The smartphone market is flooded with options, but finding the right balance between price and performance can be tricky. We pit the older, budget-focused LG K51S against the newer, mid-range Samsung Galaxy A54 to determine which device offers the best value for your money. This comparison focuses on real-world implications of their differing hardware, not just raw specifications.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. Its significantly more powerful Exynos 1380 chipset, brighter display, and longer software support justify the higher price tag. However, the LG K51S remains a viable option for those on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality.
| 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, 28, 38 | 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 | 2020, February 18. Released 2020, April 27 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 3.02 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 | 194.5 g (6.88 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 | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 93.6 cm2 (~73.8% 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 (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 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 |
| Quad | 32 MP, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 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 |
|---|
| Single | 13 MP, 1/3.1", 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 | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAorWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 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-Po 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium, Pink, Blue, Red | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | LMK510EMW, LM-K510EMW, LM-K510 | 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 200 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 K51S
- Extremely affordable price point
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks
- Potentially larger battery capacity (speculation)
- Outdated and slow processor
- Poor gaming performance
- Limited software support
- Likely lower quality display
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Powerful Exynos 1380 chipset
- Bright and vibrant display
- Excellent battery life and 25W charging
- Long-term software support
- Higher price tag
- May be overkill for basic users
- Potential for software bloat (Samsung's One UI)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 980 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the LG K51S. This translates to much better visibility outdoors in direct sunlight. While the LG K51S's display specs are unavailable, it's likely to be a lower-resolution panel. The Galaxy A54's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a VA panel, offering deeper blacks, while the K51S likely uses an IPS panel. This difference impacts media consumption and overall visual experience, favoring the A54.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but the Samsung Galaxy A54 is expected to deliver superior image quality. While specific sensor details are missing for both, Samsung typically employs larger sensors and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The LG K51S likely relies on simpler image processing, resulting in less dynamic range and detail. The A54's camera system is designed for better low-light performance and more versatile shooting options. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the A54, a common feature in Samsung's A-series, is also a significant advantage.
Performance
The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 (5nm) utilizes newer Cortex-A78 cores, offering a significant performance uplift over the LG K51S's MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm) and its older Cortex-A53 cores. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1380 also provides superior power efficiency, leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. The A54 is capable of handling demanding apps and games, while the K51S will struggle with anything beyond basic tasks. The A54's CPU architecture is a generation ahead, offering better single-core and multi-core performance.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A54 achieves an impressive endurance rating of 119 hours and 11:15 hours of active use, indicating excellent battery life. While the LG K51S's battery capacity is unknown, its less efficient chipset will likely result in shorter runtimes. The A54 also supports 25W wired charging, allowing for faster top-ups compared to the K51S, which likely has slower charging capabilities. The combination of a more efficient chipset and faster charging gives the A54 a clear advantage in battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG K51S if you need a functional smartphone for essential tasks like calls, texts, and light social media, and your budget is under $150. You're willing to accept slower performance and limited future updates. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prioritize a smooth user experience, better camera quality, a vibrant display, and long-term software support, and are willing to spend around $300-$400.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1380 is generally well-managed in terms of thermals. While it can get warm during extended gaming, Samsung's cooling solutions and the 5nm process help prevent significant throttling. It's unlikely to overheat to the point of causing performance issues for most games.
❓ Is the LG K51S suitable for playing modern mobile games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The LG K51S's Helio P35 chipset is not powerful enough to provide a smooth gaming experience in demanding titles like PUBG or Call of Duty. You'll likely encounter significant lag, low frame rates, and graphical compromises, even on the lowest settings.
❓ How long will the Samsung Galaxy A54 receive software updates?
Samsung typically provides four years of major Android OS updates and five years of security updates for its A-series devices. This means the Galaxy A54 will likely receive updates until around 2028, ensuring long-term security and access to new features.
❓ What type of charging port does each phone use?
Both the LG K51S and the Samsung Galaxy A54 use a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. However, the A54 supports faster charging speeds (25W) compared to the K51S, which likely has slower charging capabilities.
