Galaxy A54 • Unlocked vs OnePlus 12 • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy A54, released in March 2023, is a well-regarded mid-range smartphone known for its balanced features. In contrast, the OnePlus 12, launched globally in January 2024, positions itself as a flagship device offering advanced performance and capabilities. While both operate on the Android platform, the OnePlus 12 generally provides a more premium experience with its newer hardware and software optimizations, whereas the Galaxy A54 focuses on delivering a strong overall package for everyday use.

When considering the longevity of these devices, several factors come into play, including their release timelines, software support, and physical resilience.

• Release Timeline: The Samsung Galaxy A54 was released in March 2023, while the OnePlus 12 followed in January 2024. This means the OnePlus 12 benefits from a later starting point for software updates and hardware relevance.
• Software Support: The Galaxy A54 is expected to receive four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates from its release, extending its software support until approximately 2027. The OnePlus 12 also offers long-term software updates, with OxygenOS 15 (based on Android 15) rolling out in November 2024 and OxygenOS 16 (based on Android 16) anticipated in November 2025, indicating a commitment to ongoing software enhancements.
• Repairability and Durability: The Samsung Galaxy A54 has a repairability score of 8.4 out of 10, suggesting it is relatively straightforward to repair. It features Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back and carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for 30 minutes. The OnePlus 12 is protected by the newer Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on its display and has an IP65 rating, offering protection against dust and water jets, but not full submersion.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, app usage, and demanding applications like gaming. These two devices offer different levels of processing power and storage configurations.

• Processor Capabilities: The Samsung Galaxy A54 is powered by an Exynos 1380 processor, which capably handles everyday tasks and general app usage. For more demanding applications or graphically intensive games, users might experience occasional slowdowns. The OnePlus 12 features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which provides a significantly higher level of performance, making it well-suited for heavy multitasking, complex applications, and high-fidelity gaming without noticeable lag.
• Storage and RAM: The Galaxy A54 comes with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card. It is available with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The OnePlus 12 offers larger internal storage options, typically starting from 256GB and going up to 512GB or even 1TB in some regions, paired with 12GB, 16GB, or 24GB of RAM. The OnePlus 12 utilizes UFS 4.0 storage, which is generally faster than the UFS 2.2 found in the Galaxy A54, contributing to quicker app loading and data transfer speeds.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy A54 is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, providing up to 1.5 days of moderate usage or around 10-13 hours of screen-on time in various tests. The OnePlus 12 has a larger 5400 mAh battery, often lasting up to two days with typical use and delivering 6-12 hours of screen-on time, depending on settings and usage intensity. The OnePlus 12 also supports significantly faster wired charging at 100W and 50W wireless charging, while the Galaxy A54 supports 25W wired charging and lacks wireless charging.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and both devices offer vibrant viewing experiences with distinct characteristics.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Samsung Galaxy A54 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels). The OnePlus 12 boasts a larger 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a higher QHD+ resolution (1440 x 3168 pixels), offering greater clarity and detail.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones offer a smooth visual experience with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy A54 can reach a peak brightness of 1000 nits, providing good visibility outdoors. The OnePlus 12, however, achieves a significantly higher peak brightness of 4500 nits, making it exceptionally bright and clear even in direct sunlight.
• Viewing Experience: The OnePlus 12's display is curved and incorporates ProXDR technology, which aims to enhance dynamic range and color accuracy, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption. The Galaxy A54's flat display still provides vibrant colors and deep blacks characteristic of AMOLED panels.

For many users, camera capabilities are a significant factor in choosing a smartphone, and these devices offer different photographic strengths.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Samsung Galaxy A54 features a triple rear camera setup: a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The OnePlus 12 also has a triple rear camera system, co-developed with Hasselblad, comprising a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 48MP ultrawide lens that can also capture macro shots, and a 64MP periscope telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom and OIS.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy A54's main camera is noted for capturing vivid photos, especially with improved low-light performance due to its advanced image sensor and OIS. The OnePlus 12's Hasselblad-tuned cameras are designed for versatile shooting across various scenarios, with its telephoto lens providing enhanced zoom capabilities for distant subjects.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices can record videos up to 4K at 30 frames per second with both their rear and front cameras. The Galaxy A54 has a 32MP front camera. The OnePlus 12 also features a 32MP front camera and can record 8K video from its main rear camera.