I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy A55. It didn’t go as expected

I feared the worst on myfirst day with the Samsung Galaxy A55 . It just did n’t feel quiteright , and it made me worry about my time with the telephone set . Afterliking its herald , I did n’t want it to be a disappointment .

I ’m now a few workweek into living with the earphone , and thing have definitely changed for the better . In fact , my fourth dimension with the Galaxy A55 will have a far more positive ending than I first thought it would . But just how skillful is the Galaxy A55 , and can it take on the riches of other big affordable earphone released latterly ?

Samsung Galaxy A55: design

I ’m going to arrive back to the central expression that have changed for the better with the Galaxy A55 , but first , let ’s talk about the one thing that has n’t ( because it ca n’t ) , and that ’s the in - deal feel . This is different from the phone ’s invention , which is advanced - sounding and really stylish . But in what I assume to be its seeking to make the Galaxy A55 tone like aniPhone 15 , Samsung has made a earphone that ’s unforgivingly penetrating and irritatingly slippery .

The flat Gorilla Glass Victus+ rearward panel returns almost no travelling bag at all , and not even the three raised camera can usually salvage it from slowly but surely sliding off many surfaces . It ’s grounds one for pose a grippy case on the Galaxy A55 , and reasonableness two is it ’s quite uncomfortable to hold for more than a light sentence . The metallic element chassis meets the crank front and rearward at a sharp angle , and you really feel it against your decoration and finger . It ’s not a very pleasant phone to hold , unlike the curvier Galaxy A54 .

It ’s a pity , as the Galaxy A55 ’s overall designing is an ascent over the Galaxy A54 , with a lovely textured , brushed effect along the metal flesh , and a contrasting refined section around the volume and force button . There is a wide of the mark pick of colors , and the Awesome Navy watch in our photos is a nice alternative to the common , boring black . It also mean you do n’t have to go overboard by choosing the Awesome Lilac or Awesome Lemon alternatives for a bit of visual interest . Oh , and Samsung really does prefix its A55 coloring material figure with the wordawesome .

DT Recommended Product

The phone is manageable at 213 grams , thin at 8.2 mm , and the IP67 water system and junk resistance ease up you confidence . I ’ve used the telephone without a compositor’s case for more than a calendar week , where it has spent fourth dimension in and out of base , and it express no sign of vesture or scratches on the metallic element shape or the ice rear venire . The Galaxy A55 looks great , it ’s as well - made as you ’d expect , and it should prove durable , too . It ’s just a disgrace the thing just is n’t very nice to hold , and has gain a little weight over the Galaxy A54 .

Samsung Galaxy A55: software and performance

While Samsung ca n’t do anything about the Galaxy A55 ’s plan now , what about the software and functioning ? These were the other areas of fear I had when I first begin using the earpiece , and it appear the A55 need at least a day to sieve itself out because the retardation , stammer , and public presentation fear I had for the first 24 hour disappeared on the second day , as the phone settle down into routine life .

The in - video display fingermark sensor does postulate a beat longer to actuate than on some other speech sound , such as theOnePlus 12 , but it has n’t fail to realize my fingerprint and is far more reliable than on the first day . Using the phone ’s menus , apps , and other stock features is now smooth and stutter - free . The early signs of frustration due to carrying out issues did not become an ongoing trouble , but it ’s empty the Samsung Exynos 1480 chipping film its clip sorting things out internally after setup .

Installed is Android 14 with Samsung ’s One UI 6.1 , but there are none of theGalaxy AIfeatures you find on the Galaxy S24 series . Samsung promises the headphone will find four version updates , and security update for the next five years . The committal is n’t as long as the one for S series equipment , but still very good for a phone at this price . I ’ve been using the speech sound in the UK on 4 constant of gravitation , 5 G , and Wi - Fi , and I have experienced no problems with connection , with telephone call being clear and reliable .

