Samsung Galaxy A55 review

Where to buy

Would we recommend the Galaxy A55 5G?

If you're a fan of Samsung's S Series but not the price tag, you'll appreciate the Galaxy A55, even if you're a bit more fussy about your mid-range phones.

The A55 does a fairly good good job of mirroring the features and look of a flagship albeit without a big hit to the hip pocket.

The more premium-like feel isn't a surprise given tech from premium phones does get passed on to mid-range handsets eventually.

My main caveat here would be that it's still early in the year and there's a chance it might get staged up with a better midrange phone from another brand.

The good stuff: Design, display and performance

Samsung's latest model in the A Series has definitely grown a bit, not just in numbers but in looks too. You get a more premium feel thanks to the A55's new metal build - goodbye plastic.

The A55 is glossy and shiny and you can get it in Awesome Navy or Awesome Lilac (which is the colour I received for my A55 review) and one I quite like. It's nice and subdued.

It boasts a slightly thinner bezel around the display as well as a spacious 6.6-inch screen. Its predecessor, the A54, was 0.2 inches smaller.

This bigger screen and bright and crisp colours on display will be handy for people who use their phones to watch Netflix and YouTube videos, play games and do work stuff.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

The phone does get a bit smudgy but it's less noticeable in the lilac colour than navy. Plus if you're anything like me, you'll be slapping a phone cover on as soon as possible so this might be a non-issue for you as well.

The Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and rear panels makes it sturdier as well though that doesn't mean you skip out on putting a screen protector on to avoid scratches.

Okay so the A55 looks good, but what about performance?

You can't expect it to work like the S24, but that's not to mean the performance is poor. In fact, I was expecting it to be a bit sluggish but I was pleasantly surprised.

The A55 runs on Android 14 (alongside the latest version of Samsung's One UI). It has an Exynos 1480 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This is the only storage capacity on offer in Australia.

I had no trouble loading apps and doing all the usual things like scrolling through various social media platforms and playing a bit of Call of Duty. For the usual everyday type of stuff, the phone holds its own quite well.

The good stuff: Features

Some of the perks we'll now refer to might be given on premium phones but less so on mid-range alternatives.

For example, the A55 offers eSIM capabilities which is handy if you want to quickly switch mobile plans with a digital SIM or for instance, when you're travelling overseas and need a new SIM pronto.

The A55 also offers fingerprint unlock, 5G connectivity, plus 4 OS updates and 5 years of security updates. You'll be able to keep it for a few years which isn't too shabby given the price point.

It's also IP67 water resistant and you get a couple of AI features that Samsung's been on about since the launch of the S24 series. For instance, you can use AI to edit your images such as removing reflections and omitting out people or objects.

Lastly, and for the very first time on an A Series, the A55 will have better hardware and software security through Samsung Knox Vault, which protects a user's private data stored in the device.

The good stuff: Battery life and camera

The A55 will last you a full day without a sweat as long as you're not rinsing it by playing video games, having a long photo shoot or watching videos throughout the day.

Based on how I use my phone, the A55's charged last me a day and a half. Without my consistent need to scroll through TikTok every now and then, I'd be able to stretch it to 2 days.

We're also seeing a small improvement in its camera setup compared to the A54. This includes improved Nightography, a Night Portrait mode and the option for dual recording - meaning you can record using both your front and back cameras at the same time.

Will the results please those after professional-grade results? Probably not. But for your everyday type photos that don't require you to zoom in a lot, it does a fairly good job, especially in low-light settings.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

What we don't love: No wireless charging

Not having wireless charging isn't a deal breaker but it's nice to have if you don't want the nuisance of carrying around a cable with you everywhere.

I've got a couple of wireless chargers around the house and it's easy to just put my phone on for charging when I want.

What we don't love: Slightly uncomfortable to hold

Without a cover, I find the A55 a bit uncomfortable to hold for long.

The iPhone-style flat edges make clutching the device a bit of a pain but slap a cover on and it again becomes a non-issue.

What we don't love: Finger pinching to zoom in and out

Zooming in and out by pinching with your fingers tends to be a bit wonky so you'll need to rely on the preset zoom modes on screen to do the task.

This was a bit annoying since I'm used to finger-pinching to zoom in and out, but this again is a minor setback in the grand scheme of things.

All opinions expressed in this review are based on the author's own experience with the phone. Use this review for informational purposes only.

A55 specs in Australia

Here's a quick rundown of the A55's specs list so you can decide if it fits your bill.

A55 price in Australia

The A55 will cost you $699 for 128GB of storage capacity.

A55 colours

You can get the A55 in either Awesome Blue or Awesome Lilac.

How to buy the A55 on a plan

You can get the A55 on a phone repayment plan through Vodafone, Optus or Telstra.

See your options below and sign up for a repayment period and plan that best fits your budget.

How to buy the A55 outright

Price

RRP: $699.00

Where to buy

Check availability at eBay

Check availability at Amazon