Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs Galaxy A54: A Generational Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ was a flagship of its time, boasting a unique curved display and powerful specs. Now, years later, it faces off against the more modern Galaxy A54. Can the aging flagship still compete with Samsung's mid-range champion?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the S6 edge+ had a striking design, the A54's superior performance, significantly better battery life, modern features, and ongoing software support make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G928T, G928AHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20 - G928T1, 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
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps/ LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26 - G928F25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2015, August. Released 2015, August2023, March 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9 mm (6.08 x 2.98 x 0.27 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight153 g (5.40 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 4Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size5.7 inches, 88.5 cm2 (~75.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 7420 Octa (14 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUMali-T760MP8Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), TouchWiz UIAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS32 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)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1440p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 ANT+ S-Voice natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging15W wired Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)25W wired
Music playUp to 66 h-
Talk timeUp to 20 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, White Pearl, PinkLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsSM-G928A, SM-G928F, SM-G928A, SM-G928T, G928I, SM-G928G, SM-G928C, SM-G928I, SCV31, SM-G9280, SM-G928L, SM-G928S, SM-G928K, SM-G928W8SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 450 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR1.22 W/kg (head)     1.48 W/kg (body)0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.22 W/kg (head)     0.58 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -93.7dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 83h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.615 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 70dB -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance Basemark X: 26333 AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+

  • Unique curved display
  • Compact size (for its time)
  • Premium build quality

  • Outdated performance
  • Poor battery life
  • No software updates
  • Slow charging
  • Likely battery degradation

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Excellent battery life
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Good camera performance
  • Modern chipset
  • Ongoing software updates
  • Faster charging

  • Plastic build (compared to the S6 edge+'s metal and glass)
  • Design is less distinctive

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A54's display is a clear upgrade. It boasts a much higher peak brightness of 980 nits, making it far more visible in direct sunlight. While both have 'infinite' contrast ratios (a common marketing term), the A54's modern panel technology provides better color accuracy and overall image quality. The S6 edge+'s curved screen is visually appealing but can be prone to accidental touches.

Camera Comparison

While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the A54's camera system is vastly superior. It benefits from advancements in sensor technology, image processing, and software algorithms. Expect better low-light performance, more detailed photos, and improved video stabilization on the A54. The S6 edge+'s camera was good for its time, but it's outdated by today's standards.

Performance

The Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 (5nm) significantly outperforms the S6 edge+'s Exynos 7420 (14nm). The newer CPU architecture and manufacturing process result in faster processing speeds, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The A54 handles modern apps and games with ease, while the S6 edge+ may struggle with demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 dominates in battery life. Its endurance rating of 119h is significantly higher than the S6 edge+'s 83h. The A54 also supports 25W wired charging, a faster charging speed than the S6 edge+'s 15W. The S6 edge+'s battery is also likely degraded after years of use.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is for collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience with a unique design. The Galaxy A54 is ideal for everyday users wanting a reliable, feature-rich phone with a great camera and long battery life at a reasonable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the S6 edge+ still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with significant limitations. Performance will be sluggish, battery life will be poor, and it won't receive any software updates, making it vulnerable to security threats.
❓ Can I find replacement batteries for the S6 edge+?
Yes, but finding a reliable and high-quality replacement battery can be challenging. Battery degradation is a common issue with older phones.