Fairphone 4 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 offers a brighter display, more polished camera system, and faster charging. However, the Fairphone 4's modular design, commitment to repairability, and longer software support make it a compelling choice for eco-conscious users willing to compromise slightly on raw performance and features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Fairphone 4 | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 2.3 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 30 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 25 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162 x 75.5 x 10.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.41 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 225 g (7.94 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| IP54, dust and water resistant MIL-STD-810G compliant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~79.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 15 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.78", 0.9µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.78", 0.9µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Standard 5-year warranty | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3905 mAh, removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Green, Speckled Green | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | - | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 400 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.49 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Fairphone 4
- Sustainable and ethical design
- Modular and repairable
- Longer software support (5-6 years)
- Durable build quality
- Fairtrade certified components
- Lower performance than competitors
- Less polished camera
- Slower charging
- Less vibrant display
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Bright and vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Capable camera system
- Fast performance with Exynos 1380
- Excellent battery life
- Water and dust resistance (IP67)
- Less sustainable than Fairphone 4
- Difficult to repair
- Samsung's software update policy (shorter than Fairphone)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits peak) compared to the Fairphone 4, offering better visibility in sunlight. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent blacks and vibrant colors. While the Fairphone 4's display is perfectly adequate, it lacks the same punch and outdoor usability. The A54's Super AMOLED technology also provides richer colors and deeper blacks.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54's camera system is more versatile and generally produces higher-quality photos and videos. It likely offers better low-light performance and more advanced features. While the Fairphone 4's camera is decent, it doesn't match the A54's capabilities. Samsung's image processing is also typically more refined.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset, built on a 5nm process, generally outperforms the Fairphone 4's Snapdragon 750G (8nm). While both are octa-core processors, the A54's Cortex-A78 cores offer a noticeable speed advantage in demanding tasks and gaming. The Fairphone 4 is still capable for everyday use, but the A54 provides a smoother, more responsive experience.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life. The Galaxy A54's endurance rating of 119h is impressive, and its active use score of 11:15h is also very good. The Fairphone 4 also provides solid battery life, though specific endurance ratings are less readily available. Both should easily last a full day of moderate use.
Buying Guide
The Fairphone 4 is ideal for users prioritizing sustainability, longevity, and the ability to repair their device. It's a great choice for those who value ethical sourcing and reduced e-waste. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is best suited for users seeking a well-rounded mid-range phone with a vibrant display, capable camera, and reliable performance, without the emphasis on repairability.