Samsung’s new Galaxy A54 5G has rather a lot in widespread with its predecessor, however you would not guess simply by it. The Galaxy A54 5G, which prices $450 (£499, roughly converts to AU$915) and launches on April 6, brings a recent design, new processor and up to date digital camera to Samsung’s extra wallet-friendly telephone.
Based mostly on the transient period of time I spent with it, the brand new design seems to be the largest change. That may not matter a lot for those who plan to place a case in your gadget. However it suggests Samsung is doing extra to shut the hole between its premium and funds gadgets. That may very well be significantly necessary if Samsung desires to catch as much as Google’s Pixel 6A, which I stated could be the best-looking telephone in its worth vary in my assessment.
The Galaxy A54 5G’s new look
Richard Peterson/CNET
The Galaxy A54 5G has a brand new shiny end that makes it really feel extra premium than final yr’s Galaxy A53. The shiny again panel and matte edges remind me of the iPhone 11, and that is a superb factor.
You may additionally discover the digital camera bump is absent from the Galaxy A54 5G. Samsung changed it with a floating digital camera setup much like the one discovered on the Galaxy S23 lineup, giving it a extra clear and constant aesthetic. Seems to be aren’t a very powerful facet of a telephone, but it surely’s nonetheless nice to see a sub-$500 gadget that does not really feel low cost.
It virtually looks like Samsung is taking a web page from Google’s e book by way of design. The $450 Pixel 6A, which is basically a inexpensive model of the Pixel 6, additionally has a shiny end. And just like the Galaxy A54 5G, the Pixel 6A inherits a digital camera design that is much like its premium sibling.
The Galaxy A54 5G has a 6.4-inch display, making it barely smaller than the 6.5-inch Galaxy A53 5G. I’ve all the time felt this dimension makes for an important medium between the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23 and 6.6-inch Galaxy S23 Plus, and that continues to be true with the Galaxy A54.
Final yr’s Galaxy A53 5G (left) with the brand new Galaxy A54 5G.
Richard Peterson/CNET
By placing extra of a concentrate on the Galaxy A54’s appears to be like, Samsung addressed one in every of my greatest complaints concerning the Galaxy A53. I particularly stated there was nothing “new” or “attention-grabbing” concerning the Galaxy A53’s design, so I am glad to see that is modified this time round.
My different gripe concerning the Galaxy A53 was its typically sluggish efficiency. The Galaxy A54 5G runs on a more moderen processor known as the Exynos 1380, which is probably going the successor to the Exynos 1280 discovered contained in the Galaxy A53. I have never spent sufficient time with the Galaxy A54 5G to know whether or not this new chip brings important enhancements. However in my transient time with the gadget, efficiency appeared simply positive. Apps opened and closed rapidly, the digital camera launched virtually immediately and the keyboard popped up instantly.
Digital camera is the foremost distinction between the Galaxy A54 and S23
The Galaxy A54 5G has a triple-camera unit.
Richard Peterson/CNET
There are numerous variations between Samsung’s A-series funds gadgets and its premium S-series telephones. Nevertheless, the digital camera system continues to be the largest one. The Galaxy A54 5G has a 50-megapixel important digital camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera and 5-megapixel macro digital camera. There isn’t any telephoto digital camera, so the Galaxy A54 5G solely has a 10x digital zoom.
The Galaxy S23, then again, has a 50-megapixel important digital camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera and 10-megapixel telephoto digital camera. Whereas the principle and ultrawide cameras could sound comparable on paper, I would not be shocked to see some noticeable variations in picture high quality. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip contained in the S23 lineup, which has been optimized for Samsung’s Galaxy telephones, possible performs a notable position in the way in which images are processed.
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You may’t use Samsung’s Knowledgeable Uncooked app on the Galaxy A54 5G both, which could be necessary for pictures fanatics to think about. That stated, the Galaxy A54 5G’s digital camera setup is simply what you’d anticipate on a telephone of this worth. It even has far more to supply than the $429 iPhone SE, which solely has one 12-megapixel important digital camera with a 5x digital zoom.
General, the Galaxy A54 5G looks as if a promising choice for these in search of an Android telephone that prices lower than $500. However we’ll need to spend extra time testing it earlier than we all know whether or not it is value recommending.
Galaxy A54 5G vs. Galaxy A53 5G Specs
Galaxy A54 5G
Galaxy A53 5G
Show
6.4-inch FHD+; Tremendous AMOLED; 120Hz refresh price
6.5-inch FHD+; Tremendous AMOLED; 120Hz refresh price
Dimensions
158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm
74.8 x 159.6 x 8.1mm
Weight
202g
189g
Digital camera
50MP (important); 12MP (ultrawide); 5MP (macro)
64MP (important); 12MP (ultrawide); 5MP (depth); 5MP (macro)
Entrance Digital camera
32MP
32MP
Processor
Exynos 1380
Exynos 1280
Reminiscence and Storage
6GB RAM + 128GB
6GB RAM + 128GB
Expandable Storage
Sure (as much as 1TB)
Sure (As much as 1TB)
Battery
5,000 mAh
5,000 mAh
Software program (at launch)
Android 13
Android 12