Test of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: a very good value for money

To seduce those who cannot crack for the Galaxy S23/S23+/S23 Ultra, Samsung has decided to offer similar lines to its mid -range. Like the Galaxy A14 and Galaxy A34, the Galaxy A54 5G has a fairly similar look with its photo sensors aligned vertically aligned and directly embedded in the smooth back in colored glass (lemon green, lavender, white or black). It is quite elegant and the rounded plastic contours like brushed aluminum add to this feeling of premium finishes. Despite a 6.4 -inch screen and fairly visible edges, the Galaxy A54 holds well in hand and displays a well -balanced template, without being too imposing (15.8 cm high and 7.67 cm wide for 8.2 mm thick).

I buy, I don’t buy? Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: a bestseller announced at less than 500 euros

After a successful Galaxy A53, Samsung returns with its 2023 version, the Galaxy A54 5G that it hopes as much covered with laurels. A little more expensive than his elder, he nevertheless has serious assets to remain the king of the mid -range.

For several years, Samsung has invested the mid -range with products directly inspired by its premium models essentially, but capable of concessions to hold a tighter price. The Galaxy A54 5G is no exception to the rule and once again tries to maintain the standing of the South Korean in this coveted market. To get a price on a little on the rise (from 499 euros, 40 euros more than the Galaxy A53), Samsung gives it some significant assets in the screen, design and performance level, or Still 5G compatibility (with the added bonus of supporting WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3). Is it enough to stay the king at less than 500 euros? We tested it for several weeks to check.

Its advantages

A design reminiscent of the Galaxy S23

To seduce those who cannot crack for the Galaxy S23/S23+/S23 Ultra, Samsung has decided to offer similar lines to its mid -range. Like the Galaxy A14 and Galaxy A34, the Galaxy A54 5G has a fairly similar look with its photo sensors aligned vertically aligned and directly embedded in the smooth back in colored glass (lemon green, lavender, white or black). It is quite elegant and the rounded plastic contours like brushed aluminum add to this feeling of premium finishes. Despite a 6.4 -inch screen and fairly visible edges, the Galaxy A54 holds well in hand and displays a well -balanced template, without being too imposing (15.8 cm high and 7.67 cm wide for 8.2 mm thick).

Two little things to know: it is not light, even if its weight is well distributed (202 g), and its glass back will very much like your finger fingerprints. But the whole is sober and effective, the pimples fall well under the fingers, just like the rather reactive fingerprint reader under the screen. And it can accommodate two SIM in the top drawer or a SIM card and a microSD card to add up to 1 TB of storage to the 128 or 256 GB already present.

The flamboyant screen

Whether to play, consult applications, watch photos or videos, read your emails or navigate the Internet, the Galaxy A54 screen is of excellent quality. It has an Amoled Full HD+ 6.4 -inch AMOLED panel (a little smaller than that of the 6.5 inch Galaxy A53), with a 120 Hz refresh rate (Variable at 60 Hz if necessary).

Strong point of Samsung for a long time, the screen has not disappointed and is rather premium for mid -range. It is very bright in all circumstances (peak at 1000 cd/m² announced), especially in full sun. Remember to go in the settings to deactivate lively mode and go natural if you find the colors too pets.

The honest photo, but ..

If its predecessor sported four sensors on the back, the galaxy A54 the more humble cheek by being content with three: main sensor of 50 mpx (against 64 Mpx previously), ultra large-angle of 12 Mpx and 5 MP macro. The photos with the main sensor are quite beautiful and detailed, lively and realistic in terms of colors. We can also find them a chouille pulling a little too much towards blue and the device has an annoying tendency to be much more flattering with reality by giving a light stroke sometimes a little extreme when the sky is rather gray.

The photos of the Ultra Grand Angle are rather beautiful, but not extremely clear. The macro mode is not terrible and, as very often, not very useful, even by approaching a lot. If this is your photographic priority, this is not the smartphone you need.

The Galaxy A54 is very good for making standard quality photo, but it lacks a bit of versatility. The often acclaimed portrait mode does not come too bad with successful background blunders that put the subject much further forward. But we are far from the renderings of photophones or smartphones a little more expensive.

At night, the prowess of the newcomer are rather honest. The photo in low light tends to capture a lot of light and the algorithm, to make it a little too lit photo, even in the dark, making it lose a little of its composition and its real warmth. It’s a bit lifeless or even vague. With the 50 Mpx mode (to be found in the camera settings, it is not automatic), we do not get a better result.

Selfies thanks to the 32 MP facade sensor are honest, but on the condition of being in a rather bright or well -lit environment. Otherwise, even the help of AI to embellish the rendering, will not be enough to make it your next high -flying identity photo. The blur can be adjusted to be a little more natural.

The Galaxy A54 5G films up to 4K/30 Images per second.

