The Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM, released in 2014, represents a bygone era of Windows Phone. We're pitting it against the modern Samsung Galaxy A54 to illustrate just how far smartphone technology has advanced, and to determine if a user still on the Lumia platform has a compelling reason to upgrade.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. Its vastly superior performance, significantly brighter display, and modern camera system offer an experience light years ahead of the aging Lumia 535. While the Lumia boasts respectable endurance for its time, the A54’s overall package justifies the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - RM-1090 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 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 | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-1092 | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, November. Released 2014, December | 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 | 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8 mm (5.52 x 2.85 x 0.35 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 146 g (5.15 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~220 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.9% 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 | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (28 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 302 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF | 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 | 480p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Music play | Up to 78 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 336 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 1905 mAh, removable (BL-L4A) | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Orange, green, white, black, gray, blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | - | 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 80 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 0.49 W/kg (head) 0.44 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 44h |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 71dB |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM
- Extremely affordable (if found used)
- Dual SIM functionality
- Long talk time (for its era)
- Outdated operating system (Windows Phone)
- Poor performance by modern standards
- Low-resolution display
- Limited app availability
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Bright and vibrant display
- Powerful Exynos 1380 processor
- Versatile camera system
- Long battery life with fast charging
- Modern Android operating system
- Higher price point
- May lack a headphone jack (depending on region)
- Plastic build (though durable)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54’s display is a monumental upgrade. Its measured peak brightness of 980 nits dwarfs whatever the Lumia 535 offered, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the Lumia 535’s panel specifications are unavailable, it’s safe to assume it lacks the A54’s infinite contrast ratio and likely suffers from narrower viewing angles. The A54’s larger screen size and higher resolution contribute to a far more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo' camera, but the similarities end there. The Lumia 535’s camera specifications are limited, but it’s unlikely to compete with the A54’s more advanced system. The A54 offers both photo and video capabilities, with features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and a larger sensor (specifications unavailable, but assumed to be significantly larger) for better low-light performance. While the A54 may not have a dedicated telephoto lens, its image processing capabilities and overall sensor quality will deliver far superior results.
Performance
The performance gap is immense. The Lumia 535’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, built on a 28nm process, features a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. This is dramatically outmatched by the Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380 (5nm) with its octa-core configuration (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). The A54’s newer architecture and smaller fabrication node translate to significantly faster processing speeds, improved power efficiency, and a smoother user experience, especially when multitasking or running demanding applications. The A54 will handle modern mobile games with ease, while the Lumia 535 will struggle with even less intensive titles.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts an endurance rating of 119 hours, a substantial improvement over the Lumia 535’s 44-hour rating. While the A54’s active use score is 11:15h, the endurance rating suggests superior standby efficiency. The A54 also supports 25W wired charging, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge time compared to the Lumia 535, which likely relied on slower charging standards. The 5nm Exynos 1380’s efficiency contributes to the A54’s impressive battery life despite its more demanding features.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM if you absolutely need a basic, extremely affordable phone for calls and texts, and prioritize maximum talk time over all other features. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you value a vibrant display, capable camera, smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming, and access to a modern app ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1380 is a relatively efficient chip built on a 5nm process. While it will generate heat during prolonged gaming, the A54’s thermal management system is generally effective at preventing significant throttling. Expect some performance dip after extended play, but it shouldn’t be severe enough to ruin the experience.
❓ Is the Lumia 535 still secure to use in 2024, considering Microsoft no longer supports Windows Phone?
No. The Lumia 535 running Windows Phone is highly vulnerable to security threats. Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone years ago, meaning no security updates are being released. Using it for sensitive tasks like online banking or storing personal information is strongly discouraged.
❓ Can I transfer my contacts and photos from the Lumia 535 to the Galaxy A54?
Transferring data can be tricky due to the different operating systems. Microsoft offers tools to export contacts and photos to cloud services like OneDrive. You can then access these services on the Galaxy A54. Third-party apps designed for cross-platform data transfer are also available, but exercise caution and ensure they are reputable.
