phone’s compact design is comfortable to hold, with a thickness of 8.2mm, making it slightly thicker than its predecessor. The weight has increased from 189 grams to 199 grams, which might be due to the glass back. Overall, the Galaxy A54 design works for me.

Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Display and Audio

Samsung has been a champion for years now in the display space and it continues to excel in that department. The Galaxy A54 5G boasts a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels, providing a sharp and vivid viewing experience with a pixel density of about 402 PPI. The display’s brightness is a notable improvement, with 1000 nits of brightness, a 25% increase compared to its predecessor, resulting in excellent sunlight legibility.

The phone’s 120Hz refresh rate screen offers a smooth user experience with fluid animations, scrolling, and gaming. It also includes Samsung’s Eye comfort shield to reduce blue light emissions and dark mode for those who prefer a darker screen. Users can choose between Vivid or Natural screen modes based on their preference or set the white balance manually. We didn’t observe any screen flicker issues in low brightness despite the lack of Pulse-Width Modulation aka DC dimming.

The A54’s AMOLED panel delivers vivid colors and deep blacks. It comes with WideVine L1 for HD content streaming so you can easily stream FHD content in most content streaming apps. If you prefer HDR streaming, I am afraid it doesn’t support HDR streaming.

The Galaxy A54 5G also has a capable stereo speaker system, with one dedicated speaker handling one stereo channel while the earpiece acts as the other. It sounds clean and loud with good channel separation. However, to use traditional headphones, users will need a 3.5mm USB-C converter or opt for wireless headphones.

Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Performance and Software

The Galaxy A54 runs OneUI 5.1, based on Android 13, which provides a software experience on par with Samsung’s premium S23. With the exception of DeX functionality, which is reserved for higher-end models, users enjoy a refined and user-friendly interface. While the vertical scrolling to access apps on the home screen may not be ideal for some, OneUI allows for more customization than ever before.

The device also includes Samsung Wallet, accessible through NFC technology. Users can take advantage of other features such as Samsung Pass, Secure Folder, Samsung Cloud, Easy Mode, and Samsung Knox support for added security and convenience. Additionally, Samsung is offering up to five years of security updates for the A54, providing peace of mind for users.

As for hardware, the Galaxy A54 5G is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380, an octa-core 5nm chipset with four Cortex A78 and four Cortex A55 cores. The device comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.1 storage, which are both adequate. Plus, you can expand your storage with a 1TB microSD card slot.

The Galaxy S54 put up decent numbers in synthetic benchmark tests, scoring 5lakh+ in AnTuTu v9 and achieving 775 and 2682 in single-core and multi-core tests in Geekbench v5, respectively. However, in real-world usage, the Galaxy A54 5G performs like a typical smartphone in its price range, providing mostly smooth operation with occasional hiccups. The CPU Throttle test also reveals that the device reduces its peak performance to 76 percent, which may be concerning for some users. Thanks to its ample RAM, managing background apps is not a problem, but the device struggles a bit when it comes to running moderately heavy tasks like using Google Maps and full-fledged spreadsheets simultaneously due to its lack of processing power.

If you’re a user who doesn’t require a lot of processing power for daily tasks, the A54 will not disappoint. I was able to switch between social media apps, Chrome, music streaming services, and OTT platforms without any lag When it comes to gaming, it’s best to keep the settings at medium and the frame rate at 45fps for graphically-intensive tasks. There were no issues with overheating, but if you’re a serious mobile gamer, there may be better options on the market to suit your needs.

Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Camera

The Galaxy A54 gets to flaunt a triple rear camera setup including a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. With a 1µm pixel size, the primary camera sensor captures images with excellent detail and light capture in a range of lighting conditions. Although the default resolution is 12.5MP due to pixel-binning, the phone allows you to take full 50MP images with a slight compromise in dynamic range.

In daylight, the primary camera produces well-exposed photos with minimal contrast. However, we noticed some inconsistencies with color and white balance, such as overly blue skies and excessively green grass. The Galaxy A54 primary camera tends to make skin tones appear warmer than usual.

Even in low light, we rarely needed to use Night mode, as the phone automatically switches to it when necessary. Nevertheless, the Night mode results were surprisingly good, producing accurate colors and exposures even in very dimly-lit environments. The ultra-wide camera also performed impressively in low light, capturing detailed shots without excessive noise or distortion – a feat that many cameras in this category struggle with. Overall, the Galaxy A54’s camera setup offers an excellent balance of versatility and performance for its price point.

The 12MP ultra-wide sensor, on the other hand, is only suitable for use in good lighting conditions. Unlike many cameras in this category, edge bending is minimal in the Galaxy A54. The ultra-wide sensor does well in capturing detail and maintaining exposure metering. However, the 5MP macro shooter is not particularly impressive, producing dull and low-detail shots that are unlikely to be usable on social media platforms.

On the front-facing camera, the 32-megapixel sensor delivers detailed selfies in good lighting conditions, even offering HDR mode for enhanced dynamic range. However, enabling HDR mode can result in inaccurate skin tones, so it’s best to use it sparingly. In low light conditions, the selfie camera softens skin textures but still manages to produce well-exposed images. Overall, the Galaxy A54’s camera setup offers a range of features and capabilities, with some standout features and room for improvement in others.

Samsung Galaxy A54 Review: Battery

the Galaxy A54 packs a substantial 5000mAh battery. Though the details on whether the phone supports fast charging or not remain undisclosed by Samsung, the company asserts that the phone can last up to two days on a single charge. My personal experience using the phone for a day corroborates this claim. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Samsung does not include a charger in the package, so you will need to acquire one separately.

Shifting focus to the battery, the Galaxy A54 5G is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that charges at a modest 25W peak charging speed. However, the battery life is impressive, lasting a day and a half on a single charge. Where Samsung falls short against the competition is charging capability as it takes more than one and a half hours to refill this 5000mAh battery. It’s disappointing that Samsung didn’t incorporate the 45W charging option in this phone, given its value of around 40 thousand rupees.

Review Verdict: Should you buy Samsung Galaxy A54?

The Galaxy A54 5G is perfect for those who value stylish looks. It’s an eye-catching device with a premium feel in hand and a good display to add its allure. Samsung also provides a seamless OneUI experience, which makes transitioning from an older Samsung device a breeze. Additionally, the company promises solid software and security updates. The battery life is also noteworthy and impressive. However, while the Galaxy A54 5G handles everyday tasks with ease, it struggles to keep up with more demanding ones. If you’re a power user who enjoys gaming and other intensive applications, you may want to consider other options. Overall, the Galaxy A54 5G is ideal for regular users who want a good-looking device that can keep up with everyday usage.