Samsung Galaxy A55 5G review

Let’s face it, this is probably not the first time you’re reading about a Samsung Galaxy A-series phone. That’s because these mid-range devices have been some of Samsung’s most sold smartphones year after year. Why, you ask? It’s because of what the A-series stands for – a flagship S-series like experience, without the money. But is that really the case?

With the new Samsung Galaxy A55 5G now starting at Rs 39,999, we were curious to see just how much performance you could clock out of an A-series device. We also wanted to check if it is worth the money, and if it beats the general competition in the segment. That’s precisely why we’ve been putting the Galaxy A55 through its paces, and here’s our review.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Design

The Samsung Galaxy A55 comes with a design that will instantly remind of the brand’s flagship S-series phone, and that’s not just coincidence. However, while the phone looks great and the glass-sandwich design comprises of premium materials, it also features elements that constantly reminded us that this was not a Galaxy S24.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, Galaxy A55 5G launched in India

This includes the bezels, which are simply put, too thick for a 2024 phone at this price. The larger chin also takes away from the symmetry. Although the metallic sides do help, we feel the sharp edges only work if the device is slimmer. While the Samsung Galaxy A55 was not uncomfortable to hold, we can say that it looked more premium than it felt.

The phone is available in a two colours, and while we have the more classy-looking Awesome Iceblue (which looks similar to the blue iPhone 15), we feel the Awesome Navy variant also looks great if you’re into more stealthier designs.

Oh yes, there’s also IP67 rating, which is refreshingly great to see, and the phone should offer better water protection against splashes than some competing devices which offer lower certifications.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Display

The displays on Samsung’s phones have been a highlight for years now, and it’s no different with the Galaxy A55 5G. The phone sports a vibrant 6.6-inch AMOLED panel, and with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+, Samsung is not compromising on the viewing experience here.

Watching movies or playing games on the Galaxy A55 is enjoyable thanks to some good colour reproduction and smooth transitions, and Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus+ keep you protected. The phone doesn’t feel like it’s the brightest when outdoors, but it never felt low enough for you to have to squint under the sun.

That said, we would like to add that the thick bezels do take away from the experience. As users who have been using a bunch of other phones across brands with much thinner bezels the thick ones on the A55, along with the large chin stand out almost immediately. While the display is great, we would say that there are other phones out there with displays just as good, but with better bezels!

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Performance

What we felt was the weakest part of an otherwise decently balanced phone, was the performance. The 4nm Samsung Exynos 1480 is not bad per se but settles for an average performance rating at best – something you don’t want in a phone that costs twice as much as lower mid-range devices.

This translates to performance that leaves you wanting more, especially when pushing the phone to its limits – running a lot of apps or playing heavy games. Playing Battlegrounds Mobile India on the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G was not a bad experience, but the limited frame-rate and graphics quality settings felt underwhelming.

The biggest argument against the Galaxy A55’s performance, is chipsets powering some competing devices. The Nothing Phone (2), for instance, is both cheaper and an older device, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 underneath it is a much more superior chipset and will offer a better multitasking and gaming experience.

Here are some other things you should also know about if you’re considering the Galaxy A55. There is no Samsung DeX support like with the S-series phones, and while you have an in-display fingerprint scanner, it was not as fast or accurate as the brand’s more expensive phones.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Software

The Galaxy A55’s biggest strength is its software. One UI has been shaping up to be one of the best Android-based skins for a few years now, and you really get to see why, right on your first day with one of these phones. Most aspects are customisable to an extent, and those who want to go all out can dive into Samsung’s ‘Good Lock’ app and explore even more granular control over UI elements.

ALSO READ: When will your Samsung phone get One UI 6.1

While it’s not as minimal as stock Android or Nothing OS, One UI does build its own identity and has the tools to make the phone look and feel unique to you. You could have two A55s and have them look as similar or far apart and that’s something we really liked about the phone. On top of all this, Samsung is also offering four years of system updates and five years of security updates on this phone.

That said, not everything is perfect. One UI on the A-series phones surprisingly feature a lot of bloatware and everything from DailyHunt to Snapchat (among many other apps) was preinstalled on the phone. While these can be uninstalled, one wouldn’t expect this entry-level phone treatment at this price.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G comes with a pretty good set of cameras. The phone takes bright, vibrant images during the day, and what can be called decent shots in the night. We could see plenty of detail captured from the 50MP main camera, while the 12MP ultrawide camera offered a good experience with minimal shifting in the colour tones.

Other elements like the edge detection on portrait mode shots were also better than some other Android phones we have seen. The front camera was also great and captured good details in well-lit environments while maintaining a neutral skin tone.

However, there are some compromises, and most of them feel like bottlenecks from the processor. The phone can only record at up to 4K 30fps, and shots of faster moving subjects ended up blurry more often than not.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Battery and charging

The Samsung Galaxy A55 comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which we can gladly say is slowly becoming the standard for most phones. This makes it an all-day device with moderate usage, and maybe a day-and-a-half device with some light usage.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE review

The 25W fast charging, however, may be a letdown for some. When you’re low on battery and have limited time to quickly top the phone up with enough juice for the day, the Samsung Galaxy A55 may not charge as quickly or as much as most other Android phones in the segment. While this is not a dealbreaker for everyone, it could be for some. Also, the phone doesn’t pack wireless charging support, something you do get with some competing phones.

Unboxed take: Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G has a specific set of features and specifications, which largely put it in the ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ bucket. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The phone is a solid recommendation for everyday usage, especially standing out as a good option for those who want to use their phone for a long time (three years and more).

However, if your needs are more focused in the performance area, especially gaming, you will most certainly find better options from other brands in this segment. While the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G falters in terms of performance, some design elements and slower charging, it does make up somewhat with a reliable and fun software experience. For this reason, we rate it 3.5/5, Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more in-depth reviews.