Over the years, the mid-range market has grow to be one of the crucial necessary — if not THE most necessary — segments as general smartphone shipments proceed to shrink yr over yr. More persons are shopping for mid-range telephones than ever, confirmed by Counterpoint Research (opens in new tab) as the explanation Samsung is the #1 smartphone vendor on the earth, and there is a good purpose for this.Modern mid-range smartphones actually are nice. Case in level, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G seems and feels (largely) like there have been no actual compromises to realize the $450 price ticket. That makes it roughly half the price of many of the finest Android telephones (opens in new tab) but, with a couple of exceptions, you would not comprehend it in day by day use.What are you giving up for that worth? There’s no telephoto lens on the A54 5G, gaming efficiency leaves loads to be desired — though it is completely potential to play Fortnite, Diablo, Genshin Impact, or Minecraft on this cellphone — and the boring-looking plastic construct is not going to amaze anybody with its lack of luster. But do you have to care? Probably not.Today’s finest Samsung Galaxy A54 5G offersSamsung Galaxy A54 5G: Price and availability(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is offered in any respect main electronics shops that usually promote telephones — Amazon, Best Buy, and so forth. — in addition to all main carriers in most components of the world. AT&T offered Android Central with a overview unit so our testing was accomplished on AT&T’s 5G community in North Carolina within the United States.The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G retails for $449, though we have seen loads of offers to get it unlocked for fairly a bit much less. This yr, Samsung is ditching the non-5G model of the cellphone and simply promoting one SKU.The A54 5G ships in 4 colours: black, white, lime, and violet. Our overview unit is the black colorway. The field it ships in is pretty empty, containing solely the cellphone, a single USB-C to USB-C cable, and some pamphlets alongside a SIM tray eject device.You’ll want to offer certainly one of your personal chargers or choose up probably the greatest USB-C chargers (opens in new tab) to make sure you can cost it on the full 25W pace. I’ve been utilizing Anker’s 511 Nano 3 charger for this goal and it really works very properly.Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Display and design(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Display and design abstractThe plastic construct and boring design will not flip heads however that is OK since this seems primarily equivalent to the costlier Galaxy S23 household. Being extra premium-looking is rarely a nasty factor.The show is a liquid clean 120Hz OLED show that appears nice in any gentle, however Samsung’s heavy PWM modulation means people delicate to flickering lights will shortly develop complications from this show.There was no fanfare when Samsung introduced the Galaxy A54 5G — or any of the opposite 2023 A-series telephones, for that matter. No large present. No large unveiling. Just a silent improve for anybody trying to purchase a mid-range Samsung cellphone this yr.Like the announcement, the general design and construct of the Galaxy A54 5G is about as vanilla as you might get. It seems equivalent to the costlier Galaxy S23 collection — some extent my colleague Derrek made a couple of months again (opens in new tab) concerning the S23 collection — which is but one more reason why individuals will virtually actually be fooled in the event that they see you with certainly one of these telephones.The Galaxy A54 is likely one of the finest plastic builds I’ve ever seen from Samsung.At first, I used to be very impressed with Samsung’s plastic construct as a result of it did not instantly really feel plastic. After a couple of fast checks, it grew to become extra apparent that this cellphone wasn’t as premium feeling because it appeared however nonetheless sports activities probably the greatest plastic builds I’ve ever seen from Samsung.In different phrases, this does not really feel just like the nasty, slimy plastic used on the Galaxy S III again within the day.