The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is the latest addition to Samsung’s popular A-series lineup, offering a perfect balance of performance, design, and affordability. Positioned as a mid-range smartphone, the Galaxy A54 5G brings a host of features that aim to attract users who want the feel of a premium device without breaking the bank. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the specifications, design, performance, camera quality, and user experience of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, exploring whether it delivers on the promise of offering great value in the competitive mid-range market.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G takes inspiration from its premium counterparts, with a sleek, modern aesthetic that closely resembles flagship models like the Galaxy S series. Samsung has opted for a flat display with narrow bezels, giving the phone a clean, contemporary look. The back of the device is made from plastic, but Samsung has given it a glossy finish that mimics glass, making it look more high-end than it actually is. This design choice helps to keep the phone lightweight while maintaining durability.
The A54 5G is available in several color options, including Awesome Black, Awesome White, and Awesome Violet, all of which cater to different tastes. Despite its plastic construction, the phone feels sturdy in hand, with a reassuring weight that suggests quality. It also features IP67 water and dust resistance, a rare inclusion in this price segment, which makes the device more resilient to the elements.
Display: Super AMOLED Brilliance
One of the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is its display. Samsung is known for producing some of the best screens in the industry, and the A54 5G is no exception. The phone is equipped with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels). This combination delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for watching videos, playing games, or simply browsing the web.
The display also supports a 120Hz refresh rate, a feature typically reserved for higher-end models. This higher refresh rate makes scrolling through apps and menus feel smoother and more responsive, adding to the overall premium feel of the device. Whether you’re playing fast-paced games or just navigating through social media, the experience is noticeably more fluid than on devices with a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
Additionally, the screen is bright enough for outdoor use, with a peak brightness of around 800 nits, ensuring good visibility even under direct sunlight.
Performance: Exynos 1380 Power
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, an octa-core processor built on a 5nm process. This chipset is paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on the variant you choose. The Exynos 1380 is a capable processor for day-to-day tasks, offering smooth multitasking, quick app loading times, and decent gaming performance.
In terms of real-world usage, the Galaxy A54 5G handles most tasks with ease. Whether you’re switching between multiple apps, browsing the internet, or streaming videos, the device remains snappy and responsive. For gamers, the A54 5G can run graphically demanding games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile at medium to high settings without significant frame drops or overheating. However, it may not perform as well as flagship devices when pushed to the limits in terms of prolonged gaming sessions or multitasking heavy apps simultaneously.
The device also comes with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card, giving users ample space for apps, photos, videos, and other files.
Software: One UI 5.1 on Android 13
The Galaxy A54 5G runs on Samsung’s One UI 5.1, based on Android 13, which provides a smooth and user-friendly experience. One UI has come a long way over the years, and it is now one of the most refined Android skins available. It is packed with features like customizable widgets, dark mode, and extensive control over app permissions, all while maintaining a clean, minimalist interface.
Samsung has also committed to providing regular software updates, which is a significant advantage for those looking to use their phone for an extended period. The A54 5G is expected to receive at least four years of major Android updates and five years of security patches, ensuring that the device stays relevant and secure long after its release.
Camera: Versatile Quad-Lens Setup
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G sports a versatile quad-camera setup on the back, headlined by a 50MP primary sensor. The primary camera is complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor, providing users with a wide range of shooting options. On the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera housed in a hole-punch cutout.
- Primary Camera: The 50MP main camera is capable of capturing sharp, detailed images in good lighting conditions. Colors are vibrant but not overly saturated, and dynamic range is generally impressive. In low-light situations, the phone’s Night Mode helps to improve brightness and detail, though some noise is inevitable.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: The 12MP ultra-wide sensor is useful for landscape shots or group photos, offering a 123-degree field of view. However, like many mid-range ultra-wide cameras, it struggles in low light and can sometimes introduce distortion at the edges of photos.
- Macro and Depth Cameras: The 5MP macro and depth sensors are functional but less impressive. While they offer additional shooting modes, the macro camera, in particular, struggles to capture detailed close-up shots, and the depth sensor’s impact is mostly limited to improving portrait shots.
- Front Camera: The 32MP front camera is more than capable of delivering detailed selfies in good lighting, with excellent skin tone reproduction. The portrait mode works well, offering a decent bokeh effect, although edge detection can occasionally falter in more complex scenes.
The camera app also comes with a range of features, including Pro mode, Panorama, Super Slow-mo, and Hyperlapse, which allow users to get creative with their photography.
Battery Life: All-Day Power
Battery life is an area where the Galaxy A54 5G shines. It is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which, combined with the power-efficient Exynos 1380 chipset, allows the phone to easily last a full day on a single charge, even with moderate to heavy usage. Whether you’re streaming videos, browsing social media, or playing games, the A54 5G can keep up without the need for frequent charging.
The device also supports 25W fast charging, which, while not the fastest in the market, is still sufficient for topping up the phone in a reasonable amount of time. However, Samsung does not include a charger in the box, so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you don’t already have a compatible charger.
5G Connectivity and Other Features
As the name suggests, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G supports 5G connectivity, ensuring that it is future-proofed for faster mobile data speeds as 5G networks continue to expand globally. In addition to 5G, the phone also supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and NFC, making it compatible with a wide range of wireless accessories and services, such as contactless payments.
The phone also features an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is fast and reliable, as well as face recognition for added security.
Price and Value Proposition
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is priced competitively within the mid-range segment, making it an attractive option for those who want a premium experience without spending flagship-level money. Its strong display, capable camera setup, solid battery life, and future-proof connectivity make it a compelling choice.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G strikes an excellent balance between performance, features, and price. While it may not compete with flagship devices in terms of raw power or camera capabilities, it offers an experience that feels far more premium than its price suggests. For users looking for a reliable, stylish, and future-proof smartphone in the mid-range category, the Galaxy A54 5G is a solid contender.
