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Yes, the megapixel count has dropped from 64MP to 50MP with the Galaxy A54, but it’s worth noting that it’s a completely new camera with a larger sensor, larger pixel size (0.8um to 1um, or 2um if you pixel-bin) and an enhanced OIS. New design changes aside, it’s very much business as usual for the Galaxy A54, sporting a power button and volume controls on the right, a USB-C port on the bottom and a combined SIM and microSD card tray. The latter is a nice touch, allowing you to expand storage by up to 1TB if required – I wish it was a feature of the flagship S23 range too. This delivers a solid performance improvement. Single-core speed is mostly unchanged but, in the Geekbench 5 multicore test, the A54 5G proved to be 43% faster than the previous generation. That’s about the same as the Nothing Phone (1), but the iPhone SE’s A15 Bonic continues to outperform everything else at this price.
The ultrawide camera proved useful in some instances but I found its detail capture, especially in low light, wasn’t great. The macro camera can grab decent close-up shots in a pinch but, again, it does require a lot of natural light to produce passable images. Battery : Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Battery life is also a little hit-and-miss. As long as you’re not using the phone too often it should last, but even a 5000mAh battery can’t always provide comfortable all-day battery life if you’re really putting the phone to the test. Combined with slow 25W charging, there’s still a lot to be done here. Gaming performance is on the up as well, although the improvement here isn’t quite as dramatic. In the onscreen portion of the GFXBench Manhattan 3 benchmark, this year’s model achieved an average frame rate of 70fps, compared to just 57fps last year. Galaxy A54 5G is rated as IP67. Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time.The main 50MP camera is another key upgrade for this year’s model, further improving performance in both well-lit and low-light conditions with plenty of light and detail on offer for the price tag. Estimated against the usage profile of an average/typical user. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2021.12.08–12.20 in USA and UK with pre-release versions of SM-S901, SM-S906, SM-S908 under default setting using 5G Sub6 networks (NOT tested under 5G mmWave network). Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Unlike the Galaxy A34 which has ditched Samsung’s own processor for a MediaTek equivalent, Samsung’s Galaxy A54 sports an upgraded Exynos 1380 chipset – the latest one in the company’s roster having been revealed just a few weeks prior to the phone’s announcement. That translates to pretty decent image capture in my experience – in well-lit conditions, anyway. Daylight images have plenty of detail and the colours pop, though they’re slightly more vivid than real life in true Samsung fashion. Still, it makes for vibrant shots most of the time, perfect for sharing on social media. The 6.4-inch AMOLED panel sports an ‘Infinity O’ design that, to you and I, simply means it has a single hole-punch camera cutout in the middle of the display. It’s the easiest way to tell the difference between it and the Galaxy A34 with its ‘Infinity U’ design.
Flip the phone over and you’ll find a 32MP hole-punch selfie camera embedded into the top of the display that’s more than enough for selfies and video calls, but as you might expect, most photography should be left to the rear lenses. Performance The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a decent all-rounder with a hint of a truly premium build thanks to a glass rear and an updated design that brings it pretty close to the flagship Galaxy S23 range. IP67 support, in particular, is notable at this price point. The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G has had quite the upgrade in the design department compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A53 5G, though you might not notice it by looking at it front-on.
Despite the price increase, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is an impressive mid-range phone and an affordable alternative to the Galaxy S23
The display is dynamic, dropping between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on what you’re doing, though you can also force a 120Hz refresh rate at the expense of battery life. It won’t drop down to a battery-saving 1Hz, but what mid-range phone does?
The sensor is physically larger than the one used on the A53 5G; now measuring 1/1.56in, the pixels are bigger – up from 0.8µm to 1.0µm. And optical image stabilisation (OIS) has been improved, too.As the name suggests, 5G support is carried over from the previous model and it’s joined here by compatibility with Wi-Fi 6. Finally, unlike the S23 series, there’s space for a microSD card, or you can add a second nano-SIM in the same slot if you prefer. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G review: Display The rest of the camera suite is carried over from the A53 5G, with a 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide module sitting above the main camera and a 5MP macro shooter below it. Given that the A53 5G was such a success, it makes sense that the overall design of the A54 5G isn’t all that different, although some small tweaks have been applied here and there. The display is coated in a protective layer of Gorilla Glass 5, as is the rear panel, to prevent scuffs and scratches and, on the weather-proofing front, the Galaxy A54 5G is rated to IP67, certifying it as dustproof and able to withstand being dunked in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. The A34 5G announced alongside the A54 5G is similar in build but has a matte rear panel, which looks a little more attractive in my eyes, despite being the cheaper phone.
The camera setup, at least where the main lens is concerned, looks like a downgrade – on paper, that is. At least there are some stunning colour options available to jazz up the simplistic design, coming in particularly vibrant shades of Lime and Violet, along with a more muted Graphite and Silver. The lime green finish is a personal favourite of mine, with a vivid flash of colour that looks gorgeous in real life. Overall quality is spectacular for the money. I no longer have the previous A53 for comparison but I was impressed with the amount of detail the main camera was capable of capturing, and the richness of the colours, especially with outdoor scenes captured in daylight.Complete with a refined design, 5G performance and pro-grade camera, Galaxy A54 5G delivers all you need to live life to the fullest.
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