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySamsung Galaxy A54 5G specsChipsetSamsung Exynos 1380Memory6GB/8GB RAMStorage128GB/256GB UFS 2.2Display6.4-inch AMOLED, 2340×1080 decision (403 ppi), 120Hz, HDR10+, Gorilla Glass 5Rear Camera 1 (Main)50MP, ƒ/1.8, 1.0μm pixel measurement, OIS, 4K@30FPS, 1080p@60FPS, 240FPS tremendous slow-mo videoRear Camera 2 (Ultra-wide)12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.12μm pixel measurement, 123-degree FoV, 4K/1080p@30 FPSRear Camera 3 (Macro)5MP, ƒ/2.4Front Camera32MP, ƒ/2.2, 0.8μm pixel measurement, 4k@30FPS, 1080p@60FPSBattery5,000mAh, 25W wired chargingConnectivityWi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C 2.0Dimensions158.2mm x 76.7mm x 8.2mmWeight202 gramsWater and dirt resistanceIP67SafetyIn-screen fingerprint sensorColorsLime, Violet, Black, WhiteOSAndroid 13 with One UI 5.1Update guarantee4 OS updates, 5 years of safety updatesNow, do not get me mistaken. Plastic is not all the time dangerous, and it has loads of optimistic traits, however having plastic rails means you actually ought to put money into a case for this cellphone. I’d hate to see what occurs to the plastic if this received dropped on concrete or steel flooring, for example.The cellphone is heavy sufficient to not really feel low-cost, very properly balanced, and even has high quality haptics that really feel good to make use of.Other telephones on this worth vary — just like the Google Pixel 6a or Pixel 7a (opens in new tab) — provide steel aspect rails that make the cellphone really feel extra premium and assist it maintain much less harm when dropped.Plus, the protruding digicam lenses will probably take some harm if hit the fitting approach they usually trigger the cellphone to be off stability. The finest Galaxy A54 instances (opens in new tab) will completely assist repair that.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The again is an ultra-shiny plastic that appears and even looks like glass till you faucet it. It’s received that distinct hole really feel to it that plastic offers off however, fortunately, it is not low-cost plastic such as you’ll discover on the far inexpensive OnePlus Nord N20 5G (opens in new tab) which truly pulled up a bit after I pulled the serial quantity sticker off the again.Likewise, the cellphone is heavy sufficient to not really feel low-cost, very properly balanced, and even has high quality haptics that really feel good to make use of. They’re nonetheless not as good as Pixel haptics however they’re actually higher than most telephones on this class.Funny sufficient, the in-display fingerprint sensor truly works higher for me than the one used within the Galaxy S23 collection. It was truly good to make use of this one and I did not discover any notable moments when it did not work.Image 1 of 4(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The in-display fingerprint sensor truly works higher for me than the one used within the Galaxy S23 collection.The Galaxy A54 5G’s show is a pleasant, brilliant OLED panel. At 120Hz, it is buttery clean and the efficiency of the Exynos processor inside ensures that you just will not run into any lag or slowdown when utilizing apps. It’s a formidable high quality enchancment over the crummy 60Hz LCD shows from yesteryear’s mid-rangers.The solely draw back is for those who’re somebody like me who’s delicate to show flicker (opens in new tab). Among the various choices you will discover in the marketplace, Samsung and Apple are sometimes cited because the worst offenders for this specific downside.(Image credit score: Android Central)Folks delicate to show flicker ought to keep away from this cellphone just like the plague.The checks above present fairly extreme modulation at any brightness stage. Plus, the cellphone is simply modulating at round 240Hz which is extraordinarily low and may trigger complications and nausea for anybody delicate to show flicker or flashing lights.Even at 100% brightness — which is definitely what the above check reveals — the cellphone performs some fairly excessive modulation that is positive to trigger eye pressure over time.Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Performance and battery life(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Performance and battery life abstractThe new Exynos 1380 is as much as 25% quicker than final yr’s Galaxy A53, however the slower UFS 2.2 storage will trigger some hitching and stuttering in large video games like Fortnite or Genshin Impact.Battery life is great and you may simply get by way of a full day after which some. Just do not count on to cost the cellphone wirelessly.As we noticed with final yr’s Galaxy A53 5G (opens in new tab), all fashions of the Galaxy A54 5G come geared up with a Samsung Exynos processor. It’s been upgraded this yr to an Exynos 1380 which boasts roughly 10-20% efficiency enhancements throughout the board.That means gaming is rather more possible on this cellphone than final yr’s mannequin which actually struggled to run many video games. This yr, you possibly can completely run video games like Fortnite or Genshin Impact as long as you do not go too loopy with the visible settings.Overall efficiency has improved considerably since final yr’s cellphone, however slower storage pace means you will see hitching and stuttering in some larger video games.Just beware that the Galaxy A54 5G’s UFS 2.2 pace storage is comparatively gradual in comparison with telephones just like the Pixel 7a which makes use of UFS 3.1 storage speeds. In quick, meaning the Pixel 7a’s storage is roughly twice as fast because