The Galaxy A54 is without a doubt a strong player in Samsung’s mid-range offering. However, the device lacks something special to be better than the competition.

Samsung knows only too well that the demand for affordable smartphones is great and has launched a double whammy with the Galaxy A54 and A34 in spring 2023. Shortly after its launch, we examined the first device and concluded that while the device has strengths, its weaknesses are difficult to hide. At the beginning of 2024 we will take another look at various smartphones between 350 and 500 euros and analyze the Samsung Galaxy A54 (369 euros including VAT) again in a fresh look.

A touch of S23

As we discovered in the summer, the Galaxy A54 adopts some external elements from its much more expensive cousin. The cameras are stacked just like the S23 and the back is also made of glass this time. This means that the Galaxy A54 looks significantly better than its predecessors with a plastic back. The compact design of the S23 is not carried over: with a weight of over 200 grams and a 6.4-inch display, it is a fairly robust smartphone.

Display: clear and bright

We can’t fault this display. The pure pixel fanatic will notice that the screen has fewer pixels than the A53, but achieves more pixels per inch due to the slightly smaller screen area. The OLED screen also displays colors clearly. The Galaxy A54 was also characterized by a high maximum screen brightness with peak values ​​of around 1000 cd/m²², in line with Samsung’s advertising. A maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz is good, but in the mid-range segment it is no longer the norm these days.

Bold choice of processor

Samsung has decided to install an Exynos processor from its own chip factories in the Galaxy A54. Of course, the manufacturer has to be able to sell it. We criticized Samsung for this in our original review. We are now changing this opinion somewhat, because a comparison with the CPU performance of direct competitors shows that the Exynos chip is not much worse than cheap Qualcomm and MediaTek processors. However, the Galaxy A54 cannot keep up with the OnePlus Nord 3 and the Google Pixel 7a.

Samsung relies on MediaTek for graphics work. The choice fell on the Mali-G68. It’s significantly less good than the Mali-G710 that’s in the Nord 3 and Pixel 7a. Samsung therefore has to give in here too. The Galaxy A54 may not be an ultimate powerhouse, but the internals are more than robust enough to withstand everyday use without any issues.

Slow loading

The Exynos processor seems to have one major disadvantage: it is not very energy efficient. The Galaxy A54 is at the bottom of the rankings in both the video and performance tests. Devices with a battery of the same size (or even smaller) and a different processor usually perform better.

Typically the battery gets through the end of the day without any problems, so we want to keep an eye on these numbers. We have less understanding of loading times. It takes almost half an hour until the battery is half full again, for eighty percent you can count on fifty minutes. Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola and Oppo show that it can be done significantly faster. Slow charging is a flaw that Samsung can’t fix. Google and Sony are preventing a total embarrassment.

Cameras

Samsung focuses on quality instead of quantity with the Galaxy A54. The depth sensor was cropped (no big loss) and the megapixel count of the main camera was also reduced to 50 MP. Don’t let this blind you: more pixels don’t always mean better photos. The images look sharp, but the cameras sometimes make mistakes when coloring them. For example, a red element is magnified very much compared to the green of the grass, which is then very pale. Photos taken at nightfall are blurry.

Generous with updates

We have a love-hate relationship with OneUI software. It is a well-organized software, but the presence of Samsung apps in addition to Google apps can be annoying. If you ask us, Bixby can’t leave soon enough. Samsung is also becoming increasingly pushy when it comes to creating an account.

When it comes to updates, Samsung has been setting a good example for years. Every device, whether expensive or inexpensive, receives four major software updates and five years of security updates. Many manufacturers in this price segment can learn something from this.

Conclusion: reliable without shine

Samsung has opted for reliability with the Galaxy A54. The performance of this device is consistently good and the support policy makes it a long-term purchase. There are no specifications that stand out in a positive sense, but nothing in a negative sense either (except for the slow charging). The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a great device for anyone who is happy with a good base. If you want additional decoration, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

This short test is part of our comparative mass test of mid-range cell phones between 350 and 500 euros. Click here for the other reviews.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is available in four colors: green, black, purple and white from 369 euros, including VAT.

Android Update Policy: Samsung guarantees that the Galaxy A54 will receive security updates for at least five years and OS updates for four years. This period begins with the launch on March 15, 2023 with Android 13.