The Quick Settings screen on the Samsung Galaxy A55.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I ’m very familiar with One UI and regain it natural and logical to utilize , but it does ask quite a lot of initial apparatus . This ranges from take gesture control ( it ’s 2024 , Samsung ; I do n’t need to employ Android push anymore ) to activating the always - on screen , changing the objectionable default ring and notification tones , switching from the needlessly massive 4×4 home base screen app layout to something more forward-looking , and abandoningSamsung ’s poor keyboardfor Google ’s Gboard . Get past this and it then requires footling care , out of doors of a few periodic presentment about system activity .

Samsung Galaxy A55: screen and media

Samsung ’s Exynos processors do n’t have the good reputation , and the A - series phones are notorious for take chummy bezel around the screen . What ’s the position with the Galaxy A55 , seeing as it has both these “ affliction ? ” The 6.6 - inch Super AMOLED screen door is 0.2 - inch expectant than the Galaxy A54 ’s screenland , but share the same 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution . However , to my eyes , the driblet in pixel compactness has n’t resulted in a seeable decrease in quality .

It ’s bright and easy see alfresco , the 120Hz refresh pace maintain it smooth and easy on the eyes , and it looks great performing games and watching video recording . Yes , the bezels around it are thicker than on some more expensive smartphones , but never once have they detracted from what is a big , vibrant covert on an affordable phone . The stereo speakers are loud , but not all that controlled and are harsh when you zigzag up the intensity . Keep it at a temperate level , and they ’re fine for music and game .

I ’ve used the Galaxy A55 as my main smartphone , so it has to deal out with all of my usual tasks . I have n’t discover the Exynos 1480 chip with 8 GB of RAM slow or unrefined at all out of doors of the long - than - gestate ladder - in menstruum . In fact , it has been excellent . Asphalt 9 : Legendsis fast and smooth , with no obvious or secret plan - bankrupt retardation , and the earphone does n’t even get affectionate when playing for an lengthy period of meter , suggesting Samsung has forge hard on cooling . The combination of the high refresh charge per unit screen and fast central processing unit have in mind the Galaxy A55 has never become frustrating to practice each day , no matter what I ’ve been doing .

Screenshots taken from the Samsung Galaxy A55.

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A55: camera

If you ’re expecting a Brobdingnagian camera update over the Galaxy A54 , then prepare yourself for disappointment . The hardware is likely identical , with a 50 - megapixel main photographic camera leading the stack , link by a 12MP panoptic - angle photographic camera and a 5MP macro television camera . Set at the top of the screen is a 32MP selfie camera . All this matches the specs of its harbinger . The changes amount in the software , such as the summation of Super HDR for video and other carrying out improvements around lowlight picture taking and portrait shots .

supply you do n’t wait aGalaxy S24 Ultra - tied photographic experience , the Galaxy A55 ’s main camera can deliver coloured , dynamic photos in day and is amazingly subject at nighttime too , mean it takes photos you ’ll desire to share on social medium in most surroundings . The best thing to do is not bear anything more than that , as when you get vital , there are more than a few disappointments here .

The wide - angle camera is n’t very safe , with a lack of detail and quite a fate of noise and smoothing in its pic , and while the look can be reproducible with the primary tv camera , these issues really detract from the last shot . In clouded or difficult kindling status , both the independent and full cameras can struggle with exposure and stochasticity , while in rough light , gloss can appear odd and unnatural . The selfie camera ’s portrait mode is amazingly treacherous too , cutting off ear and glasses despite claimed advances .

Screenshots taken from the Samsung Galaxy A55.

Samsung

call a television camera great for social media is damning with faint-hearted kudos , but unluckily , that ’s how I feel about the Galaxy A55 . It can take playfulness photo , and they ’ll attract the proper care when you portion out them , but it can also mess affair up quite poorly . It ’s not a step forward over the Galaxy A54 , and is far from meeting the challenge from the OnePlus 12R , the Google Pixel 8 , and even the Nothing Phone 2 .

