Galaxy A55 Preview: a smaller refresh that will probably leave us wanting more،
Introducing the Galaxy A55
March is just around the corner, which means we're not too far away from Samsung's next generation of mid-range Galaxy phones, the Galaxy A55 and A35. Here you will find everything about the most expensive option, the Galaxy A55, released so far.
Samsung hasn't released any teasers or official information about the A55, but we have a lot going on when it comes to rumors, leaks, and reports. For starters, we know what the phone will likely look like, thanks to several design renders that have surfaced online.
What's new on the Galaxy A55
- New chipset: Exynos 1480
- A refreshed design with a slightly larger body
- Maybe 7 years of software updates
- Some features of Samsung AI
Contents:
Galaxy A55 specifications
Specifications | Galaxy A55 |
---|---|
Height and weight | 161.1 x 77.3 x 8.2mm Weight is unclear |
Display | 6.5″ AMOLED 120Hz variable refresh rate At least 1,600 nits of peak brightness |
Processor | Exynos 1480 |
Software | Android 14 |
Cameras | 50MP main, f/1.8 aperture 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 5MP macro, f/2.4 32MP front, f/2.2 |
Battery size | 5000mAh |
Charging Speeds | 25W per cable No wireless charging |
Prices | 8/128 GB for $449 to $500 |
Galaxy A55 design and colors
The Galaxy “A” series has retained a look so close to Samsung's flagship “S” series that some might even have trouble distinguishing it from the more premium range. This time around, however, the Galaxy A55 is expected to feature a small but visible change in its design that will set it apart.
Take a look at the following renders of the Galaxy A55 and see if you can spot this design change for yourself:
Renders of the Galaxy A55.
Have you spotted it? This is a bump/island for the power and volume buttons on the side, also called a “Key Island”, with the top and bottom ends of this island angled downward, blending into the frame in aluminum. This is a design that Samsung first tested on the even more budget-friendly Galaxy A15 and A25.
In terms of protection, there have been no leaks, but we expect Samsung to protect the A55's screen with Gorilla Glass Victus (upgraded from Gorilla Glass 5) and keep the same rating IP67 dust and water resistance.
In terms of colors, three options were mentioned, including Awesome Iceblue, Awesome Lilac, and Awesome Navy. There may be some exclusive ones for orders through Samsung's website, but that's not certain.
When it comes to the Galaxy A55 unboxing experience, Samsung is rather simplistic in this regard, unlike other players like OnePlus. The Galaxy A54 comes without a charger in the box, without a case and without a screen protector. All that was inside was the charging cable, some documentation, and the phone itself. We expect the same for the A55.
Galaxy A55 screen
Of course, it will also inherit what already made the A54's screen great, like its 120Hz screen refresh rate for smooth animations and gaming, as well as support for HDR10+ (the standard from Samsung for HDR content).
The A55's screen may be a bit larger than its predecessor, increasing from 6.4″ to 6.5″, but given its already large size, there shouldn't be too much increase in size.
Galaxy A55 camera
Some rumors say that, unfortunately, the Galaxy A55 will retain the 5MP macro camera seen on the A54. Needless to say, this is a bit disappointing, as a telephoto lens would give the A55 an edge over its main competitor.
Galaxy A55 performance
The Galaxy A55 is shaping up to be a more basic upgrade to the A5x series, which means one of the few major changes will be to the chipset. Last year, Samsung put its own Exynos 1380 inside the A54. So this year we should see the Exynos 1480 powering the new mid-ranger.
As for RAM, so far the US version of the Galaxy A5x models included 6GB, but there is a good chance that number will increase to 8GB, making the phone more scalable and capable of handling multiple process at a time.
Galaxy A55 OneUI / Android version
The question is whether these additional years will also be offered to Galaxy A55 customers. For now, we expect this to be the case, which would be a major advantage for the A55 since its main competitor doesn't offer such support at this price point. The A54 comes with 4 years of major OS updates, while we're hoping for 6-7 years for the Galaxy A55.
Galaxy A55 battery and charging
The Galaxy A54 has a 5,000mAh battery that can easily last a full day and can be charged at a maximum speed of 25W, taking it from 0 to 100% in around 1 hour and 21 minutes, as we found we discovered during our tests. .
Since there are no rumors that the A55 will have a bigger battery or faster charging, we expect it to have the same level of battery performance as its predecessor. The only thing that may be different is battery life, in case the new chipset is more power efficient.
Don't get your hopes up when it comes to wireless charging, the chances of Samsung including this feature are slim at the moment.
Galaxy A55 audio and haptic quality
We were quite disappointed with the audio quality coming out of the Galaxy A54's speakers. The sound became severely distorted at higher volumes, especially in the low frequencies where the bass should be.
To that end, we're crossing our fingers that Samsung introduces some upgrades here, albeit with slightly disappointing performance on the Galaxy S24 speakers, it feels like the company isn't paying too much attention to this aspect of its phones at the moment.
Competitors of the Galaxy A55
The expected price for the Galaxy A55 is the same as its predecessor was launched at, which is $449. There is a slight chance of a $50 price hike, but even if that turns out to be the case, Samsung has plenty of discounts and deals, including pre-order deals, this issue would be easily mitigated.
Galaxy A55 Summary and Final Verdict
Samsung seems to be having a bit of trouble with the Galaxy A55. If it does not include any of the AI pazzaz that comes with the Galaxy S24 series, all it has to offer is longer software support, an upgraded chipset and a new look.
Of course, there's still a lot we don't know about the A55, so there's plenty of room for surprise to arise and make it a better competitor in the market. mid-range phone segment, but for now it looks like the competition could end up being overwhelming this year.
Stay tuned as we will update this preview with any new information that emerges, as there is still some time before Samsung's expected announcement of the Galaxy A55 and A35.