The Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 recently landed in Malaysia near the end of March 2023, being touted as a smartphone for the Gen Z lifestyle.
We were provided a review sample soon after, and after using the phone for about a week, here are some of our initial thoughts of the new device.
Unboxing
Just like the flagship series, the Galaxy A54 has minimal packaging, which also translate to minimal accessories. You only get a USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable, a SIM tray remover and that’s it.
It mildly irks me that the phone did not come with a charger. This is because a lot of mid-range smartphones from past generations still use chargers with USB-Type A output. Yes, I have a lot of phone chargers (six, in fact), however we have to consider the target market here.
Fortunately the widespread availability of phone accessories shops such as Ninjaz and eCommerce platforms makes purchasing an aftermarket one a breeze.
Galaxy A54 User Experience
After having experienced the flagship smartphones of 2023, using the Galaxy A54 did not feel like a tremendous step-down. Yes, it has weaker hardware and a less complex camera setup, but I wasn’t left wanting more for the most part.
It feels sufficiently peppy during everyday use, and the screen size feels just right. Everything is where you would expect, the buttons, charging port and the like.
One thing to note is that the device is quite energy efficient. The Galaxy A54 sips on power like how I sip on a 21 Year Royal Salute. I’ve been getting excellent battery life so far, but I’ll reserve that judgement during actual testing.
While the camera on the Galaxy A54 not on par with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, they still returned good results in a variety of scenarios. You get a 50MP main shooter, which has the same focal length, aperture, and pixel size as the higher priced Galaxy S23. However, Samsung did not specify which sensors were being used in both devices so I can’t say for sure if its the same sensor.
You also get a 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro camera. On a side note, thedepth sensor is omitted on the A54 over the A53. The selfie camera is a 32MP unit, which can deliver decent looking images under good lighting conditions.
Ergonomically speaking, the smaller screen size does make the phone easier to hold onto, however it can get a tad slippery due to the smooth glossy back. However, it is quite resistant to fingerprints and smudges.
Final Thoughts
So far, the Samsung Galaxy A54 feet intuitive to use, and I have yet to experience any dealbreakers. An in-depth review is coming soon, so stay tuned to The AXO.
For more information on the Samsung Galaxy A54, please visit the official product page here.
