The Samsung Galaxy A54 and LG K40 represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The A54 aims for a balanced experience with a modern chipset and vibrant display, while the K40 prioritizes affordability. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device delivers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. Its significantly more powerful Exynos 1380 chipset, coupled with a brighter and likely more color-accurate display, provides a smoother and more enjoyable user experience. While the LG K40 offers a lower price point, the performance gap is substantial.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, February. Released 2019, April | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 153 x 71.9 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~76.2% 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 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), LG UX 7 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF | 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 | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, New Moroccan Blue, New Platinum Gray | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | LMX420, LMX420EMW, LM-X420 | 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 140 EUR | € 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 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) |
LG K40
- Significantly faster processor (Exynos 1380)
- Brighter and more vibrant display (980 nits)
- Longer battery life and faster charging (25W)
- Higher price point
- May have more features than some users need
Samsung Galaxy A54
- More affordable price
- Potentially adequate for basic smartphone tasks
- Simpler user experience
- Slow processor (Helio P22)
- Likely lower quality display
- Limited performance for demanding apps and games
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 980 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a weakness likely present in the LG K40, which lacks a specified brightness figure. While the K40's panel type isn't specified, the A54's likely utilizes Super AMOLED technology, offering superior contrast (rated as 'Infinite') and color reproduction. The A54's display is geared towards immersive media consumption, while the K40 is likely focused on minimizing cost.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but the details are limited. The A54 likely benefits from Samsung's advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. While the K40's camera specs are unknown, it's reasonable to assume it will lag behind the A54 in image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The A54's camera system is designed for versatile photography, while the K40's is likely a basic offering.
Performance
The performance disparity is stark. The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 (5nm) is a modern octa-core processor featuring powerful Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, alongside efficient Cortex-A55 cores. This contrasts sharply with the LG K40's MediaTek Helio P22 (12nm) and its Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1380 translates to better power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling, meaning sustained performance during demanding tasks. The A54 will handle multitasking, gaming, and resource-intensive apps with ease, while the K40 will struggle with anything beyond basic usage.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A54 achieves an impressive endurance rating of 119 hours and 11:15 hours of active use, suggesting excellent battery life. It also supports 25W wired charging, allowing for relatively quick top-ups. The LG K40's battery capacity and charging speed are unspecified, but given its lower-end chipset, it may not require as much power. However, the A54's combination of efficiency and fast charging provides a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG K40 if you need a basic smartphone for essential tasks like calls, texts, and light social media browsing, and your budget is extremely limited. You'll be sacrificing performance and display quality. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prioritize a responsive user experience, a vibrant display for media consumption, and a camera capable of capturing detailed photos and videos, even in challenging lighting conditions. It's a worthwhile investment for those seeking a more premium mid-range experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1380, built on a 5nm process, is generally efficient and well-managed in the Galaxy A54. While it can get warm during extended gaming, Samsung's thermal management system typically prevents significant throttling, maintaining a playable frame rate for most titles. It's far less prone to overheating than the older Helio P22 in the K40.
❓ Is the LG K40 suitable for playing demanding games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile?
The LG K40's MediaTek Helio P22 chipset is not well-suited for demanding games. You may be able to run them at the lowest settings, but expect significant frame rate drops and lag, making the experience unenjoyable. The A54 is the far better choice for mobile gaming.
❓ How much faster is the charging speed on the Samsung Galaxy A54 compared to what we might expect on the LG K40?
The Galaxy A54 supports 25W wired charging, which can significantly reduce charging times. The LG K40 likely supports a much slower charging speed (likely 10W or less), resulting in a considerably longer time to fully charge the battery. This difference is noticeable for users who frequently need to top up their phones.
