reviewed Samsung Galaxy A55

Summary

The first day I used the Samsung Galaxy A55, I was filled with the worst possible fears. The fact that it didn’t seem quite right caused me to be concerned about the amount of time I spent on the phone. After having a positive experience with its predecessor, I did not want this one to be a letdown.

reviewed Samsung Galaxy A55

Now that I’ve been living with the phone for a few weeks, I can say without a doubt that things have improved. In fact, the conclusion of my time spent with the Galaxy A55 will be far more favorable than I had first anticipated it would be. But how excellent is the Galaxy A55, and is it capable of competing with the plethora of other outstanding phones that have been introduced in recent times at inexpensive prices?

The design of the Samsung Galaxy A55

First, let’s speak about the one thing that hasn’t changed (because it can’t), and that is the way the Galaxy A55 feels when you hold it in your hand. I’m going to return to the important features that have improved with the Galaxy A55, but before I do so, let’s talk about other things. This stands in contrast to the design of the phone, which is really fashionable and has a contemporary appearance. On the other hand, Samsung has created a phone that is unforgivingly sharp and irritatingly slippery, maybe as part of its effort to make the Galaxy A55 seem to be an iPhone 15.

There is practically no traction at all provided by the flat Gorilla Glass Victus+ back plate, and not even the three elevated cameras are able to prevent it from sliding off numerous surfaces in a gradual but steady manner. The first reason for installing a grippy cover on the Galaxy A55 is that it is fairly difficult to hold for more than a short period of time. The second reason is that it is for this reason. A sharp angle is formed between the metal chassis and the glass on both the front and the back of the device, and you can distinctly feel it on your palm and fingertips. Unlike the Galaxy A54, which has a more rounded shape, this phone is not particularly comfortable to handle.

The Galaxy A55’s overall appearance is an improvement over that of the Galaxy A54, with a nice textured, brushed look throughout the metal chassis and a contrasting polished portion around the volume and power keys. It is unfortunate that both of these features have been removed from the Galaxy A55. We have a large selection of colors to choose from, and the Awesome Navy that we have seen in our photographs is a pleasant contrast to the typical and monotonous black. In addition, this indicates that you do not have to go crazy by selecting the Awesome Lilac or Awesome Lemon choices in order to provide a little bit of visual variation. Oh, and the term “awesome” is really prefixed to the names of the colors that Samsung offers for the A55.

With a weight of 213 grams and a thickness of 8.2 millimeters, the phone is easy to handle, and its dust and water resistance of IP67 instills trust in you. There are no indications of wear or scratches on the metal chassis or the glass back panel of the phone, despite the fact that I have used it without a cover for more than a week and that it has been in and out of bags. The Galaxy A55 has a fantastic appearance; it is constructed how you would want it to be, and it should also prove to be sturdy. The fact that the device is not very pleasant to handle and has become somewhat heavier in comparison to the Galaxy A54 is a really unfortunate development.

Both the software and the performance of the Samsung Galaxy A55

Despite the fact that Samsung is unable to make any changes to the appearance of the Galaxy A55 at this time, what about the software and performance? The slowness, stuttering, and performance concerns that I had for the first twenty-four hours of using the phone disappeared on the second day, as the phone settled down into everyday life. These were the other areas of concern that I had when I first started using the phone, and it appears that the A55 needed at least a day to sort itself out.

The in-display fingerprint sensor does take a beat longer to activate than it does on some other phones, such as the OnePlus 12, but it has not failed to identify my fingerprint and is far more dependable than it was on the first day of use. The menus, applications, and other regular aspects of the phone may now be used without any stuttering or choppy movements. The early signals of annoyance due to performance concerns did not become a recurring problem; nonetheless, it is evident that the Samsung Exynos 1480 processor takes its time to straighten things out internally after it has been set up.

Although Android 14 and Samsung’s One UI 6.1 have been installed, the Galaxy S24 series does not have any of the Galaxy AI capabilities that are available on the Galaxy S24. The company Samsung guarantees that the mobile device will get four version upgrades and security patches throughout the course of the following five years. Although it is not as lengthy as the commitment for devices in the S series, the commitment is still extremely excellent for a phone that is priced at this level. Through my use of the phone in the United Kingdom on 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi networks, I have not had any issues with connectivity, and the conversations that I have had have been crystal clear and dependable.

