
Galaxy A54 – Samsung is now making cheaper telephones worse to get individuals to spend extra on the Galaxy S23?
I will not lie Attempting to make sense of the mid-range telephone market in 2023 may be the toughest a part of writing about smartphones.
Some mid-range telephones attempt to offer you as a lot as potential; others offer you simply sufficient to make you cheerful, after which there’s the Samsung Galaxy A54, which is making an attempt to strike at stability. Nonetheless, what’s distinctive right here is that in contrast to Google and Nothing, for instance, Samsung has extra to realize and (you guessed it) extra to lose. What makes it much more difficult is that the maker of Galaxy produces an unbelievable variety of telephones yearly. In fact, amongst them is the Galaxy S sequence, which have to be taken into consideration when making the Galaxy A sequence: if mid-range telephones are too good, customers can have much less purpose to purchase a flagship. It is a balancing act that Samsung has been performing for years.
In truth, gross sales of the corporate’s most cost-effective telephones (particularly the cheaper Galaxy A54), really inform us that the South Korean model is doing a greater job within the price range phase – a bittersweet victory contemplating that the S-series flagships would convey extra revenue. margins however struggles to maneuver as many drives as Samsung would really like.
However to make issues extra difficult, even the brand new mid-range Galaxy telephones need to be higher than their predecessors and mid-range rivals from different manufacturers. And that is the place the brand new Galaxy A54 could discover itself in an existential disaster. Let’s have a look…
Extremely, the Galaxy A54 seems to be 4 years older than the Galaxy A51 – Samsung has some explaining to do…
The Galaxy A51 2019 on the left, the Galaxy A52 2021 within the heart and the model new Galaxy A54 on the best. We see a development of thicker show edges on newer telephones.
Now, earlier than you inform me concerning the iPhone SE down within the feedback (and by the best way, be happy to) and the way outdated is Apple’s mid-ranger, I am going to go forward and let you know this story is about Samsung. However to leap the gun, as dated because the iPhone SE seems to be in 2023, it not less than seems to be as outdated as its predecessor.
I point out it to make clear some extent. Absolutely, a brand new model of a telephone should not look any older than the… outdated one. You’re with me? However that is not the case with the Galaxy A54. To credit score Samsung, in contrast to the Galaxy A53, which used plastic, the again of the A54 seems to be product of glass, which is good if you’d like a premium really feel (not so good in case you drop your telephone and break it however that is one other story).
However then you definately flip the Galaxy A54 round and also you’re taking a look at a Displayscenario that is telling a barely completely different story. Once more, the display screen of the brand new Galaxy A54 must be barely brighter than its predecessor (that is nice) however then your eyes catch these huge, black, stunning show borders.
Regardless of having a bigger display screen, the Galaxy A51 2019 is extra compact, extra trendy wanting and 30g lighter than the Galaxy A54.
That stated, whereas I might argue that most individuals choose a brand new telephone by taking a look at it/holding it, aesthetic design is not all that issues to a telephone. And if that is the place you count on issues to go properly for the Galaxy A54, properly… you may be in for a shock.
Least expensive Galaxy A34 with MediaTek chip beats Galaxy A54 with Samsung’s Exynos in early real-world velocity exams

In a current real-world velocity take a look at, the $300 Galaxy A34 was quicker at opening apps than the Galaxy A54. Remaining rating? 9-20.
Now, apart from the design, there’s one other potential downside with the Galaxy A54
Certain, benchmarks from Samsung’s new Exynos 1380 are out now, and so they’re simply as disappointing as anticipated: Samsung has opted to go together with one other mid-range Exynos, and that is it. However what’s particularly superb right here is the primary real-world velocity take a look at I’ve come throughout, which (once more) tells a special story. One other story the place the Galaxy A54 would not appear to come back out a winner over a less expensive Samsung telephone.
As you may see on YouTube velocity take a look at between the Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy A34 executed by Vy Vo Xuan, the brand new $ 300 Galaxy A34 appears to open apps quicker than the costlier Galaxy A54. Why? Effectively, since each telephones run precisely the identical software program and include the identical quantity of RAM (6/8GB), the plain differentiator must be the processor.
Whereas the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 used within the Galaxy A34 and the Exynos 1380 within the Galaxy A54 are about on par in keeping with benchmarks, the cheaper telephone seems to be snappier.
Clearly, for individuals within the US, this would not do it Actually it issues, because the Galaxy A34 should not be launched there within the first place, however that may’t be an excuse. The Galaxy A54 is just about the one mid-range Samsung telephone offered within the US, which must be only one purpose to make it one of the best it may be. Proper?
Galaxy A54: An awesome $450 package deal however Google’s Pixel flagships will eat the Samsung telephone for breakfast (Pixel 7a is nearly there now)

Would you purchase a Pixel as an alternative of the Galaxy A54?
So, sure, the Galaxy A54 stays probably the most engaging mid-range telephones on the worldwide scene, however in contrast to earlier years (I am referring particularly to the Snapdragon-powered Galaxy A52s), a big a part of the attraction is that the A54 goes to be offered. in additional areas of the world than competing gadgets – availability issues. A component from that:
- Galaxy A54 guarantees a brighter show than the Galaxy A53
- Galaxy A54 affords a brand new, bigger essential digicam sensor, which ought to assist with photographs and movies at evening
- Galaxy A54 affords 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of safety patches, which is an efficient purpose to decide on it over a greater spec Chinese language telephone
Nonetheless, if the supply stars align for you, the Galaxy A54 is about to face a number of the hardest competitors but from Samsung within the mid-range telephone phase.
Even when you do not have an additional $70 to spare or shopping for refurbished is not for you, then pending it could possibly be your greatest good friend and Samsung’s largest enemy. It is because the Google Pixel 7a (now leaking all over the place) is knocking on the door. With a flagship Tensor G2 chip, alleged wi-fi charging and savvy digicam magic from Google, the Pixel 7a is shaping as much as be all the things the Galaxy A54 desires to be however cannot.
All the things All over the place All the things at As soon as Goes Incorrect with Samsung Mid-Vary Telephones: How Far (Again) Will Samsung Go?

It is getting more durable and more durable for Samsung to make “the right mid-range telephone” as the corporate additionally makes the flagship Galaxy S23 and needs individuals to purchase… extra. It is a difficult stability the place Samsung has quite a bit to lose. In contrast to Google, which does not even depend on promoting telephones to earn cash. It is what you may name “the right storm.
- The worldwide scarcity of chips
- The worldwide monetary disaster and inflation
- Tremendous aggressively priced Google Pixel telephones
- Apple’s unbelievable skill to promote outdated/refurbished iPhones
- And most significantly, the excessive bar that Samsung has set for itself in 2019
Clearly, Samsung would not wish to make worse telephones. Nonetheless, plainly the Galaxy A54 is the results of poor timing. Had the A54 been launched in (say) 2019, it will have been a success – properly, we do not know for certain, however it will have been way more spectacular, not less than. As a substitute, Samsung launched an amazing wanting mid-range telephone 4 years in the past that now makes the price range 2023 model of this telephone appear like a downgrade (from a beauty standpoint).
The aggressive competitors from the mid-range phase of Google, oneplus, Xiaomi and even Nothing, it would not assist Samsung’s case both. And regardless of all that, if a superb mid-range Samsung telephone is what you are after, the A54 may nonetheless be one of the best (and perhaps even the one) possibility for a few of you! For those who have a look at it in isolation, you continue to know: an amazing package deal.
Is it ok for you? I might await our full overview to search out out. Keep tuned!

