Samsung Galaxy M55 vs A55: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around usability and a brighter, more vibrant display, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is the better choice. Its Exynos 1480 provides ample performance, and the 1010 nit display is significantly brighter than what's expected in this price bracket. However, power users who frequently game or multitask will find the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in the M55 more responsive.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M55 | Samsung Galaxy A55 |
| 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, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 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/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, March 28 | 2024, March 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, March 28 | Available. Released 2024, March 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 76.5 x 7.8 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.31 in) | 161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm (6.34 x 3.05 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED+, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Exynos 1480 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 644 | Xclipse 530 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, One UI 8.0 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 (market/region dependent) |
| 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, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Light Green | Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
| Models | SM-M556B, SM-M556B/DS | SM-A556V, SM-A556B, SM-A556B/DS, SM-A556E, SM-A556E/DS, SM-A5560 |
| Price | € 272.94 / $ 265.00 / £ 251.97 / ₹ 20,999 | $ 324.99 / £ 251.50 / € 319.99 / ₹ 23,998 |
| SAR | 0.93 W/kg (head) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.96 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) | 0.68 W/kg (head) 1.04 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy M55
- More powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset
- Faster 45W wired charging
- Potentially better sustained performance for gaming
- Likely dimmer display compared to the A55
- Potentially shorter battery life in typical use
Samsung Galaxy A55
- Brighter 1010 nit display for outdoor visibility
- Longer battery life (13:27h active use)
- Refined software experience
- Less powerful Exynos 1480 chipset
- Slower 25W wired charging
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A55 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1010 nits, making it far more usable outdoors in direct sunlight. While the M55’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s unlikely to match this peak brightness. The A55’s panel likely benefits from Samsung’s advancements in display technology, offering superior color accuracy and viewing angles. The absence of LTPO technology in either model suggests both utilize a standard refresh rate panel, potentially impacting power consumption during dynamic content.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given Samsung’s typical strategy, the A55 likely benefits from more refined image processing algorithms. Both phones likely feature a similar primary sensor resolution, but the A55 may have a wider aperture for improved low-light performance. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A55 would be a significant advantage, reducing blur in photos and videos. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are likely to offer limited utility, serving primarily as filler specs.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy M55 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4nm), featuring a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 prime core and 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 performance cores, alongside 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510 efficiency cores. The A55, conversely, employs the Exynos 1480 (4nm) with a 4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 configuration and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. While the A55’s cores have a higher clock speed, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1’s architecture, particularly the A710 cores, is generally more efficient and delivers better sustained performance. This translates to smoother gaming and faster app loading times on the M55. Both phones likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the M55’s chipset is better equipped to handle thermal throttling under prolonged load.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A55 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving 13:27h of active use. While the M55’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the A55’s longer runtime suggests a combination of efficient chipset and optimized software. The M55 compensates with faster 45W wired charging, potentially reducing 0-100% charge times compared to the A55’s 25W charging. However, the A55’s superior battery life may negate the need for rapid charging in many scenarios.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M55 if you need sustained performance for gaming or demanding applications and value a slightly faster charging experience. Its Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset offers a noticeable edge in CPU-intensive tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A55 if you prefer a brighter, more visually appealing display, longer battery life in typical use, and a more polished software experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.