The Samsung Galaxy A series has consistently delivered mid-range excellence. But how does the aging A5 (2016) stack up against the modern powerhouse that is the Galaxy A54? This comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide which phone is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the A5 (2016) boasts impressive battery endurance for its time, the A54’s superior display, significantly faster performance, improved camera, and modern features make it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 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 Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / UMTS / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | UMTS 2100 | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, December. Released 2015, December | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 144.8 x 71 x 7.3 mm (5.70 x 2.80 x 0.29 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 | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) - China only | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm)Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) - China only | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2Adreno 405 - China only | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 or eMMC 4.5 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP, (macro)
2 MP, (depth)
2 MP | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), AF, OIS | 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 |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide) | 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 | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | ANT+
Samsung Pay | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Music play | Up to 75 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 16 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Gold, Pink | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SM-A5100, SM-A510F, SM-A510M, SM-A510Y, SM-A510FD, SM-A5108, SM-A510S, SM-A510K, SM-A510L, SM-A510 | 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 160 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.47 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.47 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -53.0dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 91h
|
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.789 (sunlight)3.789 |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 66dB
|
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 833Basemark X: 4947 |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
- Exceptional battery life (for its time)
- Compact size
- Affordable (used)
- Outdated performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- No modern features
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Bright and vibrant display
- Fast performance
- Versatile camera system
- Modern features (5G, NFC)
- Long software support
- Slightly larger size
- Charging speed could be faster
Display Comparison
The A54's display is a massive upgrade. It boasts a significantly brighter 980 nits peak brightness compared to the A5 (2016)'s unspecified brightness, offering far better visibility in sunlight. While both have 'infinite' contrast ratios (a marketing term), the A54's AMOLED panel delivers richer colors and deeper blacks. The A5 (2016) had a 720p resolution, while the A54 has a 1080p display, resulting in sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
The A54's camera system is a substantial improvement. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the A54 features a higher resolution main sensor, improved image processing, and enhanced low-light performance. The A5 (2016) camera was decent for its time, but struggles compared to the A54's capabilities.
Performance
The A54's Exynos 1380 chipset is a world apart from the A5 (2016)'s Exynos 7580 or Snapdragon 615. The A54 offers significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking, thanks to its newer architecture and 5nm manufacturing process. The A5 (2016) felt sluggish by today's standards, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
Both phones have impressive battery life. The A5 (2016) had an endurance rating of 91h, while the A54 boasts 119h. However, the A54's active use score of 11:15h demonstrates its efficiency with modern usage patterns. The A54 also supports 25W charging, a slight improvement over the A5 (2016)'s 18W.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)? Those seeking a very budget-friendly, basic smartphone with exceptional battery life and are comfortable with older technology. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Anyone wanting a modern, capable smartphone with a great display, fast performance, and a versatile camera system.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) still worth buying?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and prioritize battery life above all else. Otherwise, the A54 offers a much better overall experience.
❓ How much faster is the Galaxy A54 than the A5 (2016)?
The A54 is significantly faster, offering a noticeable improvement in app loading times, multitasking, and overall responsiveness. It's a generational leap in performance.
