By now, you likely know that your Galaxy A54 is no longer the newest kid on the block. Samsung announced the Galaxy A55 yesterday, and we don't need to tell you that the newer model brings some improvements over your A54. That's a given from any yearly upgrade. But what are those improvements, exactly? And are they enough for you to ditch the Galaxy A54 for the newer A55?
Right off the bat, the biggest upgrade introduced by the Galaxy A55 is arguably the newer Exynos 1480 chip and extra RAM options. If you've used the Galaxy A54 since launch, you probably know better than anyone that the UI stuttered sometimes and performance wasn't always smooth. However, things got better as Samsung continued optimizing the Exynos 1380 chip.
That's all in the past now, and the Galaxy A55 comes with a new Exynos chip, which might just be powerful enough (and paired with enough RAM) not to be a cause of concern regarding general performance.
More RAM than the base Galaxy S24 and a 4nm chip with an AMD GPU
You read that right. While there is a chance that your Galaxy A54 has 4GB of RAM, or, if not, 6GB or 8GB, the new Galaxy A55 offers 8GB minimum plus a 12GB option.
Meanwhile, Samsung's new Exynos 1480 chip is the first mid-range solution with a GPU based on the AMD RDNA architecture. It was built on a 4nm node, similar to the flagship-grade Exynos 2400, and early benchmark figures are indeed very promising, not just for A5x users but the entire Exynos chip legacy.
Needless to say, if you're unsatisfied with the way your Galaxy A54 performs, the Galaxy A55 might be your answer and a logical step up. However, we'll have to test the device ourselves to be sure. We're preparing a review as we speak.
Bigger screen and better build quality
Another change you might notice coming from the Galaxy A54 is that the newer A55 has a slightly larger 6.6-inch screen instead of a 6.4-inch panel. This also increases the phone's overall dimensions slightly and contributes to a bit of weight gain. The new model tips the scale at 213 grams instead of 202g.
Whether the A55 fits better in one's palm is subjective. Nonetheless, the new model offers a bigger screen, which generally is viewed as an improvement.
In addition to the bigger screen and the Key Island design, with which you're probably already familiar thanks to leaks, Samsung also gave the Galaxy A55 better materials.
Your Galaxy A54 has a plastic frame sandwiched by two Gorilla Glass 5 panels. That glass sandwich design was a big deal last year, but Samsung gave the Galaxy A55 Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection at the front and back. And the pièce de résistance: the Galaxy A55 is the first in its series to boast an aluminum frame.
On a final note, Samsung also improved the camera slightly, if not through megapixels, then through better optimization and processing. For instance, the Galaxy A55 features Super HDR video recording capabilities, which could help you capture videos with better dynamic range.
Should you trade your Galaxy A54 for the newer Galaxy A55? Well, if you find a good trade-in deal and the exchange costs you pocket-change, we don't see why you wouldn't want to upgrade to the A55. It is a superior phone.
Unfortunately, that's not the reality most of us live in. Trade-in deals are not ideal in many markets, and the A55 just might not be worth the trouble. It depends on how easily and cheaply you can transition from the Galaxy A54 to the A55 in your market.
But to answer at least part of the question, yes, the Galaxy A55 has your A54 beat in a few key areas, and the Exynos 1480 SoC paired with more RAM might be worth it. On the other hand, if you own the Galaxy A54 and don't want to upgrade, your phone should still feel fresh and competent enough to stay relevant in a post-A55 world, at least for the foreseeable future.
Benchmark chart credit: GizChina
