Samsung Galaxy M55 vs Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a potentially smoother software experience, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus emerges as the stronger contender. Its Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset, coupled with a brighter display and faster charging, offers a more refined experience despite the Galaxy M55’s competitive price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M55 | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, March 28 | 2024, July 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, March 28 | Available. Released 2024, August 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 76.5 x 7.8 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.31 in) | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.5 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED+, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 644 | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, One UI 8.0 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | 50 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.76" |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes, 360˚ |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired | 50W wired, 50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Light Green | Black, Grey |
| Models | SM-M556B, SM-M556B/DS | A142P |
| Price | € 272.94 / $ 265.00 / £ 251.97 / ₹ 20,999 | € 269.90 / ₹ 22,599 |
| SAR | 0.93 W/kg (head) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.96 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) | - |
Samsung Galaxy M55
- Potentially lower price point
- Familiar Samsung One UI experience
- Qualcomm chipset offers broad app compatibility
- Slower charging speed (45W)
- Likely lower peak display brightness
- Potentially less efficient chipset
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Faster 50W charging
- Brighter display (1097 nits)
- Longer active use battery life (16:34h)
- Nothing OS may not appeal to all users
- MediaTek chipset may have slightly less software support
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus boasts a significant advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 1097 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a scenario where the Galaxy M55’s display specifications are currently unknown. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display’s power draw impacts overall efficiency. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s higher brightness suggests a more advanced panel, potentially with better color accuracy and viewing angles, though detailed calibration data is unavailable for either device. The absence of LTPO technology on either phone means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on flagship devices.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications beyond the main sensors, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s image processing philosophy leans towards a more natural look, while Samsung typically boosts colors and contrast. The absence of information regarding OIS on either device makes it difficult to assess low-light performance. The usefulness of any secondary cameras (likely 2MP macro/depth sensors) on either phone is questionable, and should not be a deciding factor for most users. Sensor size is the key metric missing here.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro, with its 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 cores, offers a higher peak clock speed compared to the Samsung Galaxy M55’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710). While core count is similar, the newer Cortex-A715 architecture generally provides improved single-core performance. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1’s configuration (1x2.4 GHz & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710) suggests a slightly less aggressive core clock distribution. Both are built on a 4nm process, but the Dimensity 7350 Pro’s architecture may offer better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The M55’s RAM configuration is unknown, but LPDDR5X would be a significant advantage.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus demonstrates a clear advantage in charging speed, achieving 50% charge in 21 minutes and 100% in 56 minutes with its 50W wired charging. The Samsung Galaxy M55’s 45W charging is slower. More importantly, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus achieves an impressive 16:34h active use score, indicating excellent battery life optimization. While the M55’s battery capacity is unknown, the faster charging and longer active use time of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus suggest superior power efficiency or a larger battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M55 if you prioritize a familiar Samsung user interface and are comfortable with potentially more aggressive power management to maximize battery life. Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if you prefer a cleaner Android experience, value a brighter, more vibrant display, and want faster charging speeds for minimal downtime. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is also the better choice for users who frequently consume media outdoors.