Samsung’s Galaxy A series has carved a niche for itself in the mid-range smartphone market, offering compelling features at an attractive price point. The recently released Samsung Galaxy A55 5G seems poised to continue this tradition. We got our hands on the phone in the studio right now, and here are our initial impressions.
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
Design: Premium Feel, Familiar Form
The first thing that grabs your attention about the A55 is its design. It boasts a sleek metal frame that exudes a premium feel, sandwiched between Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back. This is the same tough and damage-resistant glass used in Samsung’s previous flagship, the Galaxy S22 series. This translates to a phone that feels as good in your hand as it looks.
While the overall design language echoes past Galaxy A models, the A55 keeps things fresh with a glossy finish and slim bezels that give it a modern touch. It’s also reassuring to know the phone has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Whether you take a tumble in the rain or accidentally dunk it by the pool, the A55 should survive the mishap with no worse for wear. This makes it a great choice for those with clumsy tendencies or who lead active lifestyles.
Display: A Visual Feast
Samsung equips the A55 with a large, 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display. This technology is known for its deep blacks and incredibly vibrant colours, making everything from photos and videos to games and text pop off the screen. Unlike some competitors that use LCD panels, the A55’s AMOLED display also boasts superior contrast ratios, ensuring those deep blacks and a truly immersive viewing experience.
But the A55’s display doesn’t stop at colour; it goes a step further with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This means the screen refreshes 120 times per second, compared to the standard 60Hz on most phones. The result is noticeably smoother scrolling, especially when browsing social media feeds or web pages with heavy content. Gamers will also appreciate the benefit in fast-paced titles, where a 120Hz refresh rate can make a significant difference in responsiveness and visual fluidity.
Top-Tier Security: Knox Vault Makes an Appearance
In a major move for the mid-range market, Samsung is bringing Knox Vault to the Galaxy A55. Previously reserved for high-end devices, Knox Vault is a secure chipset separate from the main system and memory, making it resistant to hardware and software attacks. This tamper-resistant vault protects critical data like lock screen credentials and encryption keys, offering an extra layer of security for your personal information.
With Knox Vault, you don’t need to worry about malicious apps accessing your passwords, and even a stolen phone remains secure without the correct PIN or pattern. It’s important to note that Knox Vault is distinct from Samsung Knox, the brand’s pre-installed anti-virus system that also comes on the A55.
Camera System: A Versatile Shooter
The Galaxy A55 sports a triple-lens rear camera system, with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 5MP macro sensor. The front-facing camera boasts a high-resolution 32MP sensor. The device also comes with a plethora of cool camera features to help up your photography game. Some of these features include:
- Nightography with AI: The A55 is capable of capturing clearer photos in the dark by utilising the advanced AI Image Signal Processing feature.
- Industry-leading 12-bit Super HDR: An upgrade over last year’s Samsung Galaxy A53’s 10-bit HDR, the 12-bit Super HDR can give you 68,719 million colours bringing more true-to-life colours to your pictures.
- Advanced Video Digital Image Stabilization: This allows for a more stable and vivid video at 4K even when walking, running or any other physical movements.
While a full camera review awaits further testing, the camera features suggests the A55 should be capable of capturing decent photos in most lighting conditions.
Performance: Power Under the Hood
Under the hood, the A55 packs Samsung’s new Exynos 1480 chip with an AMD RDNA2-based GPU. While we haven’t had a chance to extensively test performance, on first impression, the phone feels snappy and responsive. Early benchmarks suggest this processor can compete with some high-end chipsets, meaning the A55 should be capable of handling even demanding games without breaking a sweat. The combination of 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage should ensure smooth multitasking and ample space for apps, photos, and videos. There’s also the option to expand storage further via a microSD card, a feature that some flagship phones are starting to ditch.
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: A Promising Contender
Our initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy A55 are positive. The phone boasts a premium design, a stunning display, and a powerful processor that promises smooth performance. A more in-depth look is needed to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the promising versatile camera system. The inclusion of Knox Vault security further elevates the A55’s appeal, making it a compelling option for security-conscious users.
With a retail price of RM1,999, the phone launches at a competitive price point for the mid-range market, potentially making it a great option for value-conscious consumers. However, a more comprehensive verdict will require a deeper dive into its camera capabilities, battery life, and overall user experience. Stay tuned for a full review soon!
You can purchase the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G at Samsung Experience Stores, Samsung Authorised Retailers, Samsung Brand Stores on Shopee and Lazada, and Samsung Malaysia Online Store.