the Galaxy A54 5G’s.In real-world efficiency, meaning you will see much more hitching and stuttering in video games like Fortnite on the Galaxy A54 5G than you’ll on a Pixel 7a just because it takes longer for the A54 to load up the property it must show on display.Battery life is excellent, and whereas it does not assist wi-fi charging, the 25W wired charging was quick sufficient for my liking.The Exynos 1380 within the Galaxy A54 5G appears to have higher thermal administration than another Exynos processors. It’ll actually get heat whereas gaming however nothing offensive or painfully sizzling.Battery life on the Galaxy A54 5G is healthier than the Pixel 7a however, on condition that its processor is not as highly effective because the Tensor G2 in that cellphone, that should not come as a lot of a shock. You’ll haven’t any downside getting by way of a full day on a full cost and can very probably make it by way of many of the second day earlier than having to high up.Samsung additionally helps barely quicker charging than the Pixel 7a — 25W on the A54 versus 18W on the Pixel 7a — however Samsung’s cellphone does not assist wi-fi charging.At the total 25W pace, you possibly can count on the Galaxy A54 5G to cost in below 2 hours.Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Software(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Software abstractThis is identical One UI 5.1 included with Samsung telephones just like the Galaxy S23 collection, together with 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates. The solely notable distinction is that there is not any DeX assist on this cellphone.Just as you will discover with the design, the software program on the Galaxy A54 5G is almost equivalent to what you will discover on costlier Samsung telephones. It launched with One UI 5.1 — which is powered by Android 13 — and can be getting 4 main OS updates and 5 years of safety updates earlier than assist ends.To totally calculate that out, the Galaxy A54 5G will see Android 17 and get one last safety replace someday round Spring or Summer 2028.If that is not probably the greatest causes to purchase a Samsung cellphone over most different Android OEMs, I do not know what’s.The Galaxy A54 5G will see Android 17 and get one last safety replace someday round Spring or Summer 2028.There’s no DeX assist on this cellphone however most different One UI options are totally intact and you will find many choices littering each part within the settings menu.Plus, all the numerous components of One UI are right here to like. Apps like Good Lock (opens in new tab) make it straightforward to customise your system greater than every other Android OEM permits and repair some poor design choices in Android — like absolutely the rubbish multitasking UI (opens in new tab).If you go for a service variant, count on some bloatware to be put in. Carriers like AT&T are inclined to preinstall a lot of apps to benefit from that service’s companies. Thankfully, all of those (plus the Samsung “bloat” apps) are in their very own separate folder. That makes them straightforward to take away if you do not need them.Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Cameras(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Cameras abstractThe Galaxy A54 packs in a greater digicam than final yr and goes toe-to-toe with the Pixel 7a about half the time. It’s received nice low gentle efficiency, 4K video recording, a pointy front-facing digicam, and a few enjoyable software program tips baked in for social media apps.As Samsung’s flagship cellphone cameras get higher and higher, so, too, are we seeing the entry-level and mid-range telephones enhance. It’s “a rising tide lifts all boats” scenario since all Samsung telephones use the identical base software program and share algorithms.The variations are largely going to be in high quality and general efficiency when in comparison with costlier Samsung telephones. Zoom high quality is extraordinarily missing since there is not any telephoto lens, and the ultra-wide-angle digicam does not have niceties like {hardware} OIS for additional steady pictures when transferring round.The cellphone takes nice footage in any gentle however is not essentially the most effective in its class.But, apart from that, you will discover most of the similar positives and negatives from cameras on different Samsung telephones right here, as properly. To sum it up, the cellphone takes nice footage in any gentle however is not essentially the most effective in its class.Image 1 of two(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)To be truthful, zoom element on most telephones on this worth vary is not the most effective. Tapping that 2x shutter seems a lot good however, past that, you will find yourself with a watercolor sample because the digicam software program tries to wash up the digital zoom as finest it could.In different varieties of