Samsung Galaxy A55 5G review

The Galaxy A Series of smartphones, Samsung’s mid-range offering, has served up some excellent handsets in years past. By balancing performance with price, there are multiple affordable ways to enjoy the Galaxy range’s top features.

In this review we’ll be assessing the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, and seeing how it stacks up against other mid-range phones on the market.

The Galaxy A55 5G can be picked up in a variety of styles including Awesome Ice Blue and Awesome Lemon.

Release date

Release date: March 20th 2024

Specs

• Dimensions: 161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2mm
• Weight: 213g
• Display: 6.6” AMOLED; 1000 nit peak brightness
• Resolution: 1080 x 2340
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• CPU: Exynos 1480
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB / 256GB
• OS: Android 14
• Rear cameras: 50MP wide; 12MP ultra-wide; 5MP macro
• Front camera: 32MP
• Battery: 5000 mAh
• Charging: 25W wired charging
• Material: Aluminium frame; Gorilla Glass Victus Plus
• Water and dust resistance: IP67
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3; 5G

Design

Like the Galaxy A54 which came before it, the Samsung Galaxy A55 sports a round design for a more comfortable feeling when holding it. Indeed, much of the Galaxy A55 maintains the same design features as its predecessor, including the glass back panel, yet there are some significant differences to take note of.

First up is the aluminium frame. Shifting from the plastic shell on the Galaxy A54 to a stronger aluminium variant is hugely beneficial when it comes to durability, enabling the Galaxy A55 to withstand more bumps and scratches. Given that this handset is in the mid-range price bracket, and therefore a good option when buying for a younger member of the family, having that extra protection is a valuable improvement.

Speaking of extra protection, the Galaxy A55’s screen also includes a hardier version of Gorilla Glass: Victus Plus. Tougher and more resistant to scratches, Victus Plus contributes significantly to the superb overall design, and is paired with IP67 water & dust resistance.

Returning back to the aluminium frame, another important design feature that it plays a big role in is weight. The Galaxy A55’s screen size increase from 6.4-inch on the A54 to a 6.6-inch display means that the overall handset is slightly larger, and therefore marginally heavier. Incorporating aluminium into the core design helps keep the weight of the device down, without sacrificing on durability.

Display

As we mentioned, the Galaxy A55 features a 6.6” display with a 1080x2340 resolution. What’s particularly impressive here is how small the gap between this handset and the flagship Galaxy S24 is; we’re talking the same resolution and AMOLED panel technology. The S24 slightly edges out the A55 for sheer peak nit brightness, but to have a display of such high quality on a mid-range handset that costs less is a significant positive.

Outside of the increased screen-to-body ratio, much of the Galaxy A55’s display is on par with its predecessor. You’re getting a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+ and 1000 nits of peak brightness. All of these features work in tandem with the Super AMOLED panel to create a stunning screen, one that really stands out when playing games and watching HD videos.

Performance

Supporting the Galaxy A55’s excellent display technology is an improvement in processing performance. This is delivered by the Exynos 1480, which includes 8 cores running at a fast 2.75GHz. The positive impact of these cores, and the Exynos 1480 chipset overall, is clear in how smoothly the Galaxy A55 runs in a multitude of scenarios.

When playing a game like Call of Duty Mobile or watching a video, the handset performed well and ensured the experience was consistently smooth. The same can be said for general day-to-day usage; the A55 handled switching between apps and tasks with ease, aided further by 8GB RAM to support the Exynos 1480’s processing workload.

If you’re wanting the very best performance possible from your smartphone, there are various options we’ve reviewed previously which tick that box; if you’re happy with a consistent level of performance, the Galaxy A55 is a tough mid-range handset to beat.

Software & features

The Galaxy A55 5G packs in many of Samsung and Google’s top features, helping it cater to a wider range of users. On the Samsung front you have Knox Vault, which helps secure your data while you’re browsing. There’s also OneUI 6.1 running throughout the A55’s interface, and like previous versions before it, we came away impressed by how seamlessly we could navigate around its various menus.

Underpinning everything on the Galaxy A55 is Android 14, granting users access to this version’s features such as AI-generated wallpapers and a more customisable lock screen. These additions enhance what is already a feature-packed phone, ultimately marking the Galaxy A55 as one of the most wallet-friendly ways to experience Samsung and Android 14’s best tools.

For those who like to make full use of their phone’s storage space, the A55 5G also includes expandable storage up to 1TB; more than enough to store thousands of photos and then some.

Cameras

On the topic of photography, the Galaxy A55 includes some serious hardware. On the back is a triple-camera setup which includes a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide and a 5MP macro camera. This is the same array you’ll find on the Galaxy A54, but takes things one step further thanks to the faster Exynos 1480 processor.

Whether you were a fan of the A54’s cameras or you’re looking at the A Series for the first time, this performance increase has a tangible effect on how fast the Galaxy A55 can produce high-quality photos, alongside extra processing power to fuel features like AI ISP (Image Signal Processing). This feature is a great example of the handsets proficiency in low-light conditions, cementing it as a top camera choice if you like to take nighttime snaps.

Selfie takers and filmmakers fear not; you're covered with a 32MP front camera and support for 4K 30FPS video recording.

Battery

To keep the Galaxy A55 affordable yet equipped to deal with consistent usage, Samsung fitted it with a 5000mAh lithium-ion battery and 25W wired charging. For sheer capacity the battery is larger than the Galaxy S24’s, and also has the same recharge speed, giving this mid-range handset a high level of battery performance.

If you prefer to charge your phone wirelessly, handsets such as the S24 will be the preferred option; if not, the Galaxy A55 is more than ready to last the day and can be recharged to 50% in about 30 minutes.

After diving deep into the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, we can confidently say that this handset should not be underestimated. By deftly balancing smooth performance, a superb display and a rich list of features, Samsung served up a mid-range phone that gives premium devices a run for their money.

If you’re interested in reading about other A Series phones, check out our rundown of the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G.