Samsung Galaxy A54 vs M42 5G: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Mid-Range Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users in 2024, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the superior choice. While the M42 5G remains a viable option for those on a very tight budget, the A54’s significantly more powerful Exynos 1380 chipset, brighter display, and faster charging outweigh the M42’s initial cost advantage.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M42 5G | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 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, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 28 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 01 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.34 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 | 190 g (6.70 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 (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~84.3% 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 (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (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 | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot Gray | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SM-M426B, SM-M426B/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 220 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 0.69 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 M42 5G
- Significantly lower price point (typically)
- 5G connectivity
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Older chipset with lower performance
- Slower 15W charging
- Likely lower display quality
Samsung Galaxy A54
- More powerful Exynos 1380 chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster 25W charging
- Improved camera performance
- Higher price tag
- May not be significantly faster for very basic tasks
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 980 nits, compared to an unstated value for the M42 5G. This higher peak brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), the A54’s panel technology is likely more advanced, offering improved color accuracy and viewing angles. The M42 5G’s display, being older, may exhibit lower color gamut coverage and potentially a lower PWM dimming rate, which could cause eye strain for sensitive users.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but details regarding sensor sizes and specific features are limited for the M42 5G. The A54 likely benefits from Samsung’s newer image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor, resulting in improved image quality, especially in low-light conditions. While both may include a 2MP macro camera, these are generally of limited utility. The A54’s camera system is expected to offer more consistent performance and a wider range of features, such as improved video stabilization and potentially 4K recording at higher frame rates.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the M42 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (8nm), while the A54 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 (5nm). The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1380 provides a clear advantage in power efficiency and thermal management. The A54’s CPU configuration – a combination of 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – outperforms the M42 5G’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 setup in both single-core and multi-core benchmarks. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience on the A54. The A54 also benefits from potentially faster RAM (likely LPDDR5 vs LPDDR4X in the M42 5G).
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 achieves an impressive active use battery score of 11:15h and an endurance rating of 119h, indicating excellent battery life. The M42 5G’s battery capacity is unknown, but its less efficient Snapdragon 750G chipset and slower 15W charging likely result in shorter runtimes and longer charging times. The A54’s 25W wired charging significantly reduces charging times, allowing for a quicker top-up when needed. While both have the same endurance rating, the A54's faster charging is a significant convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G if you prioritize 5G connectivity on the absolute lowest budget and are willing to compromise on performance and display quality. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you value a brighter, more vibrant display, smoother performance for demanding apps and games, and faster 25W charging, even at a slightly higher price point.