Samsung Galaxy A54 5G (S546VL) Review - Tracfone Smartphone

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Review, Specs and Features

With an impressive, 6.4" Super AMOLED screen, 128GB storage, triple rear camera and Android 13, the Galaxy A54 5G packs many high-end features into a mid-priced phone available from Tracfone.

The Galaxy A54 follows and builds on the previous model, the A53, with many features passed down from Samsung's high-end devices including the touchscreen and design.

Tracfone has also released the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G as the budget friendly option, and there are several other Motorola devices also recently made available. Stay up on all the new phones in our list of the Latest Tracfone Smartphones.

Let's get to the A54's pros and cons.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Quick Facts

What we Like
-Stunning Super AMOLED display
-Gorilla Glass 5 protection
-IP67 waterproof rating
-Good camera setup

What we Don't Like:
-More expensive than most Tracfones
-No wireless charging
-No headphone jack

Some budget smartphone users might be surprised by the lack of a headphone jack, but it is becoming a rare feature to be included, especially for a device like the A54 which is more of a mid-range phone.

At first glance, the Galaxy A54 offers a great selection of enticing features including the excellent screen, dust and water protection, and 50MP rear camera and more. Let's dig into the details to find out more.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G (S546VL) Features and Specs

Below are the features followed by the technical specs

• Android 13 (upgrade to 14 available)
• Samsung One UI 5.1
• 5G (Verizon)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Alarm Clock
• GPS
• MP3 Player
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
• SMS/MMS
• USB Charger (USB Type-C 2.0)
• Compatible with Samsung Gear Smartwatches
• In-display Fingerprint sensor

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Technical Specs
Size: 6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in (7.13 oz)
Camera: Triple rear camera 50+12+5MP and 32MP front camera
Screen: 6.4" HD Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits display (1080x2400 resolution)
Processor: Octa-core Exynos 1380

Memory: 6 GB
Storage: 128 GB internal storage, supports up to 1 TB MicroSD Card
Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (non-removable) with 25W fast charging

Most consumers are familiar with the Samsung brand as they are a global manufacture and the largest consumer electronics maker (by revenue) in the world. They are based in South Korea and have a broad lineup of smartphones with their high end device, like the Samsung Galaxy S22, a contender for some of the best phones in the world.

Samsung phones are well known for their quality, something that can't always be said for some of the other brands Tracfone offers. Samsung also often offers several years of OS updates and security fixes.

The Galaxy A54 5G does get some of the updated design elements of Samsung phones with a familiar layout for the charging port, beautiful screen, and it also features Samsung's UI changes. But a budget phone will have to cut some corners, and we will dive into that below.

Now let's get into the details with our review of the A54.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Review

Touschreen

The 6.4" full HD touchscreen is one of the highlights of this phone and comes with Samsung's signature Super AMOLED technology for deeper blacks and brighter, more vibrant colors. The screen has a resolution of 1080x2340, 120hz fast refresh rate, and pixel density of about 403ppi which is quite good.

Additional specs include a screen ratio of 19.5:9, and a pretty common screen to body ratio of about 82%. The Galaxy A54 has an impressive brightness rating of 1000 nits, to make it easier to see in direct sunlight, something many budget phones struggle with.

To keep this nice screen protected Samsung included Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back of the device. 

The viewing experience for both daily tasks and watching media on the A54 is very good and a big step up when comparing to other budget devices. 

Performance - Processor, RAM and storage
The Galaxy A54 comes with Samsung's in-house processor, the Exynos 1380, along with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. There is additional storage options thanks to an external SD card slot. 

While the previous version, the A53, was widely criticized for the slow, laggy performance, the A54 comes with an octa-core processor that appears to fix those issues and offers enough power for the majority of users and even handles most gaming just fine.

For comparison, the Moto G Power 5G 2023 features the Dimensity 930, and the A54's processor outperforms it in almost every way, but not by a huge margin. However, the A54's Exynos 1380 is beat by the Google Tensor processor in the Pixel 6a in many areas. For those looking for maximum performance in this price range, the Pixel 6a would be the winner. 

Camera

For photos and video, the Galaxy A54 5G has a 50MP rear sensor, additional 12MP ultrawide sensor, and 5MP macro shooter. The main lens has OIS and PDAF for improved photo and video capabilities.

