Samsung Galaxy A54 vs. Galaxy S5 Neo: A Generational Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the S5 Neo holds a nostalgic charm, the A54 boasts significantly superior performance, a vastly improved camera, a brighter display, and much better battery life. It's a modern phone for modern needs.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A54 | Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 15 | 2015, August. Released 2015, August |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 24 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MP5 | Mali-T720MP2 |
| OS | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| - | eMMC 5.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF |
| 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate |
| Virtual proximity sensing | ANT+ S-Voice | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 73 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White | Black, Gray, Gold |
| 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 | SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL |
| Price | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) | 1.03 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) | 0.46 W/kg (head) 0.58 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 A54
- Excellent display
- Powerful performance
- Great camera
- Long battery life
- Modern features (5G, NFC)
- Can be pricier than older models
- Plastic build (though durable)
Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo
- Very affordable
- Compact size
- Nostalgic appeal
- Outdated performance
- Low-resolution display
- Poor camera
- Short battery life
- No 5G
Display Comparison
The A54's display is a massive upgrade. It features a vibrant Super AMOLED panel with a peak brightness of 980 nits, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The S5 Neo's LCD screen is noticeably dimmer and lacks the color vibrancy of the A54. Contrast ratio is also significantly better on the A54.
Camera Comparison
The A54's camera system is far superior. It offers higher resolution sensors, improved image processing, and features like optical image stabilization (OIS). The S5 Neo's camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but struggles in low light and lacks the detail and dynamic range of the A54.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the A54 provides a substantial performance boost over the S5 Neo's Exynos 7580. The A54 handles multitasking and demanding apps with ease, while the S5 Neo can feel sluggish at times. The A54's 5nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
The A54 offers exceptional battery life, achieving an active use score of 11:15h and an endurance rating of 119h. The S5 Neo's battery life is considerably shorter, reflecting its older technology and less efficient chipset.
Buying Guide
The Galaxy A54 is ideal for users seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with a good camera and long battery life. The Galaxy S5 Neo is best suited for those seeking a very budget-friendly option, or those with a strong nostalgic attachment to older Android devices, understanding its limitations.