Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing a new Samsung phone can be tough, especially with so many great options. The Galaxy S23 and A54 are two popular contenders, offering different features and price points. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right decision.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S23 delivers flagship performance and a brighter display, while the A54 excels in battery life and offers a more budget-friendly price. For power users and photography enthusiasts, the S23 wins. For those prioritizing longevity and value, the A54 is the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S23 Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, February 012023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, February 17Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video50 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)
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, HDR10+-
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 3900 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, LimeLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsSM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DSSM-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$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 101h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.0 LUFS (Good) -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Flagship Performance
  • Brighter Display
  • Superior Camera
  • Premium Design
  • Faster Charging (Wired)

  • Higher Price
  • Slightly Shorter Battery Life (compared to A54)

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Excellent Battery Life
  • More Affordable
  • Stylish Design
  • Good Display
  • Water and Dust Resistance (IP67)

  • Lower Performance
  • Less Bright Display
  • Camera Not as Advanced
  • Slower Charging (Wired)

Display Comparison

The S23 boasts a significantly brighter display at 1198 nits compared to the A54's 980 nits, making it easier to see outdoors. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal), but the S23's higher brightness provides a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The S23 likely has a higher resolution and potentially a variable refresh rate for smoother scrolling.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the S23 generally has an edge. Expect better image processing, improved low-light performance, and more advanced video recording capabilities. The S23 likely has a more versatile lens setup with potentially better zoom capabilities. Both phones record video in high resolution, but the S23's processing will likely result in better quality.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 is a powerhouse, outperforming the Exynos 1380 in the A54 by a considerable margin. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S23. The S23's chipset is also more power-efficient despite its higher performance.

Battery Life

The A54 demonstrates superior battery endurance with an endurance rating of 119 hours, compared to the S23's 101 hours. While both offer decent active use battery life (around 11 hours), the A54's larger battery capacity gives it a clear advantage in longevity.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is ideal for users who demand top-tier performance, a premium design, and the best possible camera experience. It's perfect for gamers, content creators, and anyone who wants the latest and greatest. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a fantastic option for budget-conscious buyers who still want a stylish phone with a great display, capable camera, and exceptional battery life. It's a solid all-arounder for everyday use.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Galaxy S23 worth the extra money?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a premium experience, the S23 is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and value battery life, the A54 offers excellent value.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Both Samsung phones receive excellent software support, with guaranteed updates for several years. However, the S23, being a flagship device, might receive updates slightly sooner.