Samsung Galaxy A54 Review.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a mid-range smartphone that strikes a balance between affordability and impressive features. Boasting a sleek design and a vibrant display, the A54 offers a modern and visually appealing device for users on a budget.

Despite its mid-range cost, the A54 5G does boast some features usually seen on high-end models; however, the old adage still applies: you get what you pay for. Without a doubt, the standout of the Galaxy A54 5G is its fantastic, sizeable screen.

When it comes to mid-range phones, the A54 has everything you need from a large 6.4-inch display to exceptional battery life, a strong construction that can handle water and dust, and a service policy that promises five years of security updates. If you take a closer look at its features, you can almost mistake it for a high-end phone that costs a thousand dollars. Almost.

Construction and Display of the Samsung Galaxy A54

Regarding build quality, the Galaxy A54 has resilient glass on its front and rear, whereas other mid-range phones such as the Google Pixel 6A typically utilize composite plastic. The exterior frame of the A54 is plastic, which might not be as luxurious as the aluminum frames on other models like the S23 or Pixel 6A, and the A54 is chunkier as well. Although not as sleek, the A54 has an IP67 rating, granting it dust resistance and some protection from being submerged in water.

The A54’s screen is certainly something to be impressed by. It offers a larger 6.4-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the Pixel 6A’s 6.1-inch OLED and its standard 60Hz refresh rate. This faster refresh rate makes the A54 feel more high-end than it is. Scrolling is made simpler thanks to the smooth transition. Furthermore, it can reach 1000 nits in bright outdoor light, making the text on the display more visible even in direct sunlight. This is slightly less than the brightness of the S23 Plus, but it still works well.

The battery and processor of the Samsung Galaxy A54

The A54 has a massive 5,000mAh cell, making it one of the biggest battery capacities you’ll find on any smartphone these days. Its battery stamina is good, though not extraordinary like devices like the Moto G Power. The A54’s power-hungry screen necessitates this large battery in order to keep up. It can charge up to 25W with the right wired charger (sold separately) and unfortunately does not have wireless charging capabilities, which is still not prevalent in the mid-range smartphone class.

I tested the battery by enabling the always-on display and keeping the refresh rate at the highest setting. Even with a full day’s use of data-connected mobile gaming, Google Maps navigation, and browsing the internet, the battery lasted until nightfall with a few single digits left. On a less demanding day, the A54 still had an impressive 50% remaining at the end of the day.

The Galaxy A54 5G sports a huge 5,000mAh battery, however, its performance is only mediocre due to a power-consuming display.

The A54 5G has 128GB of memory, enough to satisfy the majority of users, as well as 6GB of RAM that prevents applications from running in the background and allows efficient multitasking. The Exynos 1380 chipset can handle graphically demanding games such as Genshin Impact, though there may be slight stuttering. For lighter games such as Pocket City 2, the A54 5G is more than adequate.

Samsung Galaxy A54’s Camera

The A54 has an optical stabilisation feature included with its primary camera, enabling the device to take better quality images in low light settings.

My expectations for the Galaxy A54 have been exceeded, although the camera is quite average. It features a 50-megapixel F/1.8 main rear camera with optical stabilization, similar to that of the S23 and S23 Plus. This stabilization helps the camera to capture clearer images in dimmer conditions with longer shutter speeds. The A54 also has a 32-megapixel front camera of moderate quality, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide which is satisfactory, and a largely pointless 5-megapixel macro.

When I tried to use the A54’s camera system in challenging conditions, it did not perform optimally. Compared to the S23 Plus, portrait mode had difficulty keeping focus on the subject in moderate lighting and the subject isolation wasn’t as good.

When not in portrait mode, you can use night mode for dim lighting. However, if your subject is active, it can be difficult to get a sharp photo. The camera has trouble shooting at a speed faster than 1/20th of a second, which isn’t fast enough for living beings. It’s a tough task for most phone cameras to capture a clear image of children or pets in movement, so it’s understandable.

If you prioritise creature comforts, the Galaxy A54 is the best option in this affordability bracket. It offers a large screen with a speedy refresh rate and a rear glass panel. On the other hand, if you value photography above all else I will advise you to seek other options. It is still unmatched in the midrange class as it delivers superior low light performance. Although the S23 Plus is more expensive, it offers better camera processing and a sturdier design, yet the advantages may not be as pronounced as one might expect.

The A54 is a great phone, boasting an impressive screen, dependable performance, and an IP67 rating with strong support. The A54 can still provide a great experience, unless you’re primarily interested in camera quality. It even has a touch of class.