Choosing a new Samsung phone can be overwhelming. The Galaxy M21 2021 offered great value at its release, while the A54 represents a more modern and premium experience. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the M21 2021 remains a budget-friendly option, the A54’s superior chipset, brighter display, improved camera, faster charging, and longer software support make it a significantly better overall package.
| 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 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 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, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 21 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 26 | 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 | 159 x 75.1 x 9 mm (6.26 x 2.96 x 0.35 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 | 192 g (6.77 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 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 11, One UI 3.1 Core | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | 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@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 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 | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Arctic Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SM-M215G, SM-M215G/DS | 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 130 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 0.47 W/kg (head) | 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) |
Samsung Galaxy M21 2021
- Affordable
- Large Display
- Decent Battery Life
- Expandable Storage (microSD)
- Older Chipset
- Slower Charging
- Less Premium Build
- Limited Software Updates
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Powerful Chipset
- Bright & Vibrant Display
- Improved Camera
- Faster Charging
- Longer Software Support
- Premium Design
- Higher Price
- No Expandable Storage
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits vs. likely around 400-500 nits for the M21 2021) with a potentially better color accuracy and contrast ratio (Infinite vs. typical). The A54's display also likely has a higher resolution and refresh rate, offering a smoother visual experience. The M21 2021's display is adequate but noticeably less impressive.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54’s camera system is a clear step up. While both offer decent photo and video capabilities, the A54 benefits from a more modern sensor, improved image processing, and potentially better low-light performance. Expect more detailed photos and smoother videos from the A54.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is a substantial upgrade over the Exynos 9611 in the M21 2021. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the A54. The A54's 5nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings around 119 hours. However, the A54’s more efficient chipset and potentially optimized software could give it a slight edge in real-world usage. The A54 also supports faster 25W charging compared to the M21 2021's 15W.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize a large screen and decent battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a more premium experience with better performance, a superior camera, and longer-term software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy M21 2021 still worth buying?
If you're on a very tight budget and primarily need a large screen and long battery life, the M21 2021 can be a decent option. However, the A54 offers significantly better value overall.
❓ How long will the Galaxy A54 receive software updates?
Samsung promises 4 years of major Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Galaxy A54.