Power and fluidity worthy of the high -end

Mid -range Mid -range, the Galaxy A54 obviously does not rely on the last Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 like the Galaxy S23, but on the (very likely) last chip designed internally, the exynos 1380 (with 8 GB of RAM). It is more than enough for this type of smartphone and responds to all requests, supports the mobile game and the photo. Admittedly, it is the bare minimum for the device, but it does it well.

We will find more bicycle and efficient fleas at Xiaomi or Google with the 6a pixel. Its main asset is to make a perfectly rotate one UI 5, the Samsung interface based on Android 13. It is fluid, easy to take in hand and quite intuitive with interesting small house additions (work mode, sleep, cinema or other so as not to be disturbed, routines to be configured, widgets, multifenêtres, etc.)).

Our reserves

The charge not very fast and the passable autonomy

Samsung has put a 5000 mAh battery in its Galaxy A54 5G. A capacity which has become standard, but which always depends on its optimization and its quality of charge. The manufacturer limited it to 25 W and it is felt. It takes between 1:20 and 1:30 to reload it completely (we had recovered 50% autonomy in less than 30 minutes). In addition, it does not offer a wireless load or even a charger in the box when others are still asking for it, especially on the mid -range. On the autonomy side, it is average with a good day, or even a little more if you are not a big user.

A smartphone that heats up

Be careful if you are a follower of Fortnite or Gershin Impact, or any other game that will request the performance of the device. It tends to heat quickly and your fingers will feel it quickly. The screen also with a few freezes observed.

No jack

To want to do like its high -end, Samsung has removed an element that often makes strength and decision in consumer purchases on this price segment: the jack for wired headphones. Admittedly, the Galaxy A54 benefits from an excellent Bluetooth 5 connection.3, but if you still have headphones with wire, you will not be able to use them with this smartphone, unless you have a USB-C/Jack adapter. Obviously in addition.

Conclusion

Once again, the Samsung Galaxy A5X range is a great success. The Galaxy A54 5G is undoubtedly very high on the list of smartphones to be put in all hands if you are not looking for premium and advanced photos in photo or other. It does more than properly work in all areas.

Nevertheless, in the very competitive segment of the mid -range, if it is faced with the game, you should also know that there will be small dealerships to stay at this price. The Amoled screen is of very good quality, the correct autonomy, the photo also for the all-year-old and basic photos. But if you are starting to want to take the macro photo or enjoy an effective ultra-angle, it will be better to turn to the Oppo Reno 8 or the Costaud Motorola Edge 30. But, compared to other serious competitors, he has for him to see far with four years of updates of Android and five years of security updates assured. Good, for a long time.

Test of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: a very good value for money

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G thus takes over from its predecessor A53 released last year. It adopts a revised design to harmonize with the Galaxy S with more premium finishes but also components obviously more efficient. It remains to be seen whether these advantages are sufficient to chase its elder from its place and find its own in an increasingly congested segment.

A smartphone that plays elegance

At Samsung, a mid -range mobile does not mean a cheap look. The South Korean has therefore abandoned the all plastic shell of the A53 to move on to A much more elegant glass covering which immediately gives it a very appreciable neat appearance. Disadvantage: it easily hangs fingerprints and is quite slippery when grabbing the smartphone with wet hand. For this test, we have received the Lime model (which in reality is closer to anise green than lime). An original color that brings a welcome touch of freshness. Always on the back, the three photo modules (there were four on the A53 from last year) pile up as on Galaxy S23, Without a block to support their presence.

On the right edge, all the buttons come together when the upper edge offers the SIM card drawer accepting, in a second location, a microSD card. Small bonus: the A54 5G is ESIM compatible. A rare function in this price range. The lower edge welcomes the USB-C port, The microphones and the speaker grid. No mini-jack port. We will have to turn to the Bluetooth 5.3 To connect headphones or headphones.

In front, The 6.4 -inch Amoled screen (or 0.1 inch less than its elder) occupies a beautiful space leaving only fine borders on the sides. He is pounded at the top to make room for the front camera. Finally, note that the A54 adopts A more compact template that his predecessor but that he has gained a little weight: 13 g more. He benefits from a certification IP67 which indicates resistance to dust and immersion in the water by a meter from the bottom for thirty minutes. A very pleasant mobile in hand that we take pleasure in drawing and manipulating.

A bright and well calibrated screen

No surprise with this Samsung screen. The Amoled Full HD+ slab (2340 x 1080 pixels) provides excellent results. The brightness is at the top and perfect for the content displayed to remain readable even in direct sunlight. Samsung thus announces 1000 Nits, which, for a device in this range is quite remarkable.

