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Update: December 4, 2023 (4:35 a. m. ET): We’ve updated this Samsung Galaxy A55 5G rumor hub with leaked renderings and more design-related details.
Original article: Samsung’s flagship smartphones may make headlines, but it’s hard to pass them by the brand’s more affordable Galaxy A54 5G. With a premium design, rugged day-to-day performance, an excellent camera, and an unbeatable upgrade commitment, it’s not just an amazing affordable Android phone, but a solid and flexible option.
The phone’s successor is still several months away, that hasn’t stopped us from wondering what awaits us for the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G.
Almost certainly. While Samsung has yet to confirm the Galaxy A55 5G’s lifestyle, it’s virtually guaranteed that a successor to the Galaxy A54 5G will mark the core of the brand’s mid-range in 2024.
Whether or not the phone is called the Galaxy A55 5G is up in the air, but Samsung is unlikely to replace the brand with its successful mid-range formula. As such, we fully expect the Galaxy A55 5G to be Samsung’s sequel to 2023’s Galaxy A54 5G.
Mid-March 2024 is the most likely release date for the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G if the series’ most recent release schedule is adhered to. The phone arrives shortly after the flagship launch of the Samsung Galaxy S, which took place earlier this year. .
However, this has not been the case. The Galaxy A51 5G arrived in April 2020, while the A50 was unveiled in February 2019. Samsung has been much more consistent in recent years and the series has become an increasingly vital component of Samsung’s release schedule, so we doubt we’ll see a return to less predictable release windows. We expect the Galaxy A55 5G to launch in early 2024.
We are still a long way from the launch of the phone, so much so that very few rumors are still circulating about it. However, we can tell you a little about what to expect.
For starters, one of the highlights of our Galaxy A54 5G review is how well the phone resembles Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone. The new design is probably now part of Samsung’s branding, so we’d be very surprised if the A55 changes things up. While the telephone will remain similar to the S series, it will also depend on significant design changes to the upcoming Galaxy S24 series. But all the existing symptoms recommend a scenario for this year.
MySmartPrice released obvious renderings of the Galaxy A55 5G in December 2023, and it does indeed look like a glimpse into the Galaxy A54 but with a few key changes. You can see those CAD-based representations below.
The most significant upgrade here is what appears to be a steel frame (with antenna lines) with flat edges. Hopefully, this won’t cause the phone to sink into the palm of your hand.
On a hardware level, the basic elements of the series will undoubtedly remain in place. The IP67 rating, 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and Wi-Fi 6 features of its predecessor will almost certainly be retained. Not to mention, Samsung’s most productive update policy offers four years of Android editing with five years of security policy to make the phone last until 2029.
Perhaps the biggest unknown will be what processor the phone will use. Does Samsung have another mid-tier Exynos chip in development, or will it follow the S23 series in adopting Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon? One rumor points to an Exynos 1480 chipset, and it’s believed that this chip brings AMD graphics to the mid-tier for the first time. We’ll have to wait to see whether these claims bear out.
Samsung has kept its phone prices cheaper in recent years, at least in the United States. However, prices in Europe and the UK have risen over the past two generations, pushing the phone into the cheapest category of the mid-range market.
We’d be surprised if the Galaxy A55 5G price tag jumps extraordinarily next year, as value for money is a huge part of the phone’s appeal. Nevertheless, the US does appear overdue for an increase, and Samsung might not be willing or able to shield its customers from a hike in the current climate. Still, we expect the phone to arrive with a base model starting below $500.
Without any substantial rumors to work on, we can’t say for sure that there won’t be a killer feature worth holding out for. However, based on the historically slow cadence of Samsung‘s upgrades and many, many months to wait until Samsung’s next announcement, those in need of a phone today shouldn’t delay. The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G ($449.99 at Samsung) will likely offer the vast majority of the A55 5G’s features and is built to last many years.
Of course, Samsung isn’t alone in the budget segment. The summer 2023 Google Pixel 7a ($477 on Amazon) costs a little more but gives you Google’s camera prowess, a sturdier processor, and wireless charging capabilities. A few more flagship features might find that the Pixel 7a meets their needs better than the Galaxy A54 5G.
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) ($429 on Amazon) is also discussed in budget circles, however, it’s an old style that shows its age. If you’re not in a hurry to upgrade, it’s probably worth the wait to see what Samsung offers. The next style has prepared for you. The Galaxy A55 may go even further, especially if Apple’s budget option isn’t updated this year.
As wonderful as the Galaxy A54 5G is, there’s still room for improvement in the formula. Here’s what we need to see from Samsung’s upcoming mid-range, but there’s no guarantee that any of the following items will show up.
The Galaxy A55 5G does a lot of things right and is better than its competition in many ways, but the lack of wireless charging is one aspect that makes the phone look dated.
Granted, this certainly isn’t a must-have feature, but it’s a convenience we’re increasingly accustomed to at this price. Apple’s affordable iPhone SE and Google’s Pixel 7a (pictured above) boast the feature and fall squarely in the same price bracket as Samsung’s model.
There’s no clever explanation as to why Samsung keeps skimping on this feature. Especially when the competition has been providing wireless charging for years and the phone will most likely come with a plastic body.
Samsung’s new mid-range is a master of disguise. While it looks like a flagship phone, it doesn’t feel as premium once you hold it in your hand. The explanation is that the frame is still made of plastic; There’s no fancy steel trim around the edge of the phone.
While we shouldn’t expect all the conveniences at a fraction of the cost, a better build would cement the Galaxy A55 5G as a forged bridge between Samsung’s flagship and wallets. The good news is that the leaked renders do indeed involve a steel frame. We also wouldn’t mind seeing the existing Gorilla Glass 5 coverage upgraded to something like Gorilla Glass Victus.
But obviously, design innovations like this would have to be balanced by the price of the phone, which surely wants to stay under $500.
Samsung’s Galaxy A54 5G is already a serious contender if you’re looking for a reliable and budget-friendly camera phone. However, it still falls into the most common trap of mid-range traps: the unnecessary low-resolution macro lens.
Based on our time with the phone, the main and ultra-wide cameras are already very competitive, and while additional upgrades would be welcome, they don’t require more hardware. However, the 5MP macro camera is more hit or miss. Yes, it’s larger than the ultra-reasonable 2MP macro cameras found elsewhere, but it’s not as useful as a telephoto lens for extra zoom. At the end of the day, it’s just there to be extras; Many users will get bored quickly.
Again, it wouldn’t be the cheapest upgrade, however, an older camera with 2x or 3x zoom would actually be the phone’s photography app and elevate the Galaxy A55 5G above the competition. Samsung has already particularly reduced the 4-camera series to 3. All that’s left is to perfect what those 3 lenses can do.