This update appears to be exclusive to European users and has to do with 4G network compatibility. According to the changelog, which is common to all of these devices, “support for regional 4G TDD frequency band type has been updated.”
Samsung also notes that anyone who purchased their phone in Germany will not be able to use 4G networks on TDD (time division duplexing) frequency bands in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and Czech Republic. However, 4G networks in these markets mostly use the FDD (frequency division duplexing) frequency bands, so the update shouldn’t cause any issues for users.
Samsung doesn’t say why this update was released, and given how uncommon and unexpected it is, we don’t see a reason to speculate. Samsung could provide more information later on, however, and we have also reached out to the company for a comment.
Galaxy S24, S23, Fold 5, Flip 5, and A54 owners in Europe should be able to download the new update by opening their phone’s Settings » Software update menu and selecting Download and install. You may also want to check for a similar update if you have a device not mentioned here.
Samsung’s new Galaxy A55 brings several improvements over the Galaxy A54, but looking at the official spec sheets, you would think the display isn’t one of them. Granted, the A55 has a slightly larger 6.6-inch panel instead of a 6.4-inch one, but that results in a lower pixel density. Otherwise, the two phones share the same Super AMOLED display type with HDR10+, a 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 1,000 nits — on paper, at least.
It turns out that the Galaxy A55’s display is vastly superior to the Galaxy A54’s and considerably brighter, too. And, in fact, according to tests conducted by DxOMark, the Galaxy A55’s display is the best in its class, beating even the Galaxy S23 FE. The Galaxy A55’s display ranks 1st, the Galaxy S23 FE’s ranks 9th, and the Galaxy A54’s panel ranks 17th.
For an even better sense of perspective, here’s how the Galaxy A55’s screen compares to the Galaxy A54’s and S23 FE on the global scale. The new model is good enough to rank 27th on the global ranking ladder, beating even the iPhone 14 Plus by one point.
And where do you think the Galaxy A54 is on the same chart? Well, it’s in the 123rd position. And the Galaxy S23 FE? It’s 84th.
Yes, according to DxOMark, the Galaxy A55’s display is even better than the more expensive Galaxy S23 FE’s, despite the Fan Edition phone claiming to have a higher brightness level. So, what gives?
Samsung underpromises and overdelivers
How can the Galaxy A55’s 1,000 nits Super AMOLED display be that much better? What’s the secret to beating even the Galaxy S23 FE, whose panel can reach 1450 nits of brightness (according to Samsung)?
That’s just the thing. DxOMark tests show that the Galaxy S23 FE’s display maxes out at 1,421 nits. However, the Galaxy A55’s display peaks at a whopping 1,638 nits, which is considerably higher than advertised.
Even the Galaxy A54 beats the official figure in these tests and tops $1,344 nits — impressive in its own right, just not enough to beat the S23 FE or A55.
All in all, the Galaxy A55 punches way above its weight class, and surprisingly so. It goes to show that even though its on-paper display specs place it right next to the Galaxy A54, real-world usage might tell a different story. Stay tuned for our upcoming review.
By now, you likely know that your Galaxy A54 is no longer the newest kid on the block. Samsung announced the Galaxy A55 yesterday, and we don’t need to tell you that the newer model brings some improvements over your A54. That’s a given from any yearly upgrade. But what are those improvements, exactly? And are they enough for you to ditch the Galaxy A54 for the newer A55?
Right off the bat, the biggest upgrade introduced by the Galaxy A55 is arguably the newer Exynos 1480 chip and extra RAM options. If you’ve used the Galaxy A54 since launch, you probably know better than anyone that the UI stuttered sometimes and performance wasn’t always smooth. However, things got better as Samsung continued optimizing the Exynos 1380 chip.
That’s all in the past now, and the Galaxy A55 comes with a new Exynos chip, which might just be powerful enough (and paired with enough RAM) not to be a cause of concern regarding general performance.
More RAM than the base Galaxy S24 and a 4nm chip with an AMD GPU
You read that right. While there is a chance that your Galaxy A54 has 4GB of RAM, or, if not, 6GB or 8GB, the new Galaxy A55 offers 8GB minimum plus a 12GB option.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s new Exynos 1480 chip is the first mid-range solution with a GPU based on the AMD RDNA architecture. It was built on a 4nm node, similar to the flagship-grade Exynos 2400, and early benchmark figures are indeed very promising, not just for A5x users but the entire Exynos chip legacy.
Needless to say, if you’re unsatisfied with the way your Galaxy A54 performs, the Galaxy A55 might be your answer and a logical step up. However, we’ll have to test the device ourselves to be sure. We’re preparing a review as we speak.
Bigger screen and better build quality
Another change you might notice coming from the Galaxy A54 is that the newer A55 has a slightly larger 6.6-inch screen instead of a 6.4-inch panel. This also increases the phone’s overall dimensions slightly and contributes to a bit of weight gain. The new model tips the scale at 213 grams instead of 202g.
Whether the A55 fits better in one’s palm is subjective. Nonetheless, the new model offers a bigger screen, which generally is viewed as an improvement.
In addition to the bigger screen and the Key Island design, with which you’re probably already familiar thanks to leaks, Samsung also gave the Galaxy A55 better materials.
Your Galaxy A54 has a plastic frame sandwiched by two Gorilla Glass 5 panels. That glass sandwich design was a big deal last year, but Samsung gave the Galaxy A55 Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection at the front and back. And the pièce de résistance: the Galaxy A55 is the first in its series to boast an aluminum frame.
On a final note, Samsung also improved the camera slightly, if not through megapixels, then through better optimization and processing. For instance, the Galaxy A55 features Super HDR video recording capabilities, which could help you capture videos with better dynamic range.
Should you trade your Galaxy A54 for the newer Galaxy A55? Well, if you find a good trade-in deal and the exchange costs you pocket-change, we don’t see why you wouldn’t want to upgrade to the A55. It is a superior phone.
Unfortunately, that’s not the reality most of us live in. Trade-in deals are not ideal in many markets, and the A55 just might not be worth the trouble. It depends on how easily and cheaply you can transition from the Galaxy A54 to the A55 in your market.
But to answer at least part of the question, yes, the Galaxy A55 has your A54 beat in a few key areas, and the Exynos 1480 SoC paired with more RAM might be worth it. On the other hand, if you own the Galaxy A54 and don’t want to upgrade, your phone should still feel fresh and competent enough to stay relevant in a post-A55 world, at least for the foreseeable future.
