Samsung Galaxy A54 Evaluation: Heated Competitors

Samsung Galaxy A54 in a nutshell

As certainly one of Samsung’s best-selling product strains—often beating the S23 flagships—, the Galaxy A5 fashions are likely to play it secure in the case of its updates, making an attempt to strike a stability between what’s acquainted and a sprinkle of recent options. The Galaxy A54, nonetheless, not solely introduced a brand new design but in addition new {hardware} specs in digicam and processing. The query is: Is it sufficient?

With extra high-performance CPU cores, a brand new most important digicam sensor with larger pixels (however a decrease decision), and really related appears to be like to the Galaxy S23 household, the mid-range Galaxy A54 has the identical $450 MSRP as its predecessors.

A quicker processor, a special digicam configuration, quicker Wi-Fi and Bluetooth requirements, and a barely smaller display screen current a giant change than the variations seen between the A52 and A53 generations. The competitors, nonetheless, did not keep nonetheless, with spectacular new launches in 2023 from each Xiaomi and Google.

Galaxy A54: Design and show

After reusing the 2021’s A52 design on 2022’s A53,
Samsung gave the Galaxy A54 a brand new visible fashion… That’s virtually indistinguishable from the Galaxy S23.
It took some months for the mid-range to reach at nextpit’s workplaces, so it will be simple to neglect this level, however it’s nonetheless exceptional how the A54 and A34 we reviewed greater than two months in the past appear like the Galaxy S23+ which acquired 4-stars approach again in February.

Professionals:

• Prefer it or not, a flagship design.
• IP67 certification.
• Vibrant and quick AMOLED show.

Cons:

• No 3.5 mm headphone jack.
• Slippery again.
• The A34 has a better-looking again end.

Whereas up to now the Galaxy A3 was smaller than the A5 fashions from the identical era, Samsung turned the tables in 2023, giving the Galaxy A54 a smaller display screen than its predecessor and the A34. The reasoning is seemingly the truth that the A34 targets rising markets, which based on Samsung, are likely to choose larger shows.

The traits of the 6.4-inch AMOLED panel are a identified amount at this level, with shiny punchy colours, glorious distinction, and sufficient brightness for out of doors utilization. The 120 Hz refresh charge can be again, with clean animations and scrolling on the interface and internet pages, simply do not anticipate a fine-grained variable refresh charge, which stays unique to flagship fashions with LTPO panels.

Regardless of a smaller display screen in comparison with the 6.5-inch A53, the Galaxy A54 options related dimensions, being slightly bit shorter, whereas wider and imperceptibly thicker. On the hand, the variations should not actually noticeable, together with the slight further weight, with the same grip for each fashions.

Now we have already talked about that the Galaxy A54 incorporates a related look to the Galaxy S23 household (and the cheaper A34), with a flat again changing the raised digicam island, and mimicking the triple sensor setup of the flagship telephones with every digicam positioned by itself round bump.

Curiously, nonetheless, Samsung selected to provide the A54 a extra discreet look, with out the color-changing end that we appreciated on the Galaxy A34. After all, that time is nugatory in case you intend to make use of the telephone with a case…

Galaxy A54: Software program and efficiency

The efficiency part on the yearly Galaxy A50s is beginning to really feel stale. Not that Samsung just isn’t bettering its bespoke Exynos chips, however the small and regular enhancements will be simply bested by rivals Qualcomm and MediaTek.
The Galaxy A54 is noticeably quicker than the A53 nevertheless it lags behind Xiaomi, Motorola, and Google 2023 fashions in the identical value vary.

Professionals:

• Good and secure efficiency in video games and apps.
• Improved efficiency in opposition to 2022 processors.
• One of the best software program replace coverage within the class.

Cons:

• Rival 2023 chips obliterate the Exynos 1380 in video games.

Efficiency in day by day utilization with the Galaxy A54 is greater than sufficient, similar to on its predecessors, thanks partially to its upgraded CPU configuration with two efficiency cores (Cortex-A78) changing a pair of effectivity cores (Cortex-A55) when in comparison with the Exynos 1280 used within the Galaxy A53 and A33. The change will be simply noticed on the Geekbench take a look at, with a 40% bounce within the multithreaded rating.

Gaming efficiency is equally good, with loads of efficiency to play video games comparable to Name of Responsibility Cell. Artificial benchmarks present that the Exynos 1380 performs on par with the Snapdragon 778G, which was since 2021 probably the most balanced mid-range SoC. And all that with out points with overheating, because the 3DMark stress take a look at confirmed a constant efficiency stage throughout 20 runs. 

Sadly for Samsung, Qualcomm took a courageous strategy when designing the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, leveraging TSMC’s superior N4 (4 nm) course of to make use of flagship-level CPU & GPU cores. The result’s a forty five% higher multithreaded CPU efficiency and an embarrassing 2.7x bounce in graphics energy as we discovered throughout nextpit’s assessment of the Xiaomi Poco F5.

