Getting started with the Samsung Galaxy A54: a design inspired by the S23 and a refined technical sheet

After the formalization of the Galaxy S23 series, it’s time for Samsung’s more affordable smartphones, the Galaxy A. Like every year, they follow in the wake of the Galaxy A5x, which has effectively supplanted the Galaxy A7x, now forgotten in the world. ‘Hexagon.

This year, the Galaxy A54 is therefore responsible for succeeding the Galaxy A53, which is among the brand’s bestsellers in 2022. The South Korean intends to renew the experience using a smartphone in the continuity of its predecessor, but improves it by small well felt touches.

The heir to the Galaxy A53 is distinguished by a design inspired by the Galaxy S23. As expected, the Galaxy A54 includes three photo modules directly integrated into its back shell, instead of a prominent block. We can therefore easily confuse the A54 with an S23 or an S23+, especially since Samsung swapped the usual polycarbonate (plastic, therefore) for a glass back in 2023.

The set slightly exceeds 200 g, against 189 g for the A53, while the screen of its predecessor was a little larger. This is the price to pay for this more elegant material, available in several colors (lavender, lime, white and black) and which, glass requires, retains fingerprints.

Anyway, the aesthetic contract is fulfilled, the rounded edges of the smartphone being pleasant in hand, its fingerprint sensor still under the screen and the IP67 certification resolutely present.

A smaller and advertised brighter screen

We mentioned above the screen of the smartphone. When that of the A53 measured 6.5 inches, its successor sports a diagonal of 6.4 inches with thin borders. It has the merit of being based on Super Amoled technology, of displaying in Full HD + with a variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz.

We also retain a brightness announced at 1000 cd / m², or 200 cd / m² more than the Galaxy A53. We had for our part measured in the laboratory a maximum brightness of 823 cd / m² and can therefore hope that his younger brother will keep his promises. To the eye, in any case, the display of the smartphone is easily convincing.

Under the hood of this Galaxy A54 5G (the 5G mention could be omitted simply because no 4G version of the device is offered) sits the Exynos 1380 chip recently announced by the brand’s semiconductor division. Difficult at this stage to get a precise idea of ​​its performance, but it is clear that the manufacturer does not skimp on the RAM to seduce. Regardless of the version chosen (128 or 256 GB), the device is equipped with 8 GB of RAM. The power component being the one that convinced us the least on the Galaxy A53, equipped with an Exynos 1280, let’s hope that the graphics performance of the A54 will raise the bar. We note that the storage of the device is expandable through a microSD card.

Other elements should be noted. The smartphone retains the 5000 mAh battery and 25 W charge (wired only) of its predecessor, but gets a new 50 megapixel photo sensor (64 Mpx on the A53) flanked by stabilized optics (f/ 1.8). It is accompanied by a 12 Mpx (ultra wide-angle) module and a third 5 Mpx dedicated to macro. The terminal therefore loses the fourth (5 Mpx) that the A53 reserved for measuring depth. However, it retains the 32 Mpx selfie sensor crossed on the A53.

Two final, more discreet points are worth noting. The Galaxy A54 shares eSIM compatibility with the brand’s higher-end smartphones, which is of interest, especially for travelers, and contributes to its longevity. As such, like Generation A of 2022, it benefits from four years of OS updates and five years of security patches. It is also compatible with wifi 6, where the A53 was satisfied with wifi ac, and comes out under Android 13 with One UI 5.1.

More options and higher prices

The Galaxy A54, which therefore presents itself as a balanced mid-range smartphone and a little more polished in terms of design and connectivity than the Galaxy A53 of 2022, is undergoing a price increase, like the Galaxy S23. It is certainly limited to 30 €, but increases its price to 499 € for the 8/128 GB version, and to 549 € for its 8/256 GB version. An introductory offer, valid this March 15 until April 30, allows first-time buyers to benefit from a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2. The Galaxy A34 benefits from the same proposal.