Google Pixel 6a vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two strong contenders are the Google Pixel 6a and the Samsung Galaxy A54. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 edges out the Pixel 6a with its superior battery life, brighter display, and faster charging. While the Pixel 6a boasts Google's Tensor chip and excellent software, the A54's overall package makes it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel 6a Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada)1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada)1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International)25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, May 112023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 21Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight178 g (6.28 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDRSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetGoogle Tensor (5 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP20Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
Dual12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm32 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)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired, PD3.025W wired
TypeLi-Po 4410 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsChalk, Charcoal, SageLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsGX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17LSM-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$ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999€ 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 94h Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) 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)

Google Pixel 6a

  • Clean Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Excellent AI features (Google Tensor)
  • Compact size

  • Slower charging
  • Less versatile camera
  • No expandable storage

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Long battery life
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Expandable storage (microSD)
  • Faster charging (25W)

  • Samsung's One UI can be polarizing
  • Performance may not match flagship devices

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 980 nits compared to the Pixel 6a's 876 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the A54's extra brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. The A54 also likely has a slightly more saturated color profile, appealing to many users.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems. The Galaxy A54 is generally considered to have a more versatile camera setup, likely including a wider range of focal lengths and potentially better low-light performance. The Pixel 6a leverages Google's computational photography expertise for excellent image processing, but the A54's hardware advantage gives it a slight edge.

Performance

The Google Pixel 6a's Google Tensor chip is a unique offering, providing smooth performance and excellent AI capabilities. However, the Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 is a strong contender, offering competitive performance, especially in gaming. While Tensor excels in specific AI tasks, the A54's CPU configuration (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78) provides a slight edge in sustained performance.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A54 clearly wins in the battery department. It boasts an endurance rating of 119h compared to the Pixel 6a's 94h. The A54 also supports 25W wired charging, faster than the Pixel 6a's 18W charging.

Buying Guide

The Google Pixel 6a is ideal for those prioritizing a clean Android experience, guaranteed software updates, and Google's AI-powered features. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a better fit for users who value long battery life, a vibrant display, and a versatile camera system with expandable storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Pixel 6a get software updates for a long time?
Yes, Google guarantees several years of software updates and security patches for the Pixel 6a, typically longer than Samsung offers for its A-series phones.
❓ Can I expand the storage on the Samsung Galaxy A54?
Yes, the Galaxy A54 supports microSD card expansion, allowing you to add more storage space.