Galaxy A54 • Unlocked vs Galaxy S25+ • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy A54, released in March 2023, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, launched in February 2025, represent different tiers within Samsung's smartphone lineup. While both operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI, the S25 Plus is positioned as a premium device with advanced features and performance, whereas the A54 offers a balanced experience for everyday use. The primary distinctions lie in their processing power, display technology, and camera capabilities.

When considering the practical lifespan of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy A54, launched with Android 13, is guaranteed to receive four major Android OS updates and five years of security patches, extending its software support until approximately Android 17. The Galaxy S25 Plus, being a more recent flagship device launched with Android 15, is expected to benefit from an even longer support window, typically receiving seven years of OS updates and security patches, ensuring extended usability and access to the latest features.
• Build and Materials: The Galaxy A54 features a glass front and back protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, with a plastic frame, offering a good balance of aesthetics and durability. It also carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. The Galaxy S25 Plus, on the other hand, incorporates more premium materials, including a recycled armor aluminum build and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for enhanced screen protection, along with a higher IP rating for water and dust resistance, contributing to its overall robustness.
• Repairability: The Galaxy A54 has been noted for its relatively fair repairability, with some assessments giving it a score of 6.25 out of 10 or 8.4 out of 10 under French environmental legislation, indicating that certain components are accessible for repair. The Galaxy S25 Plus has received a high repairability score of 9 out of 10, partly due to design choices like an improved battery pull pouch and the use of standard Philips screws, making repairs potentially more straightforward.

The performance capabilities of these two smartphones cater to different user demands, primarily influenced by their internal components.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy A54 is equipped with an Exynos 1380 processor, which provides solid performance for daily tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. While generally responsive, some users have reported occasional stuttering in animations, particularly with the heavier One UI software. The Galaxy S25 Plus features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a high-end processor built on a 3nm process. This results in significantly faster multitasking, smoother app loading, and exceptional performance for demanding applications and graphics-intensive games, including enhanced ray tracing capabilities.
• Memory and Storage: The Galaxy A54 typically comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with the added flexibility of expandable storage up to 1TB via a microSD card. The Galaxy S25 Plus offers a more generous 12GB of RAM across its configurations, paired with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, though it does not support expandable storage. The larger RAM in the S25 Plus contributes to more seamless multitasking and app retention.
• Battery Behavior: Both devices offer robust battery performance. The Galaxy A54, with its 5000 mAh battery, is generally reported to last a full day with moderate to heavy use, achieving around 10 to 13 hours of screen-on time in various tests. The Galaxy S25 Plus, featuring a 4900 mAh battery, also delivers excellent battery life, often lasting 24 to 36 hours on a single charge for many users, and recorded over 14 hours in video streaming tests.

The visual experience on both devices is a strong point, though they differ in their display specifications.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy A54 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels). This display offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, characteristic of AMOLED technology. The Galaxy S25 Plus boasts a larger 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Quad HD+ resolution (3120 x 1440 pixels). This higher resolution provides a noticeably sharper and more detailed viewing experience.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones offer a smooth viewing experience with a 120Hz refresh rate. The A54's display can reach a peak brightness of 1000 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. The S25 Plus, with its Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, typically offers higher peak brightness levels and an adaptive refresh rate, which can dynamically adjust from 1Hz to 120Hz, optimizing power consumption while maintaining fluidity.
• Viewing Experience: The A54's display is praised for its vibrant colors and good outdoor visibility, making it suitable for multimedia consumption. The S25 Plus provides an even more immersive viewing experience due to its larger size, higher resolution, and superior brightness, making it particularly well-suited for high-definition content and detailed work.

The camera systems on the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy S25 Plus are designed to capture different levels of detail and versatility.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy A54 features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The main camera generally produces decent photos with vibrant colors and performs well in low-light conditions. The ultrawide camera is competent, but the macro lens often yields less impressive results. The Galaxy S25 Plus also has a triple rear camera system, comprising a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This telephoto lens provides greater flexibility for zooming without significant loss of quality.
• Photography Performance: The A54's main camera is capable of capturing sharp images, though some reviews note a tendency for oversaturation. Low-light performance is considered good for its class. The S25 Plus offers outstanding camera performance across various conditions, handling low-light scenes effectively with clear and detailed images. Its advanced image processing, integrated with its powerful processor, contributes to consistently high-quality photos.
• Video and Audio: Both devices can record video at 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). The S25 Plus extends this capability to 8K video recording at 30fps, offering higher detail for video content creation. Both phones feature stereo speakers, providing a more immersive audio experience for media consumption. The S25 Plus's microphone quality is generally considered excellent for calls and recordings.