pictures, the Galaxy A54 5G competes properly with the Pixel 7a about half the time. The greatest offenses embody white stability points and instances the place pictures have been oddly overexposed. Samsung additionally has this problem on the far, far costlier Galaxy S23 Ultra (opens in new tab), as properly.Low gentle efficiency has improved because the Galaxy A53.As you possibly can see within the pictures under, the Galaxy A54 takes nice low-light photographs. It’s not a large enchancment over what we noticed on the Galaxy A53 — which already did a very good job in low gentle — however any enchancment for a similar worth is all the time welcome.Image 1 of 14(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Unlike the Galaxy S23 collection, nonetheless, portrait mode pictures from the Galaxy A54 aren’t all that nice. They’re advantageous sufficient, I suppose and are pretty much as good as Google’s portrait mode pictures on any Pixel cellphone, however the cutouts are frequently messy and nowhere close to pretty much as good as what’s out there on Samsung’s costlier telephones.Photos and movies can typically endure from white stability points and overexposure.Likewise, video recording high quality wasn’t fairly pretty much as good because the Pixel 7a, both. While the 2 met toe-to-toe in most conditions, there have been a lot of instances when the Galaxy A54’s white stability was approach off.When recording a bunch of movies of my chickens grazing within the grass, for example, the Galaxy A54’s video was overly teal-toned, making the grass extra blue than inexperienced. Likewise, footage that contained a number of blue or metallic objects turned out to be slightly blue (or cool) in tone.Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: The competitors(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)In any market the place it’s offered, the Pixel 7a is completely value the additional $50 premium over the Galaxy A54 5G. It has considerably higher efficiency, a show that is friendlier to PWM/flicker-sensitive people, and a digicam that is going to win out each single time. Plus, the construct is each larger high quality and much more fascinating to have a look at.And for those who’re in search of one thing cheaper and virtually pretty much as good because the Pixel 7a, there are many Pixel 6a offers (opens in new tab) that’ll get you the cellphone for as little as $199, or lower than half the value of the Galaxy A54 5G. I put these head-to-head and you are still going to get higher efficiency and a greater digicam from the Pixel 6a than you will get with the Galaxy A54 5G, though battery life is not pretty much as good and the show is not as clean because it’s 60Hz.If you are in search of one thing even inexpensive — round $200 or so — the brand new Moto G Stylus (2023) and Moto G 5G (2023) are nice contenders that must be thought-about. Both are notably cheaper-built telephones with slower processors however every delivers a surprisingly good expertise that telephones on this lower cost vary have struggled with for some time.Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)You can purchase this if:You need a mid-range cellphone with a phenomenal 120Hz OLED show.You need nice battery life with out sacrificing efficiency.You need a cellphone that’ll be supported for the following 5 years.You should not purchase this if:You plan to play quite a lot of graphics-intensive video games.You need the most effective cameras for the value.You are PWM/show flicker delicate.The Galaxy A54 5G is the most effective mid-range cellphone Samsung has ever made, however that does not imply you need to rush out to get one. Google’s Pixel 7a is a greater cellphone by virtually any measurement, however there are nonetheless causes to decide on Samsung over Google on this worth vary.First off, Samsung’s feature-rich software program is second to none for customizability and sheer worth. The Galaxy ecosystem of merchandise like the most effective Samsung earbuds (opens in new tab) and a Galaxy Watch 5 (opens in new tab) will all pair higher with this cellphone and supply the most effective expertise you may get, together with a number of distinctive options that you just will not get when pairing different firms’ merchandise with this cellphone.Second, is the truth that the Pixel 7a is not out there in every single place on the earth. If you reside in a type of nations, the Galaxy A54 5G is the most effective guess at this worth. And to be truthful, you are not precisely going to remorse the choice given how a lot worth Samsung has packed in right here.
A notable enchancment over final yr’s launch, the Galaxy A54 seems and performs loads like a costlier cellphone. It’s received virtually all the identical options because the Galaxy S23, an incredible digicam, and 5 years of software program updates promised.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Price Comparison