Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Google Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy A54 are both compelling mid-range options, but cater to different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the best decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A54 takes the crown for overall value and battery life, boasting impressive endurance and a brighter display. The Pixel 6 offers a unique software experience and potentially better camera processing, but its battery falls short. Ultimately, the A54 is a safer, longer-lasting bet.

PHONES
Phone Names	Google Pixel 6	Samsung Galaxy A54

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GB7N6, G9S9B16	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G9S9B	1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GB7N6	25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2021, October 19	2023, March 15
Status	Available. Released 2021, October 28	Available. Released 2023, March 24

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions	158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.35 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	207 g (7.30 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
	Always-on display	-

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Google Tensor (5 nm)	Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPU	Mali-G78 MP20	Mali-G68 MP5
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades	Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	-

Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm	-
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm	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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	-
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	Wired (based on 30W charger), PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 21W wireless Reverse wireless	25W wired
Type	Li-Ion 4614 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, Stormy Black	Lime, Graphite, Violet, White
Models	GB7N6, G9S9B16, G9S9B, GR1YH	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	$ 172.48 / C$ 238.84 / £ 169.99 / € 191.89 / ₹ 23,719	€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR	-	0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 86h	Endurance rating 119h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-26.9 LUFS (Good)	-26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 676831 (v9) GeekBench: 2899 (v5.1) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Google Pixel 6

Unique Google Tensor Chip
Excellent Camera Processing
Clean Android Experience
Fast Software Updates
Distinctive Design

Shorter Battery Life
Charging Speed Could Be Faster
Tensor Chip Can Be Less Efficient

Samsung Galaxy A54

Exceptional Battery Life
Bright and Vibrant Display
Versatile Camera System
Water and Dust Resistance (IP67)
More Affordable

Exynos Chipset Not as Powerful as Tensor
Samsung's One UI Can Be Bloated
Charging Speed is Relatively Slow

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A54's 980 nits peak brightness gives it a significant edge in outdoor visibility. Both phones have 'infinite' contrast ratios (a nominal value), but the A54's higher brightness makes a noticeable difference. The Pixel 6's display is still good, but not as vibrant or easily viewable in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems. The Pixel 6 is known for its computational photography prowess, producing consistently good images with accurate colors and impressive dynamic range. The Galaxy A54 has a versatile camera setup with a good main sensor and improved low-light performance. The Pixel 6's video recording is generally considered superior.

Performance

The Pixel 6's Google Tensor chip offers a unique blend of performance and AI capabilities. While the Exynos 1380 in the A54 is a capable processor, the Tensor often feels snappier in everyday tasks and excels in machine learning-driven features. However, sustained performance might be slightly better on the A54 due to better thermal management.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 absolutely dominates in battery life. Its 119h endurance rating is significantly higher than the Pixel 6's 86h. The A54 will easily last a full day, even with heavy usage, while the Pixel 6 might require a top-up before the end of the day.

Buying Guide

The Google Pixel 6 is ideal for Android purists who prioritize software updates, Google's AI features, and a distinctive design. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for users seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with a vibrant display and a more mainstream Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The Google Pixel 6 typically receives faster and more frequent software updates directly from Google.

❓ Is the Pixel 6 worth the extra cost?

It depends on your priorities. If you value Google's AI features and a clean Android experience, the Pixel 6 might be worth it. Otherwise, the Galaxy A54 offers better value for money.