Samsung Galaxy A55: battery life and charging

Samsung claim the Galaxy A55 ’s 5,000mAh barrage fire will last for two days on a unmarried charge , and although this is true , it does bet on how you utilize the phone . The A55 ’s battery impressively powers about six hr of covert meter per rush , and I have indeed rack two daytime animation from the phone when my screen time is below three hour per day .

Efficiency seems to be up compared to the Galaxy A54 , with a 30 - minute academic session ofAsphalt 9 : Legendsdraining around 7 % of the electric battery , while the same amount of time watching a 1440p YouTube video consumes only about 3 % . The Galaxy A55 has strong stamp battery life-time , but when it ’s time to put some more juice in the battery , you ’ll have to reach for a cable . Disappointingly , the Galaxy A55 does not have wireless charging . While it ’s not an all-important feature , it does finger quite tight on Samsung ’s part to not include it here .

The A55 ’s battery impressively powers about six hour of screen time per commission .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A55’s main camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There ’s no such thing as fast charging either , as the pumped-up option tops out at 25 watt , which is rather poor next to the OnePlus 12R ’s 80W ( or 100W if you live outside the U.S. ) charging . It ca n’t match that phone ’s 30 - minute entire recharge meter , and using a compatible Anker charger , it took 30 moment to reach 50 % and 1 hr and 25 minutes to reach 100 % . You do not get a courser in the box , so you will have to buy a compatible one to get the fastest possible charge time . There ’s nothing wrong with the Galaxy A55 ’s battery life at all , but the charging speed and want of wireless charging are a disappointment .

Samsung Galaxy A55: price and availability

Samsung has decided not to release the Galaxy A55 in the U.S. at this prison term and will instead launch its cheaper sib , the Galaxy A35 . The Galaxy A55 is available in the U.K. and other region now , where it cost 439 British pounds , or about $ 547 . This is slightly cheaper than the Galaxy A54 ’s launch cost .

What else can you get for around $ 500 ? TheGoogle Pixel 7aand the upcomingPixel 8aare better choices if you prize the tv camera , while theOnePlus 12Rhas very fast charging and a good camera too . TheNothing Phone 2 , or theNothing Phone 2aif you want to save some money , are uniquely styled and very capable .

But if you really want a Samsung telephone set and do n’t want to compensate $ 800 for theGalaxy S24 , the $ 600Galaxy S23 FEis well worth investigating , as it has a well more high - end feel than the Galaxy A55 , along with suitable features like radio charging and a more versatile camera . If you own a Galaxy A54 and are wondering if you should elevate to an A55 , it ’s plausibly not worth doing so , although the battery life has improved .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A55’s wide-angle camera.

Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A55: verdict

Thankfully , my rocky showtime with the Samsung Galaxy A55 did n’t continue , but does that think of it has metamorphose into a highly desirable , must - grease one’s palms earphone ? Notquite , but it ’s sure not one to be dismissed . While it has been a very good phone to live with , it ’s not a magnanimous update over the Galaxy A54 at all , and there ’s a lot of substantial competition around it . It is have down by the crisp , angle excogitation , which is esthetically pleasing , but horrid to hold for farseeing periods .

This aside , the Galaxy A55 has long battery lifespan , a great screen , and enough performance to crush all quotidian tasks . The camera is n’t the best you may get for this price , though , and the lack of wireless charging is frustrating . It ’s a good speech sound , just not an outstanding one , but I ’ve happily lived with it and have n’t been dire to swap my SIM out of it . That ’s always a good sign , by the mode .

The Galaxy A55 is a safe and sensible purchase , help oneself by the equipment ’s solid software program , durability , and multiyear update commitment . However , it ’s not very exciting or the beneficial value in Samsung ’s reach . That honor goes to the Galaxy S23 FE , which is a lot more phone for not a fate more money . The Samsung Galaxy A55 is a recommended earpiece to corrupt , but not unquestionably so .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A55’s main camera.