One UI is something that I am quite acquainted with, and I feel that it is both easy and intuitive to use. However, it does need a significant amount of early setup. This includes a variety of options, such as selecting gesture controls (it’s 2024, Samsung; I don’t want to use Android buttons anymore), activating the always-on screen, altering the annoying default ring and notification tones, switching from the needlessly massive 4×4 home screen app layout to something more contemporary, and abandoning Samsung’s poor keyboard in favor of Google’s Gboard. If you are able to get beyond this, it will thereafter need very little maintenance, with the exception of a few messages concerning system activity every so often.

The Samsung Galaxy A55’s display and media interface

The Exynos CPUs manufactured by Samsung are not known for their superior performance, and the A-series smartphones are renowned for having large bezels around the screens. Given that the Galaxy A55 suffers from both of these “afflictions,” what really is the issue with this device? The screen on the Galaxy A54 is 0.2 inches smaller than the screen on the 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, but it has the same resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels. The fall in pixel density, on the other hand, does not seem to have resulted in a discernible impact on the quality of the image.

It has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which makes it smooth and easy on the eyes, and it looks excellent while playing games and watching films. It is bright and easy to see outside. It is true that the bezels that surround it are thicker than those that surround some more costly smartphones; nonetheless, they have never once detracted from what is a large screen that is vivid on a phone that is reasonably priced. When the volume is turned up to a high level, the stereo speakers create a harsh sound since they are loud but not very well regulated. It is OK for them to play music and games if the volume is kept at a modest level.

Since the Galaxy A55 has been my primary smartphone, it is responsible for doing all of the things that I typically perform. With the exception of the longer-than-expected run-in time, I have not discovered any instances in which the Exynos 1480 processor with 8GB of RAM has been sluggish or unrefined. To tell you the truth, it has been amazing. When playing Asphalt 9: Legends for a lengthy amount of time, the phone does not even become warm, which is a clear indication that Samsung has put a lot of effort into improving its cooling capabilities. The game is quick and fluid, and there is no noticeable or game-breaking lag. The Galaxy A55 has never been a source of frustration for me to use on a daily basis, regardless of the activities I have been engaging in, because of the combination of its high refresh rate screen and its quick CPU.

The camera of the Samsung Galaxy A55

If you are anticipating a significant improvement in the camera compared to the Galaxy A54, then you should be ready to encounter disappointment. The hardware looks to be similar, with a primary camera that has a resolution of 50 megapixels topping the stack, followed by a wide-angle camera with 12 megapixels and a macro camera with 5 megapixels. One of the cameras on the device is a 32-megapixel front-facing camera. These specifications are identical as those of its predecessor. The modifications are implemented in the software, and they include the incorporation of Super HDR for video as well as other performance enhancements, particularly in the areas of low-light photography and portrait compositions.

Assuming that you do not anticipate a photographic experience comparable to that of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the primary camera of the Galaxy A55 is capable of producing vibrant and dynamic photographs during the daytime hours and is also surprisingly competent during the nighttime hours. This means that it captures photographs that you will want to post on social media in the majority of settings. In light of the fact that there are a number of disappointments to be found in this situation, the best course of action is to prevent yourself from expecting anything more than that.

The wide-angle camera is not very excellent; it has a lack of clarity, quite a lot of noise, and smoothness in its images. Although the appearance of the photos taken with the wide-angle camera may be consistent with those taken with the main camera, these qualities severely detract from the final shot. Due to the presence of cloudy or challenging lighting circumstances, both the main and wide cameras may have difficulties with exposure and noise. Additionally, when the lighting is intense, colors may seem strange and artificial. On top of that, the portrait mode of the selfie camera is unexpectedly unreliable, as it cuts off ears and glasses despite the fact that it is supposed to be more advanced.

To say that a camera is wonderful for social media is to say that it is damning with faint praise, but regrettably, that is how I feel about the Galaxy A55 because of its capabilities. It is able to capture entertaining photographs, and when you post them, they will get the appropriate attention; yet, it is also capable of causing quite a bit of damage. It does not represent a significant improvement over the Galaxy A54, and it is not even close to being able to compete with the OnePlus 12R, the Google Pixel 8, or even the Nothing Phone 2.

