Choosing a new Samsung phone can be overwhelming, especially with so many models available. Today, we're pitting the ultra-budget Galaxy A03 against the mid-range powerhouse, the Galaxy A54, to see which offers the best value for your money. This comparison will break down everything from display quality to battery life.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the A03 offers an incredibly affordable entry point, the A54's superior chipset, stunning display, impressive camera system, and long-lasting battery make it a significantly better overall device for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 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 Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, November 26 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 21 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 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 | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | PLS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI core 5 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 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 | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | Yes | 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 | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | microUSB 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 | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SM-A035F, SM-A035F/DS, SM-A035M, SM-A035G | 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 | € 119.90 / £ 88.00 / ₹ 11,990 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.20 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body) | 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) |
Samsung Galaxy A03
- Extremely affordable
- Decent battery life
- Lightweight design
- Weak performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent performance
- Vibrant and bright display
- Impressive camera system
- Long battery life
- Water and dust resistance (IP67)
- Can be slightly expensive compared to other budget options
- Charging speed could be faster
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with a peak brightness of 980 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. The A03's display is adequate but lacks the same level of detail and color accuracy. The A54's display is noticeably superior for media consumption and outdoor visibility.
Camera Comparison
The A54's camera system is a major upgrade. It captures sharper, more detailed photos and videos with better dynamic range. The A03's camera is functional but struggles in low-light conditions and produces less impressive results.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the A54 is a world apart from the Unisoc T606 in the A03. The A54 offers significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking, making it ideal for gaming and demanding apps. The A03 can feel sluggish at times.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the A54 achieving an endurance rating of 119 hours. The A03 also provides solid battery performance, but the A54's more efficient chipset and larger battery capacity give it a slight edge.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy A03 is ideal for users on a very tight budget who primarily need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light social media use. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a great camera, smooth performance, and a vibrant display, without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A03 worth buying?
The A03 is only worth buying if you're on an extremely tight budget and only need basic smartphone functionality. Otherwise, consider spending a bit more for a better experience.
❓ What are the key differences between the A03 and A54?
The A54 offers a significantly faster processor, a much better display, a superior camera system, and a more premium design compared to the A03.
❓ Does the A54 support 5G?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A54 supports 5G connectivity.