However, as usual, to obtain colors which, of course, flatter the retina a little less, but are close to reality, it will be necessary to switch live mode, activated by default, naturally, much more convincing. An operation that takes place in the system settings with, of course to adjust the color temperature yourself according to tastes. The slab benefits from an automatic adaptive refresh passing from 60 Hz to 120 Hz as required. As for the fingerprint sensor, it is also under the screen that it must be found. He shows himself very responsive, Just like facial recognition, always appreciable.

A good playmate

On the Galaxy S range, Samsung has abandoned its Exynos homemade chips for the benefit of the much more efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon. To animate this smartphone, the Korean prefers to stay on his land by adopting an advanced version of his Exynos 1280 SoC for… 1380. A smooth update for this processor always engraved in 5 nm but which is accompanied a small increase in performance. In daily uses, this results in Excellent fluidity and very good flexibility when it comes to juggling between the various open applications.

Antutu, Geekbench, 3D Mark and PC Mark

We obtain Performance very close to what a 6a pixel can provide Equipped with the first generation of Google Tensor chip. And it’s pretty appreciable. The 8 GB of RAM that supports the homemade SoC are also comfortable for those who forget to close most of the applications they use.

The processor backed A Mali G68 MP5 graphics chip is remarkably doing well also when it comes to playing. The smartphone does not suffer too much slowdowns and managed to keep a very correct FPS rate to play in good conditions. Beware, however, to the heating. When it is strongly requested, heat dissipation takes place a little less well. Nothing very worrying, however.

Software always as rich and pleasant

This A54 5G operates under Android 13 coated with the ONE UI 5 House software overlay.1 Just like on the Galaxy S 2023 range. This offers many customization possibilities by allowing for example to adapt the colors of the interface to the wallpaper. The brand’s regulars will not be disoriented.

Only the dex function that allows you to enjoy an office once the smartphone has been connected to a monitor or a TV, is absent. Good point too, Samsung announces 4 years of Android update (that is to go to Android 17 !) and five years of security updates. This A54 5G is therefore obviously cut to last, and in this price range, it remains quite rare.

Day and night, photo is his thing

Where the A53 of last year embarked four photo modules, the A54 5G only has three. Exit the depth sensor, which is not very serious. The device thus has a main module equipped with an optical stabilizer (OIS) of 50 megapixels (against a 64 megapixel sensor before) with an opening to F/1.8, an ultra-wide (not stabilized) module of 12 megapixels f/2.2 and a macro module of 5 megapixels f/2.4. A comfortable trio to succeed in the vast majority of shots. However, a telephoto would have been welcome. On the front, it is a module of 32 megapixels f/2.2 selfie.

With the 50 megapixel high-angle sensor, which uses the now traditional Pixel Binning method to combine several pixels in one, we get 12.5 megapixel images. And the result is rather convincing. In broad daylight, the clichés present a good dive. The colors remain rather faithful, Samsung having moderate (and so much the better) his propensity for saturation.

A setting makes it possible to disengage this sensor so that the 50 megapixels are used. Tired, this mode does not bring in reality not much. If we gain a little in detail, the algorithms lose a little foot to the detriment of a good maintenance of the brightness. A mode to be used sparingly therefore and in very good light conditions since, when the darkness points its nose, it becomes less usable. At night, the main module also provides good results. The colors are there and the sharpness too. Be careful, however, with 2x digital zoom proposed on the screen which tends, in low light, to illuminate the scene more and make the colors less contrasting.

The ultra -wide angle module on its product Very satisfactory shots. The colorimetry is there and the distortion on the edges rather well mastered. What make very pleasant images to the eye.

At night, things change slightly. The colors may seem a little washed out and you lose in terms of detail as is often the case with this focal length.

Finally, Portrait mode is completely. Be careful not to push the bokeh effect too much (background blur) at the risk of distorting the scene. But the results are there, with a well -mastered subject cutting.

Remains the macro module which can be used occasionally. Here, no miracle for shots entered by hand up to a distance of 4 cm from the subject. The results remain very correct with a mastered bougé blur and good colorimetry.

Finally selfie side, It’s pretty clean provided you do not force too much on the bokeh which tends to smooth a little too much and eliminate too much details.

Correct autonomy but slow load

There are many competitors of Samsung (especially Chinese) who, failing to increase the capacity of the batteries, bet on the ultra fast load to refuel in the blink of an eye of the smartphone. The South Korean manufacturer obviously does not want to enter this race at Watt. The A54 5G therefore quietly sticks to a charge of 25 W (beware, the charger is not provided in the box). And do not rely on the wireless load. This coquetry is reserved for the Galaxy S range. So much so that to redo the full, you have to be patient.

