Smartphones & Tablets | January 1, 2024
| Samsung Galaxy A54 | Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
| Screen | 6.4 inches of Super AMOLED technology, 19.5:9 format, FullHD+ resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels, 120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch sampling rate, 1,000 nits maximum brightness, HDR10 and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection | 6.2 inches of Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, 20:9 format, QuadHD+ resolution of 3,200 x 1,440 pixels, 120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch sampling rate, 1,200 nits maximum brightness, HDR10+ and Corning Gorilla Glass protection 6 |
| Main camera | – 50 megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second – 12 megapixel wide-angle secondary sensor with f/2.2 aperture and 123° field of view – 5 megapixel tertiary macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture | – 12 megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 8K resolution at 24 frames per second – 64 megapixel secondary telephoto sensor with f/2.0 aperture and 3X hybrid optical zoom – Sensor tertiary with 12 megapixel wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view |
| Selfie camera | 32 megapixel main sensor with f/2.2 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second | 10 megapixel main sensor with f/2.2 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second |
| Internal memory | 128 or 256 GB type UFS 2.2 | 128GB UFS 3.0 type |
| Extension | Expandable via microSD card up to 1TB | Expandable via microSD card up to 1TB |
| Processor and RAM memory | – Samsung Exynos 1380 5 nanometer eight-core 2.4 GHz max. – 8 GB of LPDDR4 type RAM | – Europe and Global: 7-nanometer, eight-core Exynos 990 at 2.73 GHz max. – United States and China: 7-nanometer, eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 at 2.84 GHz max. – 8 GB of LPDDR5 type RAM |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh with support for 25W fast wired charging (charger not included in the box) | 4,000 mAh with 25W fast wired charging (includes original 25W charger in the box), 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse charging |
| OS | Android 13 under One UI 5.1 | Android 13 under One UI 5.1 |
| Connections | 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, FM radio, NFC for contactless payments and USB type C input | 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, FM radio, NFC for contactless payments and USB type C input |
| SIM | Dual nano SIM | Dual nano SIM |
| Design | Colors: black, white, blue and lavender | Colors: grey, blue, white, pink and red |
| Dimensions and weight | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 millimeters and 202 grams | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 millimeters and 163 grams |
| Featured Features | Under-display optical fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and IP67 water and dust resistance (submergence-proof) | Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and IP68 water and dust resistance (submergence-proof) |
| Release date | Available | Available |
| Price | From 380 euros | From 400 euros |
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is currently one of Samsung’s most advanced mid-range smartphones. Its features and technical specifications make it one of the most interesting mobile phones of 2023. However, the question arises of whether it can compete with the iconic Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung’s flagship for 2020. To find out, let’s compare the Samsung Galaxy A54 vs S20. In this comparison, we’ll analyze their differences in terms of features and prices to determine which one is better and why.
The prices mentioned in the article may vary over time, so, we focus on analyzing the differences as of the publication date.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy S20 are two mobile phones with very different designs. The Galaxy A54 opts for a design that we have seen in other Samsung models, making it quite familiar. It has three camera rings on the back aligned vertically and a screen with a hole-punch cutout for the front camera. Its edges are straight and made of plastic, just like its back panel.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S20 has a rectangular triple-camera module. It also features a screen with a hole-punch camera cutout, but unlike the Galaxy A54, it is not flat; it slightly curves towards the sides, giving it a more premium look. Its edges are also rounded, which improves grip. Furthermore, they are made of metal. The back panel of this device is made of glass, giving it a more solid, better-built, and, of course, more expensive feel. Additionally, it is much lighter than the A54, weighing almost 40 grams less.
When analyzing their screens, we can find more differences between the Samsung Galaxy S20 vs A54. The first difference is in size. The Samsung Galaxy S20 has a smaller display with a diagonal of 6.2 inches, while the Galaxy A54’s screen is 6.4 inches. They also have different resolutions: QuadHD+ 3,200 x 1,440 pixels (20:9) for the S20 and FullHD 2,340 x 1,080 pixels (19.5:9) for the A54. Another difference is in screen brightness, where the Galaxy S20 comes out ahead with a brightness of up to 1,200 nits, while the A54’s screen reaches 1,000 nits.
Furthermore, the Galaxy A54’s screen is compatible with the HDR10 standard, while the Galaxy S20’s is HDR10+. It’s also worth noting that the glass protecting the A54’s screen is Corning Gorilla Glass 5, while the S20 uses the more advanced Gorilla Glass 6. Finally, both screens have a touch sampling rate of 240 Hz.