Trying outdoors the Exynos vs Snapdragon debate, the MediaTek chip discovered on the Motorola Edge (2023) additionally beat the Exynos 1380 with out breaking a sweat, albeit with a smaller margin.

Software program

Samsung’s strongest level as within the earlier generations is its software program replace coverage, bested solely by Apple. The South Koreans promise double the quantity (4) of Android upgrades than Xiaomi or Motorola for his or her mid-rangers.

Not solely that, the Galaxy A54 is scheduled to obtain safety updates for 5 years, and for the previous two years, Samsung up to date its Galaxy A52 & A53 to the newest Android variations earlier than the opposite two firms even started distributing the identical launch to its flagships.

One other benefit will be observed as quickly as you end the preliminary setup: Whereas we counted eight third-party apps on the Galaxy A34, 5 on the Galaxy A53, and a staggering 17 (seventeen) on the Poco F5, the Galaxy A54 had 4 Third-party apps preinstalled. Simply make sure that to uncheck a few containers throughout setup to keep away from a dozen different apps.

Samsung Galaxy A54 digicam

On the digicam division,
Samsung lastly ditched the questionable depth sensor, adopting a triple digicam structure for the Galaxy A54.
The principle sensor additionally modified, with a smaller 50-megapixel decision compensated by the truth that the undisclosed sensor options larger pixels, which carried out nicely in our assessments.

Professionals:

• Wonderful trying photographs in daylight circumstances.
• Good efficiency in darkish scenes.
• Okay macros.

Cons:

• Do not anticipate Pixel-level outcomes (except Samsung drops a shock software program replace),

Daytime photos had been pleasing, and subjectively higher than the A53’s, with extra true-to-life distinction and saturation. Not solely that however the photographs from the ultra-wide-angle lens (0.5x, 12 megapixels) had been additionally good, with the same colour stability to the principle digicam, and with out extreme distortions.

As anticipated from a mid-range telephone, you will not discover a telephoto lens on the A54, even so, relying on the state of affairs, 2x digital zoom photographs can return good photographs. And in case you have a tripod—or actually regular fingers—chances are you’ll get good outcomes even from the 4x zoom, simply do not trouble with zooming all the best way to the utmost 10x magnification…

After a few years including a questionable depth sensor on its mid-range telephones, Samsung lastly ditched the fourth digicam on the Galaxy A54 (and A34 as nicely). So the broad + ultra-wide combo is accomplished with a 5 MP macro digicam. Removed from being vital digicam, the third lens gave enjoyable outcomes, however photographs seemed higher on the telephone’s preview than on the ensuing file you may see on the gallery under: 

Nighttime photographs when taken with slightly bit of sunshine had been surprisingly good with the principle 50 MP digicam, whereas ultra-wide photographs at midnight suffered a bit by way of colours and stage of element. 

Lastly, selfies turned out high quality, with out smoothing pores and skin tones excessively, and with lifelike colours. Portrait mode in each regular and wide-angle modes labored nicely, with good separation between topic and background, with the same old strands of hair posing slightly little bit of a problem for the impact.

Samsung Galaxy A54 battery

The noticeable enhancements in efficiency utilizing the identical manufacturing course of because the Exynos 1280 on the Galaxy A53 elevate an vital query: Has the battery life decreased within the A54? The reply just isn’t fairly.
The 2023’s Samsung mid-ranger gives strong vitality effectivity, on par to its predecessor, however underneath the specter of a brand new era of intermediate processors. 

Professionals:

• A full cost can final two days of normal use.

Cons:

• 25-watt charging just isn’t quick.
• No charger within the field.
• No wi-fi charging.
• The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 as soon as once more beats the Exynos 1380.

Within the artificial PCMark take a look at, the Galaxy A54 was overwhelmed by the lately retested Galaxy A53 by a noticeable 48 minutes margin. Regardless of the distinction, nonetheless, you will need to take into account the higher efficiency in Samsung’s 2023 mid-ranger.

Charging instances, alternatively, had been just about the identical as within the Galaxy A53, which isn’t a shock contemplating the same battery capability and most 25 W charging on the A54. When in comparison with its Chinese language rivals, there is no such thing as a deying that Samsung has a number of catch as much as do, not solely due to their quicker charging instances but in addition on the improved effectivity on Qualcomm’s and MediaTek’s 2023 SoCs.

In follow, throughout a brief weekend journey, the Galaxy A54 managed to supply a strong two-day battery life, with some GPS, messages, a number of photographs, and light-weight social media and streaming consumption. For higher endurance, you may at all times cut back energy consumption by turning off 5G and excessive refresh charges. 

Samsung Galaxy A54 technical specs

Closing verdict