The LG Stylo 5 represents a legacy of affordable, stylus-equipped smartphones, while the Samsung Galaxy A54 is a current-generation contender aiming to deliver a well-rounded experience. This comparison dissects their key differences, helping you determine if the A54’s newer technology justifies its price premium over the older, but still available, Stylo 5.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the superior choice. Its significantly faster Exynos 1380 chipset, brighter display, and longer endurance rating outweigh the Stylo 5’s lower price. However, the Stylo 5 remains a viable option for those on an extremely tight budget prioritizing basic functionality.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 29, 30, 66 | 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, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, June. Released 2019, June | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 160 x 77.7 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 3.06 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 + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | Stylus | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~79.8% 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 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | 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 | 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 | 13 MP, 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 |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
8 MP | - |
| Single | 5 MP | 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 | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blonde Rose, Platinum Gray | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | LM-Q720 | 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 |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise-93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.0dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 79h
|
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1485 (nominal), 3.218 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 62dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 70dB
|
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
GeekBench: 4695 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Stylo 5
- Stylus support for note-taking and drawing.
- Lower price point makes it accessible.
- Decent battery endurance for basic usage.
- Outdated Snapdragon 450 chipset limits performance.
- Display quality is significantly inferior to the A54.
- Camera performance is likely subpar in challenging conditions.
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Powerful Exynos 1380 chipset delivers smooth performance.
- Bright and vibrant display enhances media consumption.
- Superior camera system captures detailed and high-quality images.
- Higher price point compared to the LG Stylo 5.
- May be overkill for users with very basic smartphone needs.
- Software updates may be limited compared to flagship Samsung devices.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 980 nits, compared to the LG Stylo 5’s nominal contrast ratio of 1485 and sunlight contrast of 3.218. While the Stylo 5’s contrast ratios suggest decent visibility, the A54’s higher peak brightness translates to a far more usable experience outdoors. The A54’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (likely a marketing term for a high-quality AMOLED panel) implies deeper blacks and more vivid colors, a stark contrast to the Stylo 5’s likely IPS LCD. The A54’s panel likely features a higher refresh rate, contributing to smoother scrolling and animations, a feature absent on the Stylo 5.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the A54 is expected to deliver superior image quality. While specific sensor details are missing, Samsung typically equips its A-series phones with capable cameras. The A54 likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which the Stylo 5 likely lacks. The Stylo 5’s camera will suffice for casual snapshots, but the A54 will excel in low-light conditions and offer more detail and dynamic range. It's important to note that the presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is unlikely to significantly impact overall camera performance.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380, built on a 5nm process, features a combination of Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores clocked up to 2.4 GHz. This architecture is significantly more powerful and efficient than the LG Stylo 5’s Snapdragon 450, a 14nm chip with Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.8 GHz. The A54’s CPU will handle multitasking, demanding apps, and gaming with ease, while the Stylo 5 will struggle with anything beyond basic tasks. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1380 also contributes to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained use.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A54 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance. Its active use score of 11:15h and endurance rating of 119h significantly surpass the LG Stylo 5’s 79h endurance rating. While the Stylo 5 supports 20W wired charging, the A54 offers 25W charging, potentially reducing charge times. However, the A54’s more efficient chipset likely contributes more to its longer battery life than the slightly faster charging speed. The A54’s larger battery capacity (not specified, but likely higher than the Stylo 5) combined with the 5nm Exynos 1380 results in a substantially longer-lasting device.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Stylo 5 if you need a basic smartphone with stylus support and are constrained by a very limited budget, prioritizing longevity over performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you value a smoother user experience, a vibrant display for media consumption, and a more capable camera system, and are willing to invest in a more modern device.
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 terms of thermal performance. While some heat generation is inevitable during intensive gaming, the A54’s thermal design should prevent significant throttling, allowing for sustained performance. However, prolonged gaming in hot environments may still lead to some temperature increase.
❓ Is the stylus on the LG Stylo 5 truly useful, or is it more of a gimmick?
The stylus on the LG Stylo 5 can be genuinely useful for users who frequently take handwritten notes, sketch, or navigate the interface with precision. While it doesn't offer the advanced features of the Samsung S Pen, it provides a convenient alternative to using your finger, particularly for those with larger hands or who prefer a more tactile experience.
❓ How does the camera on the Samsung Galaxy A54 perform in low-light conditions compared to the LG Stylo 5?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is expected to significantly outperform the LG Stylo 5 in low-light photography. The A54 likely features a larger sensor, wider aperture, and more sophisticated image processing algorithms, allowing it to capture brighter, more detailed images with less noise in dimly lit environments. The Stylo 5’s camera will likely struggle in low light, producing grainy and underexposed photos.
