We try before you buy: The Samsung Galaxy A54
Every few months it seems like a brand-new smartphone is released. While it might seem like a great opportunity to upgrade, your wallet is likely to disagree.
This is where the Samsung Galaxy A Series of phones come in. What is known as a 'mid tier' price point, these phones are made to be easier on the budget while giving you a chance to have access to all the features you'd want in a phone.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Surely there's a catch, right? You can't possibly expect a cheap phone to do everything you want – at least that's what I thought.
I have been saving since the release of the Samsung Galaxy S23 range in February, but the Samsung Galaxy A54
I was lucky enough to review the phone to see what it's really like before I charge it to my credit card.
Here's everything I learnt that you need to know:
Build
Out of all the phones in the Samsung Galaxy A4 range, the A54 is the smallest in the bunch coming in at 6.4 inches. Don't be alarmed by this fact, as the screen quality more than makes up for it.
It is made with a Super AMOLED display for high-quality resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. For those new to the tech world or struggle to get a grip on the lingo, a Hz (short for hertz) is how many times the screen refreshes the images projected per second. That means that the imagery on the A54 refreshes 120 times per second. This makes everything feel smoother and avoids lag.
In terms of memory, you'll have access to 6GB RAM as well as 128GB of storage. To top it off, the A54 is built with a premium rear glass finish, aluminium frame and floating cameras.
Using the phone
I'm a Samsung user through and through, so I am familiar with its interface and how they work. Essentially, the A54 looks and feels like any other Samsung phone – it has the same interface, controls, and general design. This certainly is not a bad thing, as the design provides the same functionality as more expensive Samsung phones in the Galaxy S and Galaxy Z range.
When you use the phone, you'll also quickly notice the haptic feedback. These are the vibrations you'll feel when pressing buttons or typing. These weren't too intrusive or annoying and I think it adds to the experience, especially when playing games. If this is something you dislike, it can easily be turned off in the settings.
Like most modern phones, the A54 does not come with a headphone jack, so to listen to music you'll either need wireless headphones or earbuds or play your music out loud. The latter isn't such a bad choice, as the phone is built with Dolby Atmos speakers.
And of course, you can expect the standard mobile phone functions like calling and texting.
READ MORE: Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy A Series
Camera quality
The A54 comes with four cameras: three on the back and one on the front. These cameras are a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 50MP main camera, 5MP macro camera, and a 32MP front camera.
These are fairly standard cameras you'll find on a modern mobile phone, but what makes them stand out is how the phone is intuitive in certain surroundings. For example, when I was using the camera and bringing the phone closer to an object, a pop-up came on my screen recommending I use the macro camera lens.
This phone knows how it will get the best quality and it all comes back to the quality of the cameras.
Camera features
There are a lot of features you can test out and explore on the A54 camera and gallery that will make a real impact on your photos and are a bit of fun too.
Autofocus and refocussing
If you're familiar with photography or using a digital camera, you'll know of the two main focus modes: manual and auto. The A54 uses autofocus that follows the subject in the photo and automatically refocusses if there is a change or movement. This makes for easy and simple snaps without fiddling with the settings.
It's also optimal when used for videos. To help shoot steady videos with clear visuals, the phone uses video digital image stabilisation (VDIS) to avoid shakiness and blur and remain focussed on the subject.
When I was using it, it did feel a little shaky before I started filming as the camera was constantly focussing and refocussing on where I was pointing. But once the photo or video was taken, it was clear and steady.
Photo remastering
Photo remastering is an AI-powered tool that can be used to make photos brighter and less blurry. It's really simple to use and not too technical to get the best results. Just move the slider from left to right on the screen and just like magic your photos will be enhanced.
When I was using this feature, I didn't find too much use for it, and didn't notice too much of a difference, but that speaks to the high standard of the cameras not too many snaps are blurry or overly bright or dull. If your lighting is a bit off, this will work well to add extra clarity to your photos.
Nightography
Found in most Samsung phones, nightography helps to take a brighter picture in darker settings. It works by broadening the pixel size to draw in more light from your surroundings to make the image lighter and brighter. This feature works well and just as described – not much jumps out but is a great option to have handy.
Object eraser
Is there anything worse than capturing the perfect image only to notice afterwards something in the background that you can't take your eye off? The A54 comes to the rescue with the object eraser.
This setting can be a bit tricky to use, but once you've tested it out and know what you want in your picture, you'll be good to go.
Fun mode
This feature is exactly what its title describes: fun! Before taking your photo, you have the option to enter fun mode. This will give you access to a range of different Snapchat filters.
Battery life
All models in the Samsung Galaxy A4 range boast a two-day battery life, equalling 21 hours of video playback.
My test: After 30 minutes of consistent use, I was in and out of apps, on social media, taking photos and watching videos the battery dropped by two per cent.
Privacy and Security
All modern Samsung mobile devices use the Samsung Knox Security System. This provides you access to the Samsung Security and Privacy Dashboard. This dashboard offers you information on how your data is being collected by applications on your phone and ways in which you can cease this data collection.
You will also be granted access to Private Share. This is a feature where you can share important files and documentation only with recipients that you choose. You can also set time limits on how long they can view the files and disable the ability to take screenshots.
When you buy the A54, you'll be given four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, so you don't have to worry about getting a new device for the latest security features – it's all prepared for you in this phone.
If you are a parent looking for a mobile phone for your child, there is also a Kids Mode safety setting you can use that changes the interface of the device making it safer for them to use.
Is it worth the price?
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Available in the colours awesome graphite and awesome violet, you can get the Samsung Galaxy A54 on sale on Amazon for $645. At first glance, this does sound pretty steep. But with prices for the Samsung Galaxy S23 range retailing from $1,090, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 selling for $1,211 and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 going for $2,299, the A54 price is basically a steal.
It looks and feels just like other Samsung phones. While there are some shortcomings like smaller cameras and storage, this is to be expected for this price. For what you get, it's pretty top-notch.
If you're after a relatively cheap phone upgrade, introducing your parents or grandparents to the world of smartphones, or are buying your children their first phone after months of nagging, the A54 should be at the top of your list. It certainly is for me.