With a 30 W charger, after 50 minutes of load, we recovered 54 % autonomy. To reach 100 %, 2h12 will have been necessary. Fortunately, the 5000 mAh battery (as it seems that it is today the norm in most smartphones) is pretty well. During our tests, we had 3:50 p.m To overcome it either a little less than the two days of autonomy announced by the manufacturer. Nevertheless, the A54 5G remains in the nails and allows, with classic use, to ensure quietly all day without going through the recharge box.

A point on competition

Announced at the cost of 499 €, The A54 5G is placed in frontal competition with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 pro+, exactly at the same price, and just launched by Chinese. But for this price, Samsung offers better finishes and especially better photo results. His other most formidable competitor is none other than the Google Pixel 6a (459 €) which turns out to him a remarkable photophone. As for those who have the galaxy A53 from last year and hesitate to evolve towards the 2023 model, they will find in this device a significant performance gain, superior photo services and the insurance of more extensive software updates. It may be insufficient to renew a smartphone of only one year, especially for a higher price. Unless you wait for the inevitable price drop.

Conclusion

We do not change a model that wins. And with the A54 5G, Samsung continues on its momentum with a well -finished mid -range device and above all very balanced. Incoming performance, a better mastered photo part, a sufficiently enduring battery and solid software monitoring, may be enough to motivate those who wish to renew their smartphone and offer a good model without breaking their pel. On the other hand for intensive use, gourmet in battery, rather slow recharging can refresh the ardor. It’s time that Samsung exceeds this 25 W barrier.

Read the full test

• Writing note

Test of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: a real rise

In this test of the Galaxy A54 5G, we will see if the new mid -range smartphone from Samsung manages to offer a sufficiently convincing experience to justify its price of 499 euros.

01net’s opinion.com

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

• + “Premium” design.
• + Beautiful 120 Hz AMOLED screen.
• + Finally convincing performances.
• + Good autonomy.
• + Beautiful day photos.
• + 4 years of major Android update.
• + IP67 certification.
• + Double SIM, ESIM and microSD compatible.

• – The Ultra-Grand-Angle at night module.
• – The macro module.
• – Always slow charge.
• – Heats a little more than the average.

Writing note

Technical sheet

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

System	Android 13
Processor	Samsung Exynos 1380
Size (diagonal)	6.4 “
Screen resolution	403 ppi

See the full file

After testing the Galaxy A14, then the Galaxy A34, we spent time with the most expensive model in the “A” range, the Galaxy A54 5G. Sold 40 euros more than the Galaxy A53 5G, it can boast of bringing a glass back in addition as well as ESIM compatibility. What other arguments does it have to highlight and what is it worth in the face of competition ? The answer in our Test of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G.

Using certain characteristics of more “premium” smartphones in the “S” range, this Galaxy A54 wants to offer good value for money by making some concessions to maintain its price located below 500 euros.

A very competitive price segment on which we find the Google Pixel 6a, the Nothing Phone (1), the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G or the Honor 70. Let us discover without further delay what the new mid -range of Samsung has in the belly.

The technical sheet of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

The Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy A53 lend themselves well to the games of the seven differences as the changes seem minimal, at least on paper. One eye on the technical characteristics makes it possible to find that the screen is slightly smaller on this model (6.4 against 6.5 inches) and that Samsung installed its new mid -range chip, the exynos 1380. The main camera module goes from 64 to 50 megapixels and the Bluetooth of version 5.1 to 5.3.

Galaxy A54 5G 8+128 GB at the best price basic price: € 499

Our opinion on the new “Premium” design

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G marks a real upmarket in terms of design. This is characterized by a Gorilla Glass 5 glass back, which changes from the plastic found on the A53. Add to that the three camera modules aligned vertically, and you will find it difficult to distinguish it from a Galaxy S23. Yes, the brilliant back marks a little fingerprints, but the latter will be more or less visible depending on the color you choose (lime, lavender, graphite or white).

This change of material, however, makes this new model to 202 g, against 189 g for its predecessor. An overweight that has not embarrassed us since the phone is compact enough to enjoy a good grip. The matt plastic slices contrast with the gloss of glass, while offering a good “grip” to facilitate the grip of the mobile.

To our great regret, the black borders around the screen are still not symmetrical. Thus, the “chin” on the lower part is thicker, but that remains a detail. The phone is certified IP67, which gives it a tightness to dust, but also to the water up to a meter deep for a few minutes.

The buttons dedicated to switching on and adjusting the volume are located on the right edge of the phone and fall perfectly under the thumb. On the upper part, we find the drawer which can accommodate up to two nanosim or one nanosim and a microSD card to extend the storage memory up to 1 to 1 to.

A screen of all beautiful

As we know, Samsung masters his subject when it comes to equipping his smartphones with a quality amoled screen. That said, the Galaxy A54 5G is not necessarily better than its competitors of the day. If like them he benefits from an infinite contrast and a 120 Hz refresh rate, Samsung is too strong on the colors.

Screen: the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G in the face of competition