Xiaomi Redmi K80 vs. Samsung Galaxy A55: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The Xiaomi Redmi K80 and Samsung Galaxy A55 represent compelling choices in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The K80 aggressively targets performance with a flagship-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the A55 prioritizes a balanced experience with Samsung’s efficient Exynos 1480 and a focus on display quality and battery endurance. This comparison dissects the key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw power and fast charging, the Xiaomi Redmi K80 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers significantly higher performance. However, the Samsung Galaxy A55 excels in battery life and offers a brighter, more usable display in direct sunlight, making it ideal for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K80 Samsung Galaxy A55
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 272024, March 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 27Available. Released 2024, March 15
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.3 x 75 x 8.1 mm (6.31 x 2.95 x 0.32 in)161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm (6.34 x 3.05 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 7iCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1800 nits (HBM), 3200 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Exynos 1480 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Xclipse 530
OSAndroid 15, HyperOS 2Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.6, 24mm (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, (ultrawide)-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple-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)
Video8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single20 MP, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging90W wired, PD3.0, QC3+25W wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6550 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Mint, BlueIceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon
Models24117RK2CCSM-A556V, SM-A556B, SM-A556B/DS, SM-A556E, SM-A556E/DS, SM-A5560
PriceAbout 350 EUR$ 324.99 / £ 251.50 / € 319.99 / ₹ 23,998
SAR EU-0.68 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)

Xiaomi Redmi K80

  • Significantly faster processor with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Ultra-fast 90W wired charging
  • Potential for superior gaming performance

  • Battery life potentially lower than A55
  • Display specs currently unknown, potential for lower brightness

Samsung Galaxy A55

  • Excellent battery life (13:27h active use)
  • Bright and vibrant 1010 nit display
  • Samsung’s refined software experience

  • Slower processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Slower 25W charging

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A55 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1010 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the Redmi K80’s display specs are currently unknown, Samsung’s advantage in display technology is well-established. The A55 likely benefits from Samsung’s color calibration expertise, offering more accurate colors out of the box. The K80’s display technology is unknown, but given its focus on performance, it may prioritize refresh rate over peak brightness. The A55’s panel is likely to be more power efficient, contributing to its longer battery life.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for the Redmi K80, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Galaxy A55’s camera system is expected to focus on computational photography and image stabilization. The K80, given its flagship chipset, likely has the processing power to handle more complex image processing algorithms. The A55’s image processing will likely prioritize color accuracy and dynamic range, while the K80 may lean towards more vibrant, social media-ready images. The absence of details on the K80’s sensor size and OIS capabilities makes it difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the A55.

Performance

The Redmi K80’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a significant leap ahead of the Galaxy A55’s Exynos 1480 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 features a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3 GHz, alongside three Cortex-A720 cores at 3.2 GHz and two more at 3.0 GHz, contrasted with the A55’s four Cortex-A78 cores at 2.75 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. This architectural difference translates to substantially faster CPU performance in the K80, particularly in multi-threaded tasks. The Snapdragon’s Adreno GPU will also deliver a far superior gaming experience. While both chips are fabricated on a 4nm process, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s more advanced architecture and higher clock speeds provide a clear performance advantage, though potentially at the cost of increased thermal output.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A55’s active use score of 13:27h demonstrates impressive battery endurance. The Redmi K80’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 90W wired charging significantly outperforms the A55’s 25W charging. This means the K80 can replenish its battery much faster, even if its capacity is smaller. A full charge on the K80 is likely to take under 40 minutes, while the A55 will require considerably longer. The A55’s efficiency, combined with its likely larger battery capacity, provides a clear advantage in overall battery life, while the K80 prioritizes charging speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K80 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, or future-proofing. Its 90W charging is a game-changer for minimizing downtime. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A55 if you prefer a more refined, balanced experience with exceptional battery life, a vibrant display, and Samsung’s established software ecosystem. It’s the better choice for users who prioritize longevity and ease of use over peak performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1480 in the Galaxy A55 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1480 is a relatively efficient chip. While it won't match the cooling capacity needed for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it's unlikely to overheat significantly during typical gaming sessions. Expect some thermal throttling after extended play, but it shouldn't lead to performance-crippling heat.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Redmi K80 with its 90W charging?
With 90W charging, the Redmi K80 is expected to charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 35-45 minutes, depending on battery capacity. This is a substantial advantage over the Galaxy A55’s 25W charging, which will take well over an hour.
❓ Is the difference in CPU performance between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Exynos 1480 noticeable in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging, the difference will be minimal. However, when launching demanding apps, multitasking, or editing videos, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s superior processing power will become readily apparent.
❓ What kind of gaming performance can I expect from the Redmi K80?
The Redmi K80, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, is capable of running virtually any mobile game at maximum settings with consistently high frame rates. It's a strong contender for mobile gaming enthusiasts.