I will not lie Attempting to make sense of the mid-range cellphone market in 2023 is perhaps the toughest a part of writing about smartphones.
Some mid-range telephones attempt to provide you with as a lot as attainable; others provide you with simply sufficient to make you cheerful, after which there’s the Samsung Galaxy A54, which is attempting to strike at steadiness. Nevertheless, what’s distinctive right here is that in contrast to Google and Nothing, for instance, Samsung has extra to achieve and (you guessed it) extra to lose. What makes it much more sophisticated is that the maker of Galaxy produces an unbelievable variety of telephones yearly. In fact, amongst them is the Galaxy S collection, which have to be taken under consideration when making the Galaxy A collection: if mid-range telephones are too good, customers could have much less cause to purchase a flagship. It is a balancing act that Samsung has been performing for years.
The truth is, gross sales of the corporate’s most cost-effective telephones (particularly the cheaper Galaxy A54), truly inform us that the South Korean model is doing a greater job within the finances phase – a bittersweet victory contemplating that the S-series flagships would carry extra revenue. margins however struggles to maneuver as many drives as Samsung would really like.
However to make issues extra sophisticated, even the brand new mid-range Galaxy telephones should be higher than their predecessors and mid-range opponents from different manufacturers. And that is the place the brand new Galaxy A54 might discover itself in an existential disaster. Let’s have a look…
Extremely, the Galaxy A54 seems 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 middle and the model new Galaxy A54 on the correct. 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you inform me concerning the iPhone SE down within the feedback (and by the way in which, be at liberty to) and the way outdated is Apple’s mid-ranger, I am going to go forward and let you know this story is about Samsung. However to leap the gun, as dated because the iPhone SE seems in 2023, it a minimum of seems as outdated as its predecessor.
I point out it to make clear a degree. Certainly, a brand new model of a cellphone should not look any older than the… outdated one. You might be 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 fabricated from glass, which is good in order for you a premium really feel (not so good if you happen to drop your cellphone 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 Displaystate of affairs 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 fashionable trying and 30g lighter than the Galaxy A54.
That stated, whereas I would argue that most individuals choose a brand new cellphone by taking a look at it/holding it, aesthetic design is not all that issues to a cellphone. And if that is the place you count on issues to go effectively for the Galaxy A54, effectively… you is perhaps in for a shock.
Most cost-effective Galaxy A34 with MediaTek chip beats Galaxy A54 with Samsung’s Exynos in early real-world velocity checks
In a latest real-world velocity check, the $300 Galaxy A34 was sooner at opening apps than the Galaxy A54. Ultimate rating? 9-20.
Now, apart from the design, there’s one other potential drawback with the Galaxy A54
Positive, benchmarks from Samsung’s new Exynos 1380 are out now, they usually’re simply as disappointing as anticipated: Samsung has opted to go along with one other mid-range Exynos, and that is it. However what’s particularly wonderful right here is the primary real-world velocity check I’ve come throughout, which (once more) tells a unique story. One other story the place the Galaxy A54 would not appear to come back out a winner over a less expensive Samsung cellphone.
As you may see on YouTube velocity check between the Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy A34 executed by Vy Vo Xuan, the brand new $ 300 Galaxy A34 appears to open apps sooner than the costlier Galaxy A54. Why? Nicely, 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 accordance with benchmarks, the cheaper cellphone seems to be snappier.
Clearly, for folks 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 cellphone offered within the US, which must be only one cause to make it the perfect it may be. Proper?
Galaxy A54: An ideal $450 package deal however Google’s Pixel flagships will eat the Samsung cellphone for breakfast (Pixel 7a is sort of there now)
Would you purchase a Pixel as an alternative of the Galaxy A54?
So, sure, the Galaxy A54 stays one of the vital 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. An element from that:
- Galaxy A54 guarantees a brighter show than the Galaxy A53
- Galaxy A54 gives a brand new, bigger fundamental digital camera sensor, which ought to assist with pictures and movies at evening
- Galaxy A54 gives 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of safety patches, which is an effective cause to decide on it over a greater spec Chinese language cellphone
Nonetheless, if the supply stars align for you, the Galaxy A54 is about to face among the hardest competitors but from Samsung within the mid-range cellphone phase.
Even when you do not have an additional $70 to spare or shopping for refurbished is not for you, then pending it may very well be your greatest pal and Samsung’s largest enemy. It’s 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 digital camera magic from Google, the Pixel 7a is shaping as much as be all the things the Galaxy A54 needs to be however cannot.
The whole lot In every single place The whole lot at As soon as Goes Improper 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 cellphone” as the corporate additionally makes the flagship Galaxy S23 and needs folks to purchase… extra. It is a difficult steadiness the place Samsung has rather a lot to lose. In contrast to Google, which does not even depend on promoting telephones to make 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 means 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. Nevertheless, evidently the Galaxy A54 is the results of poor timing. Had the A54 been launched in (say) 2019, it could have been a success – effectively, we do not know for positive, however it could have been way more spectacular, a minimum of. As a substitute, Samsung launched an amazing trying mid-range cellphone 4 years in the past, which now makes the 2023 model of this cellphone appear to be a downgrade (cosmetically talking).
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 mid-range Samsung cellphone is what you are after, the A54 may nonetheless be the perfect (and perhaps even the one) possibility for a few of you! If you happen to take a look at it in isolation, you continue to know: an amazing package deal.
Is it ok for you? I would anticipate our full evaluate to seek out out. Keep tuned!