Samsung Galaxy A54 vs Google Pixel 7a review

When it comes to mid-range smartphones, the market is flooded with options that offer a balance between performance, features, and price. Two contenders, the Samsung Galaxy A54 and the Google Pixel 7a, bring their unique strengths to the table, not making the choice between them an easy one.

In this article, we dive into the key aspects of both devices, from design and performance to camera capabilities and software, to help you decide which one suits your needs best.

Differences between Samsung Galaxy A54 and Google Pixel 7a

There are four colours available for each of these phones. The Galaxy A54 is offered in Lime, Graphite, Violet, and White. Conversely, the Pixel 7a provides colour choices of Charcoal, Snow, Sea, and Coral.

In terms of build quality, the choices here are quite intriguing. The Galaxy A54 features a plastic frame all around but boasts a glass front and back made of Gorilla Glass 5, which is highly durable and relatively scratch-resistant.

The Pixel 7a, on the other hand, sports an aluminum frame, which is a superior frame material, but it has a plastic back. Despite being made of plastic, it closely resembles glass in look and feel but ultimately is not.

Another noteworthy design aspect is that the Pixel 7a supports wireless charging, while the same cannot be said for the A54. In contrast, the latter includes an SD card slot for expandable storage, a feature absent in the Pixel 7a.

When it comes to displays, there’s a notable difference between these phones. The Pixel 7a features a 6.1in display, while the Galaxy A54 boasts a larger 6.4in display, and overall, the A54 offers a superior display quality.

The Pixel 7a’s display is still decent, but it offers a 90Hz refresh rate compared to the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate on the Galaxy A54. Both displays are smooth and responsive, but the latter has an edge in this regard.

Additionally, the A54’s display is slightly brighter, and it uses Super AMOLED screen technology, whereas the Pixel 7a employs standard OLED technology.

The Pixel 7a is equipped with the same chipset as the Pixel 7 Pro – the Google Tensor G2. While it may not be the fastest on the market, it delivers a smooth and fast performance, more than sufficient for a mid-range phone.

It may seem like the Pixel 7a’s Exynos 1380 chipset in the Galaxy A54 is less powerful, but in everyday tasks and app usage, you won’t notice a significant performance difference between the two.

In our Geekbench 5 Multi-core test, the Galaxy A54 scored 2852 points, while the Pixel 7a achieved 2720 points. So, despite having a flagship chipset from the Pro model, the Pixel 7a’s performance results are slightly inferior to those of the Galaxy A54.

Regarding RAM and storage, the Pixel 7a offers a single model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, a standard configuration. The Galaxy A54 provides two options: 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage for those willing to spend more money.

This becomes a significant factor when considering the prices of these phones. The base model of the Galaxy A54 is cheaper (at least in the US), but it comes with less RAM and a non-flagship processor compared to the Pixel 7a.

If you want the same amount of RAM, the Galaxy A54 actually becomes more expensive than the Pixel 7a.

With the Pixel 7a, you get ‘stock’ Android 13 with the Pixel Interface, which is highly regarded by many users. It’s lightweight, responsive, free of bloatware, and provides essential features.

The Galaxy A54 runs on Android 13 but features the One UI 5.1 skin on top of it. While it includes additional apps from Samsung, it has been one of the best UI skins on the market for years and offers exclusive features for Samsung users.

The Galaxy A54 promises four Android updates, while the Pixel 7a receives three. However, both phones will receive five years of security updates and will get the newest Android 14.

In terms of battery charging, we tested the Galaxy A54 with a 67W fast charger from another brand and found it charged only up to 16% in 15 minutes and 31% in 30 minutes. If fast charging is important to you, you might need to explore other options.

Using a third-party USB-C charger, the Pixel 7a managed to reach 20% in 15 minutes and 38% in half an hour.

While both phones can last a whole day with mixed usage, the Pixel 7a offers slightly faster charging and also supports wireless charging, a feature absent in the A54.

One area where Pixels excel is their camera performance. Despite featuring smaller sensors for many years, the Pixel series has consistently been among the best camera phones.

The Galaxy A54 boasts three different cameras, while the Pixel 7a has only two. The 7a features a 64Mp main lens and a 13Mp ultrawide camera, whereas the A54 includes a 50Mp main lens, a 12Mp ultrawide camera, and a 5Mp macro lens.

In general, the Galaxy A54’s photos are more saturated, while the Pixel 7a captures more natural-looking images. This isn’t necessarily a drawback, as it depends on the situation and the desired aesthetic. The Pixel 7a also maintains more consistent lighting, colors, and contrast.

In terms of video, there isn’t much difference. Both phones offer similar video quality and stabilization, with a slight advantage for the Pixel 7a.

Price & availability

You can purchase the Galaxy A54 directly from Samsung for $449/£449, which includes 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. If you’re in the UK, you also have the choice of selecting an 8GB/256GB model for £499. Both options allow you to expand storage by adding a microSD card of up to 1TB. Unfortunately, customers in the US are limited to the base model.

You can also find the Galaxy A54 available at various retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis, Very, and Currys.

Find out more on where to buy the Galaxy A54 in our separate guide.

The Pixel 7a can be purchased directly from Google and other retailers for $499/£449/€509, which includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Although it’s $50/£50/€50 more expensive than the Pixel 6a when it was first released, it still represents a significant cost saving compared to the Pixel 7, particularly in the UK and Europe.

For more great deals, check out where to buy the Google Pixel 7a in the US & UK.

Also check out more rivals in our best mid-range phone chart.

Verdict

In terms of raw performance, the Galaxy A54 may have a slight advantage, but you won’t notice much of a difference in everyday usage between the two. The Galaxy A54 does offer slightly better materials, although the absence of wireless charging despite having a glass back is a drawback.

However, when considering camera capabilities, battery life, charging speed, available RAM, and, most importantly, the price, the Pixel 7a emerges as the winner. Ultimately, these phones are quite similar and among the best mid-range phones.

Nevertheless, when you have to choose between them, the Pixel 7a simply delivers more value for your money.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy A54:

• Android 13 with One UI 5.1
• 6.4in AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 ratio
• Exynos 1380 chipset
• 6/8GB RAM
• 128/256GB of storage (expandable via microSD)
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp f/1.8 OIS main camera
  • 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
  • 5Mp f/2.4 macro
  • 32Mp f/2.2 selfie camera
• Dual-SIM/microSD
• Stereo speakers
• NFC
• GPS
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Wi-Fi 6
• Under-display fingerprint sensor
• 5000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• USB-C charging port
• 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2mm
• 202g

Google Pixel 7a:

• 6.1in, FHD+, 90Hz OLED
• Google Tensor G2 chipset
• Google Titan M2 security chip
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• Cameras:
  • 64Mp, f/1.9 main camera
  • 13Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide
  • 13Mp, f/2.2 selfie camera
• 4385mAh battery
• 18W wired charging
• 7.5W wireless charging
• IP67 rating
• 5G
• Android 13
• 72.9 x 152.4 x 9.0mm
• 193g