What makes the A54 5G stand out from each different sub-$500 is its software program assist cycle. Samsung is promising a whopping 4 main OS Android upgrades. Meaning because it runs Android 13 out of the field, it will get Android 17 in 2027. Wowza. That is higher than what Google offers. The cherry on prime is you will get 5 years of safety updates. It is good understanding the cellphone you spent a whole bunch of {dollars} on will nonetheless get new options, vital bug fixes, and safety patches for years as a substitute of only one. Talking of, the A54 is IP67-rated, so it may survive the rain and even a drop within the pool, so it may take years of accidents.
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That leads me to its efficiency. Not like some finances telephones that stuff a 120-Hz panel on the show solely to ship a stuttery expertise because of a weak processor, the Galaxy A54 5G is highly effective sufficient that you could take pleasure in that buttery clean display to its full extent. It is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 processor with 6 gigabytes of RAM, and my benchmark checks present an honest soar from final 12 months’s mannequin, nevertheless it’s firmly a midrange chipset.
For probably the most half, you will not run into many points attempting to browse your favourite apps or ship an e mail. Even video games like Lifeless Cells and Streets of Rage 4 ran and not using a hitch. Nonetheless, I’ve observed sluggishness right here and there, significantly once you’re shifting backwards and forwards between a number of apps. This may be annoying once you’re in a rush to shortly accomplish a job, however I solely bumped into this often. The digital camera additionally generally is a little sluggish to launch.
Battery-wise, you get a big 5,000-mAh cell, which may simply take you thru two full days with gentle use. Nonetheless, on days once I was out and about, taking photos, utilizing the GPS for navigation, and killing time on Reddit, I ended up with roughly 30 p.c by bedtime. That is not fairly pretty much as good as a lot of Motorola’s finances telephones that may simply final two full days.
Talking of, Motorola has began providing 256 gigabytes as its base storage possibility in its smartphones, and it is a fairly nice change. Virtually all telephones—sure, even those who value $1,000—nonetheless provide a paltry 128 gigs of storage, and the A54 5G is not any completely different. It might be good to see Samsung buck the development right here. (You do get a microSD slot to broaden area should you want it.) Not like Motorola, there’s an NFC sensor, so you should use Google or Samsung Pockets to pay for that important kombucha even should you’ve forgotten the bodily pockets at dwelling.
There’s nonetheless no wireless charging support. This characteristic is commonly nixed with most sub-$500 telephones, however with the most recent Google Pixel 7A rumors claiming the cellphone can have it, it is bizarre that Google was in a position to beat Samsung to the punch. You may additionally care that there is additionally no charging adapter within the field (you do get a USB-C cable), and there is no headphone jack.
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Fortunately, the cameras are fairly darn nice. Oftentimes I discover myself not taking as many images on cheaper telephones as a result of I am simply not proud of the outcomes, however I by no means stopped snapping on the A54 5G. It isn’t far behind the Google Pixel 6A (dare I say it typically performs higher!). The 50-megapixel main digital camera can take some sharp images throughout the day, with normal Samsung flaws like overexposure and oversaturation.
