vivo V30 vs Samsung Galaxy A55: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing display brightness and rapid charging, the vivo V30 emerges as the winner. Its 80W charging and significantly brighter 1253 nit display offer tangible benefits. However, the Galaxy A55 remains a compelling option for those deeply embedded in the Samsung ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo V30 | 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 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, February 04 | 2024, March 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, March 04 | Available. Released 2024, March 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.1 x 7.5 mm (6.47 x 2.96 x 0.30 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· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Schott Alpha | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10+, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 2800 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Exynos 1480 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 720 | Xclipse 530 |
| OS | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 14 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4 (market/region dependent) | 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@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | - |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS | 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 | 80W wired, PD, 100% in 48 min Reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Bloom White, Waving Aqua, Lush Green, Noble Black | Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
| Models | V2318 | SM-A556V, SM-A556B, SM-A556B/DS, SM-A556E, SM-A556E/DS, SM-A5560 |
| Price | About 690 EUR | $ 324.99 / £ 251.50 / € 319.99 / ₹ 23,998 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 1.04 W/kg (body) |
vivo V30
- Significantly faster 80W charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Potentially better sustained performance due to chipset architecture
- Less established brand recognition than Samsung
- Software update policy may be less consistent
Samsung Galaxy A55
- Samsung’s One UI software experience
- Strong brand reputation and customer support
- Potentially longer software update support
- Slower 25W charging
- Dimmer display compared to the vivo V30
- Chipset may throttle more under sustained load
Display Comparison
The vivo V30’s display is a clear standout, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1253 nits compared to the Galaxy A55’s 1010 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display power draw will be higher on the V30, potentially impacting battery life slightly. Neither phone specifies refresh rate or panel technology (OLED/AMOLED), but the brightness difference is a key differentiator for outdoor usability. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, but color accuracy testing would be needed to determine which panel offers more faithful reproduction.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, the chipset’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) plays a crucial role. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 typically excels in image processing, particularly in low-light conditions. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) makes it difficult to assess image quality definitively. It’s reasonable to assume both phones will offer capable main cameras, but the V30’s chipset may provide an edge in computational photography. The 2MP macro cameras often found in this price range are unlikely to be a significant factor for most users.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the vivo V30 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, while the Samsung Galaxy A55 features the Exynos 1480. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 employs a tri-cluster configuration with Cortex-A715 cores (1x2.63 GHz & 3x2.4 GHz) alongside Cortex-A510 cores (4x1.8 GHz). The Exynos 1480 uses Cortex-A78 cores (4x2.75 GHz) and Cortex-A55 cores (4x2.0 GHz). While the A78 cores in the Exynos 1480 have a higher clock speed, the newer architecture of the A715 in the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 generally offers better efficiency. This suggests the V30 may maintain performance under sustained loads more effectively. Both phones likely feature similar RAM configurations, but the V30’s chipset benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations.
Battery Life
The vivo V30 achieves an active use battery score of 15:01h, surpassing the Galaxy A55’s 13:27h. This difference, while noticeable, isn’t massive. However, the V30’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer, reaching 100% in just 48 minutes. The Galaxy A55’s 25W charging is considerably slower. The V30 also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the A55. The combination of slightly longer battery life and significantly faster charging gives the V30 a clear advantage for users who prioritize convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo V30 if you need a phone that charges incredibly quickly and offers a vibrant, easily visible display, especially outdoors. It’s ideal for content creators and users who frequently consume media on the go. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A55 if you prefer a phone with Samsung’s One UI software, a potentially wider range of software updates, and a more established brand reputation, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed and display brightness.