On the front is a single 32MP sensor housed in a small hole punch at the top of the screen.

The image quality on the A54 is good and offers well balanced photos in optimal lighting conditions with the typical vibrant look that Samsung is generally known for. At night, or in less than ideal lighting, the A54 still performs good enough, and much better than most budget phones. It is roughly equivalent to the Pixel 6a's camera performance. 

Samsung includes 4K at 30fps video recording on the A54 for both the front and rear cameras which is a great feature for this price range. Video quality is good, and works well for most typical uses such as sending clips to friends or posting on social media.

Battery

A 5,000 mAh battery is included with the A54 for all day battery performance, something that has generally become the norm in smartphones. The phone easily lasts for a full day with moderate usage, although gaming does tend to drain it faster. For recharging, the A54 can handle up to 25W fast charging with a wired connection, which is very good for budget phones, but a little slow compared to high-end devices. There is no wireless charging unfortunately.

Android OS

It is exciting to see Android 13 included with the Galaxy A54 5G and it offers a number of performance and security updates over the previous versions. Plus, Samsung has an excellent update policy to provide several major OS updates and plenty of security fixes going forward.

Android 13 builds on Android 12's major 'material you' update with several additional features including auto-theming icons, expanded color theming options, and some alternative lock screen options. There are also some increased privacy and security controls.

Samsung also includes One UI 5 with the A54 5G, with a number of additional features, apps and controls. The A54 gets a pared down mix of features from Samsung's flagship phones, but there are still some nice options. For those that have had Samsung phones before, the familiar controls and features will be great to have.

There is a fair amount of bloatware included on the Galaxy A54, including plenty of Samsung apps, and other third party apps. For a clean, simple software experience, consider the Pixel 6a.

Grab the best apps for Tracfone users in our full list.

Design

The sleek glass front on the A54 is complemented by a glass back, both protected by Gorilla Glass 5, and offering subtle style and class that exceeds most midrange devices. The sides of the phone are a matte plastic, but it doesn't take away from the overall style. 

On the back, Samsung has given the Galaxy A54 5G similar styling to the high-end devices with a more subdued setup for the camera lenses instead of the bulky bump on the previous model. 

The SIM card and external storage tray is located at the top of the phone, with the power and volume on the right side in a familiar location.

At the bottom of the phone is the USB-C charging port and Dolby Atmos speaker, which does a good job producing accurate sound even at higher levels. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack.

The phone is rated for IP67 water and dust protection, meaning it should withstand up to 1 meter under water for up to 30 minutes. So casual splashes, and even a dunk in a pool, shouldn't be a worry.

The overall design has been updated and improved over the previous model, offering an elevated device with design elements passed down directly from Samsung's top of the line smartphones. 

Conclusion

Samsung offers a solid mid-range option in the Galaxy A54 5G that packs enough power to perform just about any task most would require, while also delivering a viewing experience generally reserved for much more expensive phones. And with Tracfone's subsidized price, it makes this phone that much more available for those hunting for a capable budget phone.

However, for those truly looking to keep the price low, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is an option, with a price of just over $100 (almost $200 less than the retail price of the A54 from Tracfone), and still giving 5G network access, a large, 6.5" full HD screen, and enough performance to handle moderate tasks, but limited gaming. 

The A54 does face some stiff competition from the Pixel 6a, which is available from Tracfone at a discounted rate. The Pixel has a better processor, similar camera experience, but smaller screen. Perhaps the biggest difference is the software experience, with Samsung including a number of UI changes and branded apps, while google keeps a mostly stock Android build. At the end of the day, it is mostly a matter of personal preference. 

Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a capable, and beautiful smartphone that improved significantly over the previous model, and gives users a number of great features. It is not without competition, particularly from the Google Pixel 6a, but also the much cheaper Moto G Power 5G 2023.

Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G from Tracfone

Get the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G w/ airtime bundle from HSN - $309

Get the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G on the Tracfone website - $299

We will update with more buying options as they become available.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G User Manual and Device Tutorials

Get the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G User Manual.

Learn more about using the phone with the Device Tutorials.

That concludes our review of the Galaxy A54 5G. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

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