Battery life and charging capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy A55

The 5,000 mAh battery that Samsung promises would let the Galaxy A55 survive for two days on a single charge is, in fact, accurate; however, the length of time that this battery will last is contingent on how the phone is used. It is remarkable that the battery of the A55 can power around six hours of screen time on a single charge. In fact, I have been able to squeeze two days’ worth of life out of the phone when I have screen time that is less than three hours each day.

It seems that efficiency has improved in comparison to the Galaxy A54, as a session of Asphalt 9: Legends that lasts for thirty minutes uses around seven percent of the battery, yet viewing a 1440p YouTube movie for the same period of time only drains about three percent of the battery. It is necessary to seek out a cable in order to provide extra power to the battery of the Galaxy A55, despite the fact that the battery life of the device is rather impressive. A disappointing lack of wireless charging capabilities is seen on the Galaxy A55. In spite of the fact that it is not a function that is absolutely necessary, Samsung’s decision to not include it here seems extremely restrictive.

It is remarkable that the battery of the A55 can power almost six hours of screen time on a single charge.

There is also no such thing as fast charging, since the wired option has a maximum power output of 25 watts. This is rather low in comparison to the 80 watts (or 100 watts) of charge that the OnePlus 12R offers (or 100 watts if you reside outside of the United States). In comparison, the overall recharge time for that phone is thirty minutes, and when using a charger that is compatible with Anker, it took thirty minutes to reach fifty percent and one hour and twenty-five minutes to reach one hundred percent. As the packaging does not include a charger, you will need to buy a charger that is compatible with the device in order to get the quickest possible charging times. Despite the fact that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the battery life of the Galaxy A55, the charging speed and the absence of wireless charging are definitely disappointing.

Cost and availability information for the Samsung Galaxy A55

It has been determined by Samsung that the Galaxy A55 will not be released in the United States at this time. Instead, the Galaxy A35, which is the more affordable brother, will be released. In the United Kingdom and other territories, the Galaxy A55 is currently available for purchase for a price of 439 British pounds, which is equivalent to around $547. Compared to the initial pricing of the Galaxy A54, this is a little lower.

What other things are available for about $500? If you place a high value on the camera, the Google Pixel 7a and the incoming Pixel 8a are better options to consider. On the other hand, the OnePlus 12R has very rapid charging capabilities and a strong camera as well. In addition to having a highly distinctive appearance, the Nothing Phone 2 (or the Nothing Phone 2a, if you are looking to save some money) is also quite competent.

Nevertheless, if you are really interested in purchasing a Samsung phone but do not want to spend $800 for the Galaxy S24, it is highly recommended that you investigate the Galaxy S23 FE, which costs $600 and has a far more luxurious feel than the Galaxy A55.

Additionally, it has desired features such as wireless charging and a camera that is more flexible. If you now possess a Galaxy A54 and are considering upgrading to a Galaxy A55, it is quite unlikely that it would be beneficial for you to do so, despite the fact that the battery life has been enhanced.

The verdict on the Samsung Galaxy A55

It is a relief that my first difficulties with the Samsung Galaxy A55 did not persist, but does this imply that it has evolved into a phone that is really attractive and requires immediate purchase? Not nearly, but it is not something that should be disregarded in any way. Despite the fact that it has been a very pleasant phone to use, it is not a significant improvement over the Galaxy A54 in any way, and there is a great deal of very competitive rivalry around it. The design, which is visually beautiful but terrible to hold for extended periods of time, is a source of disappointment since it is sharp and angled.

The Galaxy A55, despite this, offers a long battery life, a fantastic screen, and sufficient performance to dominate all of the chores that are performed on a daily basis. The camera, on the other hand, is not the finest offering available at this price point, and the absence of wireless charging is a source of frustration. Despite the fact that it is a nice phone, it is not an extraordinary one; yet, I have been content with it and have not been in a hurry to remove my SIM card from it until now. That is, by the way, a very positive indicator at all times.

The Galaxy A55 is a purchase that is both secure and prudent, thanks to the device’s reliable software, long-lasting design, and dedication to receiving updates for several years. However, it is not very fascinating and does not provide the greatest value among Samsung’s products. The Galaxy S23 FE, which is a much more powerful phone for a relatively lower price, is the recipient of this accolade. It is advised that you get the Samsung Galaxy A55, although it is not strongly urged that you do so.