Samsung Galaxy A54 vs A53: How does the A54 compare?

Everyone loves feeling like they’re getting a great deal, particularly when faced with rising food, fuel and utility prices. Which is why I believe the timing of this latest release of affordable A Series phones from Samsung will land really well in market. Notably the highest specced device in this latest release, the Samsung Galaxy A54, I feel is likely to be in demand by savvy smartphone shoppers.

If you’re looking for something a little less premium, you might want to check out this article comparing the newly released Galaxy A34 against the A33. Or if you’re keen to go for something even more affordable, you might find this article on the differences between the A14 and A13 helpful.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 has the essentials covered – and then some. A dual tone glossy glass rear panel complements the vibrant and large Super AMOLED screen, giving a premium feel to the phone in the hand and a sophisticated appearance. 

If you’re considering an update to your current smartphone, and you’re wanting an affordable phone with premium features, you might be wondering what the differences are between the Samsung Galaxy A54 and Samsung Galaxy A53.

The table below gives a bird’s eye view of how the two phones compare, with detail on each of the main features follows.

Featuring an awesome triple-lens floating camera design, the A54 lets you capture crisp shots every time, according to Samsung. The rear facing triple-lens camera is made up of:

• 50MP main camera lens
• 12MP ultra-wide lens
• 5MP macro lens

And supporting the Galaxy A54’s rear camera set up is an impressive 32MP front-facing camera, perfect for snapping studio-quality selfies and capturing 4K video. With that in mind, it seems fair to say the A54’s camera is of a high-enough quality to satisfy most amateur users. There’s a good amount of exposure and a nice wide dynamic range in bright light and outdoors, with a decent level of detail on landscape images.

However, the Samsung A54’s camera design is a bit of a departure from the Samsung Galaxy A53 camera, which had a larger quad-lens camera on the back, featuring:

• 64MP main camera
• 12MP ultra-wide lens
• 5MP macro lens
• 5MP depth lens

This rear-facing quad lens camera is supported by a 32MP selfie-snapper on the front. Yet, while the A54 camera design may seem like a downgrade when compared to the A53 in terms of lenses and megapixels, the addition of the high-end Nightography mode and improved image stabiliser⁶ with bigger sensor should be more than enough to capture all your moves in excellent detail.

Thanks to the Super AMOLED screen and 120Hertz refresh rate, the Galaxy A54 and A53 displays are a stand-out feature of each phone. And there’s really not that much separating the two displays, perhaps showing an “if it’s not broken don’t fix it” mentality from Samsung. 

And in fact, the newer Galaxy A54 has a slightly smaller screen than the A53, only 0.1 inches smaller but smaller nonetheless. That being said, I’d say it's probably unlikely this will be the feature that helps you decide between the two models. 

One striking difference between the Samsung Galaxy A54 and Samsung Galaxy A53 designs is the use of materials encasing the phone. The newly released A54 has a sophisticated dual tone glossy glass rear panel while the A53 features a plastic casing on the back of the phone. This difference in materials is obvious the moment you look at the phone, and even more so when holding it in your hand. Of course, a lot of people will choose to pop a protective case over the phone which might make this less of a divisive feature, but it’s noticeable and something you should consider. 

For avid gamers and multitaskers, the A54’s use of the Samsung-developed Exynos 1380 should deliver a smoother experience than the A53, which uses the older Exynos 1280. Depending on the kind of phone user you are, this might be the feature that helps you decide which phone is the right choice for you – as the A54 should be able to handle more of what you ask of it more easily.  

That being said, both phones feature an octa core chipset and 6GB of RAM to enable lasting power and performance, maximising speed across gaming applications, camera functions and more. 

The upgrade in processor just mentioned, moving from an Exynos 1280 to the Exynos 1380, should give the A54 an advantage over the A53 when it comes to performance. Yet both phones are capable of accessing 5G³, potentially unlocking even higher levels of performance on both devices.  

Where the A54 might show itself to be the better option for you is when considering all the performance improvements made since the A53 – a more awesome camera, more premium design and composition as well as a better processor.

The battery inside each of the devices is exactly the same size, and they both support 25W super-fast charging speeds – so there’s not a lot to separate the devices in this regard. 

The 5000mAh battery size is relatively common in this sector of mid-range phones and depending on usage could last you up to two days on a single charge. However, if you’re accessing 5G technology and viewing media on the bright and vibrant Super AMOLED displays, you might find this reduces the time your phone will last between charges.

In conclusion, I think it’s fair to say the Galaxy A54 delivers a more premium smartphone experience when compared to the A53. The dual tone glossy back panel is a real differentiator, and the uptick in processing power coupled with improved camera functionality should be more than enough to delight most users at this affordable price point. 

The most difficult decision might be whether you want to buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 in the Awesome Graphite or Awesome Violet colour variation…decisions, decisions!

Mobile innovation never stops, with the latest Galaxy S25 Series finally landing in Australia. The new Galaxy S25 Series features new Galaxy AI tools, as well as upgraded processors and camera lenses. Check out the Galaxy S25 Ultra for a look at Samsung’s newest flagship phone.

Samantha Shilton works for Optus. A dog mother and nature lover, she gets down to the beach most mornings for walkies and a quick dip. On the weekend, you might spot her whizzing past you on her Kawasaki.

^{[1] Rated (i.e. minimum) battery capacity is 4,860mAh. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by Strategy Analytics. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2023.01.19-01.30 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A546 under default setting using 5 G Sub 6 networks.
[2] The Galaxy A54 5G provides ingress protection (IP67) against dust and fresh water to a maximum of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Please refer to user manual for further information including care/use instructions
[3] 5G available in selected areas (excl. NT) and on selected plans.  For full coverage details see optus.com.au/5Gcoverage
[4] Charger sold separately
[5] Estimated against the usage profile of an average/typical user. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2022.01.20-01.31 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A536 under default setting using LTE and 5G Sub6 networks (NOT tested under 5G mmWave network). Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,860mAh.}