In this aspect, the Samsung Galaxy S20 comes out as the winner since it features a more powerful processor than the Galaxy A54. However, there is a clarification to be made, as the specific chipset in the Galaxy S20 may vary depending on the market. The Galaxy S20 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset in markets like China and the United States. The models sold in Europe and the rest of the world were introduced with the Exynos 990 chipset, which offers slightly lower performance but still provides a fairly smooth user experience.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 in the Galaxy S20 is a chip known for its efficiency in terms of power and energy consumption. It features 7-nanometer nodes and eight cores that operate at a maximum clock frequency of 2.84 GHz. On the other hand, the Exynos 990 also uses 7-nanometer nodes and comes with eight cores, but they run at a maximum clock frequency of 2.73 GHz.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 uses a less advanced and powerful processor, but it is also newer than the aforementioned Snapdragon 865 and Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20. The A54 is powered by the Exynos 1330, a SoC with a 5-nanometer architecture and eight cores running at a maximum clock frequency of around 2.4 GHz. The performance of this phone is more than decent and sufficient for running all kinds of apps and games smoothly. However, it is a step behind what is achieved with the Galaxy S20, regardless of whether the latter comes with the Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990.
In terms of memory options, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has 8 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The Galaxy S20 also has 8 GB of RAM, but it uses LPDDR5, which offers higher read and write speeds. Regarding internal storage, the Samsung Galaxy A54 offers 128 or 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 comes with 128 GB of UFS 3.0 storage. Fortunately, both devices support microSD cards with a capacity of up to 1 TB.
In this comparison between the Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy S20, we cannot ignore the camera systems of both devices. Both have a triple rear camera system, but they use different sensors.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 features a 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture that can record 4K video at 30 frames per second. Its secondary camera is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture. The third sensor on the back is a 5-megapixel macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S20 features a 12-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture and the capability to record 8K video at 24 frames per second. Its secondary camera is a 64-megapixel telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture, offering 3X optical hybrid zoom. The third rear camera is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture.
For selfies, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has a 32-megapixel front camera with an f/2.2 aperture that can record 4K video at 30 frames per second. The Galaxy S20, on the other hand, has a 10-megapixel front camera with an f/2.2 aperture that can also record 4K video, but at a frame rate of 60 frames per second.
Let’s continue with more differences between the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Galaxy A54. Now, let’s look at the battery section. Here, we can see that the Galaxy S20 has a 4,000 mAh battery, while the A54 has a 5,000 mAh battery, making the A54 the winner in terms of battery capacity. Both devices support 25W fast wired charging, but only the Galaxy S20 includes its charger in the box. Additionally, only the S20 supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
In terms of connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has a slight advantage over the Galaxy S20, mainly due to having a more advanced Bluetooth version. The A54 features Bluetooth v5.3, while the Galaxy S20 comes with Bluetooth v5.0. In all other aspects, both devices support 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, GPS with A-GPS and Glonass, NFC for mobile payments with Bixby, and USB Type-C input.
Regarding software, both devices run Android 13 with One UI 5.1. However, this is likely the last software version that the Samsung Galaxy S20 will receive, while the Galaxy A54 will receive four years of operating system updates, allowing it to be updated to Android 17 in the future.
As for other features, both devices have an in-display fingerprint sensor, but the one on the Galaxy A54 is optical, while the S20 uses an ultrasonic sensor, which is more advanced and secure. They are also both water-resistant, with the A54 having an IP67 rating and the S20 having an IP68 rating. Additionally, they both feature stereo dual speakers and facial recognition.
After analyzing all the differences between the Samsung Galaxy A54 vs S20, we now know which one is better. But before getting into that, let’s look at their prices…
The Samsung Galaxy A54 has a starting price of around 380 euros at the moment. The Galaxy S20 is only slightly more expensive, with a price of around 400 euros. However, since it is an older phone, it may be available refurbished for around 300 euros or even less, depending on the current offer.
With that in mind, we can say that the winner of this Samsung Galaxy A54 vs S20 comparison is the Galaxy S20, and here’s why…
The Samsung Galaxy S20 wins this comparison for several reasons. First, its price is very similar to that of the Galaxy A54 and, in some cases, even lower, depending on its condition (refurbished or new) or current promotions. Second, it has a higher-resolution screen with a higher maximum brightness. Although it is slightly smaller than the A54’s screen, it is better for consuming multimedia content due to its support for HDR10+. Third, it features a more powerful processor than the Galaxy A54, regardless of whether you choose the version with the Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990. As a result, it offers a faster and smoother user experience, which is further enhanced by its higher-end RAM and internal storage.
The Galaxy S20 also has better cameras, including a telephoto lens. Furthermore, while its battery is smaller, it supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. It also comes with its charger in the box, which is not included with the Samsung Galaxy A54. However, it does not have as advanced a Bluetooth version as the A54 and does not offer the same level of software update support. Nevertheless, it has an IP68 rating, making it more resistant to water immersion.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the Samsung Galaxy S20 has a more ergonomic, lighter, and premium design, and it’s slightly more compact than the Galaxy A54, offering a better overall feel in hand.
