The Samsung D500 represents a bygone era of mobile technology, while the Galaxy A54 is a modern mid-range powerhouse. This comparison explores how these two phones stack up against each other, considering their vastly different release dates and technological advancements. We'll delve into design, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life to help you decide which is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the D500 holds nostalgic value, the A54’s superior performance, modern camera, vibrant display, and significantly longer battery life make it the practical choice for today's users. The D500 is a relic; the A54 is a current contender.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | 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 |
| EDGE | Yes (in D500E version only) | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2004, Q4 | 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 | 93.5 x 45.7 x 23.5 mm (3.68 x 1.80 x 0.93 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 99 g (3.49 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 176 x 220 pixels (~148 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.9 inches, 11.4 cm2 (~26.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | - | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | - | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls | - |
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | - | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 x 12 fields, Photo call | - |
| | 96 MB shared memory for photos, video, MMS, MP3 files
4 MB for Java
200 short messages
400 calendar events | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 1.3 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 | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 1.1 | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | - | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Proprietary | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML | - |
| Games | 3 + downloadable | - |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | - |
| Messaging | SMS, EMS, MMS, Email | - |
| Sensors | - | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | MP3/MP4/AAC player
Predictive text input
SyncML
Organizer
Voice memo | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 380 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 800 mAh battery | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Black | 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 | - | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.51 W/kg (head) | 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) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery | - | Active use score 11:15h |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | 980 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung D500
- Nostalgic design
- Compact size (likely)
- Simple interface (potentially)
- Outdated technology
- Poor performance
- Low-resolution display
- Limited camera capabilities
- Short battery life
- Lack of modern features
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent display
- Powerful performance
- Great camera
- Long battery life
- Modern features
- 5G connectivity
- Plastic build (potentially)
- Charging speed could be faster
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with a measured peak brightness of 980 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. The D500's display, typical of its era, is likely smaller, lower resolution, and lacks the color accuracy and brightness of the A54. Expect a much more immersive viewing experience with the A54.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54's camera system is far more advanced, offering higher resolution photos and videos, improved low-light performance, and a wider range of features. The D500's camera, while functional for its time, simply cannot compete with the A54's capabilities. Expect significantly better image quality and versatility with the A54.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 chipset in the Galaxy A54 offers a substantial performance advantage over the D500's likely older and less powerful processor. The A54's octa-core CPU handles multitasking and demanding apps with ease, while the D500 may struggle with modern software and games. The A54's 5nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 excels in battery life, offering an endurance rating of 119 hours and active use lasting over 11 hours. The D500's battery life was likely considerably shorter, reflecting the limitations of older battery technology and less efficient processors. The A54 provides significantly longer usage between charges.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung D500? Primarily collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience with a classic Samsung phone. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Anyone looking for a reliable, feature-rich mid-range smartphone with a great camera, long battery life, and a modern design.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung D500 worth anything today?
The Samsung D500's value is primarily sentimental. It may be of interest to collectors of vintage mobile phones, but its functionality is severely limited by modern standards.
❓ Can I still find apps for the Samsung D500?
No. The D500 uses an outdated operating system and app store, making it incompatible with modern apps.
