Samsung Galaxy A54 vs Galaxy A53: Is the new model worth buying?

Design

Design is subjective, and I personally feel the Galaxy A54 looks a lot more premium than its predecessor. Not just the looks, the Galaxy A54 also features a glass sandwich design (glass on the front and back), which is a huge improvement over the Galaxy A53 with a plastic back panel. Both phones have an IP67 rating and are water and dust resistant. Despite being a smaller device, the Galaxy A54 is slightly heavier at 202 grams. However, the device has a good weight balance and doesn’t feel heavy at all.

The Galaxy A54 has a slightly thicker bottom chin when compared to the Galaxy A53 (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar / Indian Express)

Display

Again, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has a better but smaller screen. It has a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with 1000nits of peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy A53 has a slightly large 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with 800nits of peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate. However, the dated Galaxy A53 seems to have thinner bezels around the display, which makes it look more premium when compared to the Galaxy A54.

Processing and performance

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is based on the new Exynos 1380 SoC, which scores over 5 lakhs on AnTuTu, whereas the Galaxy A53 is based on the Exynos 1280 SoC, which scores around 3.8 lakh points on AnTuTu. In terms of hardware capabilities, the Galaxy A54 is at least 30 per cent faster than the Galaxy A53. On top of that, the Galaxy A54 also comes with faster UFS 3.1 storage, hence, the device will offer faster boot speed and drastic reduction in app downloads and app opening time.

Galaxy A54’s triple camera setup consists of a 50MP primary shooter with OIS, 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP macro camera (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar / Indian Express)

Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy A54 has a triple camera setup at the back with a 50MP primary camera, 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 5MP macro lens. Whereas the Galaxy A53 has a quad-camera setup with a 64MP primary camera, 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. While the A53 has an extra camera, the Galaxy A54 clearly has a camera setup that offers better pictures, especially in low-light situations.

Software experience

The Samsung Galaxy A54 ships with Android 13-based OneUI 5.1 and the Galaxy A53 is also eligible for the same update. However, the Galaxy A54 will get four major Android OS updates while the Galaxy A53 will only receive three more Android OS updates. Hence, the Galaxy A54 will get extended software support when compared to the Galaxy A53.

Battery

Both phones have a 5,000 mAh battery with support for up to 25W fast charging via the USB Type-C port and one needs to buy the charger separately with either of these phones. Due to the slightly smaller display and more efficient processor, the Galaxy A54 delivers slightly better battery life than the Galaxy A53.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 despite being a smaller device seems to deliver a more premium experience when compared to the A53. With the display, cameras, battery, and even performance, the Samsung Galaxy A54 seems like a much-needed upgrade and the improved build quality does make it look like a more premium smartphone in the mid-range segment with a starting price of Rs 38,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant while the Galaxy A53 now costs Rs 33,499 for the 8/128GB variant.