The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Oppo A97 and the Samsung Galaxy A54. Both promise a compelling experience, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior display, camera capabilities, and longer software support. While the Oppo A97 offers a decent chipset and faster charging, the A54's refined experience and brand reputation make it the better choice for most users.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 12 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 15 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 75.1 x 8 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.31 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 + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 12, ColorOS 12 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP | 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 | 12 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | 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/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | PFTM10 | 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 310 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) |
Oppo A97
- Faster Charging (33W)
- Decent Performance for the Price
- Sleek Design
- Less Bright Display
- Weaker Camera
- Less Software Support
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent Display
- Superior Camera
- Long Software Support
- Premium Build Quality
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Slower Charging (25W)
- Can be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits peak) with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering richer colors and deeper blacks. The Oppo A97's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and outdoor visibility of the A54. The A54's display is a clear winner.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54's camera system is a major advantage. It consistently delivers excellent photo and video quality, with improved dynamic range and detail. The Oppo A97's camera is serviceable but struggles in low-light conditions and lacks the overall refinement of the A54's system. The A54's camera is the clear winner.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54, built on a 5nm process, generally outperforms the Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6nm) in the Oppo A97 in sustained performance and efficiency. While the A97 handles everyday tasks well, the A54 provides a smoother experience with demanding apps and games. The A54's CPU architecture (Cortex-A78 cores) also contributes to better performance.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A54 demonstrating exceptional endurance (119h endurance rating). The Oppo A97 also provides solid battery life, but the A54's optimization and larger battery capacity give it a slight edge. The A54 wins on battery endurance.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Oppo A97? Budget-conscious users prioritizing fast charging and a smooth gaming experience on a tighter budget. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Users seeking a premium feel, excellent camera performance, a vibrant display, and guaranteed software updates for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 offers significantly longer software support, including more years of Android updates and security patches.
❓ Is the Oppo A97 good for gaming?
The Oppo A97 can handle most games at moderate settings, but the Samsung Galaxy A54 provides a smoother and more consistent gaming experience.