Samsung Galaxy A54 test: good, but without panache

Samsung is following its usual annual calendar by launching the Galaxy A. After the Galaxy S23 in February, the Korean is therefore attacking the mid-range segment. In 2023, the Galaxy A family consists of the A14 (4G or 5G), the A34 5G and the A54 5G.

For several weeks, we swapped our Galaxy S23 for the Galaxy A54 5G, the most premium Galaxy A. What is it worth on a daily basis? Is the price increase compared to the A53 justified? Answer in our full test.

What we love about the Galaxy A54 5G

Its almost premium design (especially the lime green)

We often salute the work of designers on premium smartphones. But in recent years, manufacturers have also taken care of the lines of their more affordable models.

If Samsung took a long time to get started, it had to, pushed by Chinese competition, bring the aesthetic codes of the premium segment to its Galaxy A.

In recent years, the A50s have therefore been among the most elegant mid-range smartphones. Not surprisingly, the Galaxy A54 5G is part of a certain continuity.

All clad in glass, it comes in four colors: graphite, white, lavender and our favorite lime (test model). As always Samsung takes care of the finishes. Also, with the exception of the black borders surrounding the screen, the general aesthetics of the Galaxy A54 5G are perfectly illusory: we have the feeling of using a premium smartphone.

Moreover, Samsung explains that it wants to bring a certain homogeneity to all of its ranges. Thus, the A54 5G sees its photo lenses integrated directly into the chassis, like the Galaxy S23 launched earlier in the year.

What else ? Not much except la certification IP67 or the reduction in screen size (6.4” against 6.5” for the A53). Everything is there, everything is well done, everything is elegant. What more ?

Its eye-catching screen

The integration of the screen may not be perfect, the 6.4 ” Super AMOLED panel (compared to 6.5 ” for the A53) Full HD + 120 Hz hits the mark. Samsung confirms its know-how in the field of screens and offers here a panel of exceptional quality for a product at this price.

Beyond the contrasts and colorimetry (a bit saturated by default) the screen of the Galaxy A54 5G is distinguished by its excellent luminosity. With a light peak of more than 1000 cd/m2, it does even better than its already very convincing predecessor (around 800 cd/m2).

The Galaxy A54 5G is therefore a perfect smartphone for multimedia use. Watching videos or gaming in brightly lit environments is no problem.

We could quibble by noting a questionable calibration in Vivid mode (pulls too red). But this small defect is corrected in one click by switching to neutral mode in the display settings.

Its good performance and autonomy

While the Galaxy S23s feature the latest high-end chips from Qualcomm, the Galaxy A54 5G inherits an Exynos 1380 chipmade in Samsung.

This choice allows the manufacturer to reduce costs and therefore contain the final price. A strategy already applied last year with the A53 but which did not really convince.

Does the A54 5G do better? Yes ! Accompanied by 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of storage, the Exynos 1380 chip delivers enough power to meet 99% of needs.

Beyond the fluidity provided in everyday use, the Exynos 1380 is much more convincing with demanding applications.

Improved graphics performance is the main reason for this. When the A53 was dragging its feet (games, photo editing, video editing), the A54 5G walks around. We will only raise a tendency to heat up a bit about long gaming sessions.

What we find blah on the Galaxy A54 5G

The Uneven Camera

In the mid-range segment, manufacturers are playing on the accumulation of sensors, even if it means forgetting their usefulness. Samsung is no exception and decks out its Galaxy A54 5G with a trio of sensors that would have worked as well as a duo. See instead:

• a 50 Mpxl sensor with wide-angle lens (f/1.8) and optical stabilization
• a 12 Mpxl sensor with ultra-wide-angle lens (f/2.2)
• a 5 Mpxl sensor with macro lens (f/2.4)

Do you see us coming? Yes, we do consider the macro lens as a superfluous element in this camera module, so we would have preferred the integration of a telephoto lens, even medium.

Because this material choice has two flaws. First of all, the macro lens is useless so bad is the quality of the photos (blurry, dull).

Then, the integration of a telephoto lens would have made it possible to push the long distance shots further. Because with this arsenal, the Galaxy A54 5G will not be able to go further than a 2x zoom. Finally, it can of course, but the results are not sufficiently convincing beyond this threshold.

While we address the weak points of the camera, note the very average performance of the ultra wide-angle. The loss of detail compared to the wide-angle is obvious and the lack of dynamics is obvious, especially at the edges.

Finally, the Galaxy A54 struggles in low light, including with its main sensor. There is a lot of digital noise as well as poor management of light points.

Should we conclude that the Galaxy A54 is not a good photophone? Absolutely not. For most users, it gets the job done thanks to, among other things, the good performance of the main sensor in good light conditions. It produces good quality shots with flattering colors and very good sharpness. Optical stabilization also helps prevent camera shake.

The portrait mode is also very effective. The A54 detects faces very quickly and the bokeh is more natural than with the previous generation.

Finally, the 32 Mpxl front sensor will seduce selfie lovers (good sharpness, good exposure).

Note that the Galaxy A54 5G can shoot up to 4K at 30fps but without optical stabilization or autofocus. Enough to immortalize a few moments of life but not enough to hope to produce professional content.

Autonomy

© Lemon squeezer

In absolute terms, the autonomy of the Galaxy A54 5G is not bad. In this price range, the Samsung model is even a benchmark. But in the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

In other words, if we compare the performance of the A54 5G to the rest of the market, it is placed in the soft underbelly. With one day of autonomy in standard use, the A54 5G is far from the podium. It even performs less well than the A53 last year, to within a few tens of minutes.

We must therefore go through the recharge box every evening, even more so if we are one of the very connected users. A small disappointment, especially since the charging system is not very brilliant either.

What we didn’t like about the Galaxy A54 5G

Charging

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The fastest charging race? Too little for Samsung. Limited to 25W power (optional charger), wired charging of the Galaxy A54 5G is fast in name only. Count close to 1h30 to fully recharge the battery of 5,000 mAH, an eternity in 2023.

add to that the lack of wireless charging, technology yet inexpensive and integrated into many competing models. Above all, this absence is a task on a smartphone sold for 500 euros. The upscaling strategy has its limits.

The rising price

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Inflation having a decidedly good back, Samsung increases the price of its Galaxy A54. Admittedly, this new generation includes 8 GB of RAM (against 6 GB for the A53) but the price increase can reach 10%.

Count 499 euros for the 8/128 GB version against 459 euros for the Galaxy A53 (6/128 GB) last year. The 8/256 GB model goes to 549 euros against 519 euros last year. A more contained increase, but an increase nonetheless.

Care bears that we are, we would have liked the market leader to make an effort in this period of economic crisis, just to show the way to the rest of the market. An effort that would make sense insofar as the smartphone market has been collapsing every quarter since the start of 2022. Obviously in big tech, we prefer to lay off workers than to cut back a little on our margins.

Our opinion on the Galaxy A54 5G

Like the Galaxy S23, the Galaxy A54 does not mark an upheaval compared to the previous generation. Samsung is resting on its achievements while increasing the prices of one of its best-selling smartphones each year.

Technically, the Galaxy A54 is a good smartphone. Elegant and efficient, it is also distinguished by its magnificent screen and its effective camera in good light conditions.

Nevertheless, even if it means increasing the price, we would have liked Samsung to correct certain shortcomings of the previous generation, namely autonomy, speed of charging or photo quality in more difficult conditions. We could at least expect that in view of the 10% price increase.

Despite everything, there is no doubt that the Galaxy A54 will sell in pallets, Samsung can count on a very wide distribution network and interesting promotional offers.