The midrange phone market isn’t any slouch nowadays – should you’ve received round $500/£500 to spend, you will come throughout a plethora of engaging choices. One which all the time crops up is the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, so when the Honor 90 launched on the similar value level, it made sense that we put them face to face to see how they evaluate. We have frolicked with each, so right here’s how they stack up.
Value, specs & availability
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Honor 90 are available on the similar value within the UK, although within the US the Honor 90 is not at the moment extensively accessible (although it should normally seem on Amazon sooner or later).
You may count on to pay $449/£449/€499 for the Galaxy A54 5G with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and $499/£499/€595 for 256GB storage. With the Honor 90, you get a bit extra to your cash, with 256GB storage and 8GB RAM for £449/€549 and £499/€599 for 512GB storage and 12GB RAM – however the storage is fastened, and never expandable by way of microSD.
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@evleaks
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
- Model
- Samsung
- SoC
- Exynos 1380
- Show
- 6.4-inch, Tremendous AMOLED, Full HD+, 120Hz
- RAM
- 8GB
- Storage
- 128/256GB, microSD as much as 1TB
- Battery
- 5000mAh
- Working System
- Android + One UI
- Entrance digicam
- 13MP, f/2.2
- Rear cameras
- 50MP principal f/1.9 OIS, 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 5MP macro f/2.4
- Dimensions
- 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2mm, 202g
- Charging
- 25W wired
- IP Score
- IP67
- RAM and Storage
- 8GB, 128/256GB, microSD to 1TB
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Honor/Pocket-lint
HONOR 90
- Model
- Honor
- SoC
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Version 5G
- Show
- 6.7 inches AMOLED, 2664×1200, 120Hz
- RAM
- 8GB/12GB
- Storage
- 256GB/512GB
- Battery
- 5000mAh
- Working System
- Android 13 + MagicOS 7.1
- Entrance digicam
- 50MP wide-angle
- Rear cameras
- 200MP principal (f/1.9), 12MP ultra-wide/macro (f/2.2), 2MP depth (f/2.4)
- Dimensions
- 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (hwd), 183g
- Charging
- 66W wired
- IP Score
- None
- RAM and Storage
- 8GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB
Design
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and the Honor 90 take fairly totally different approaches to design. Whereas the A54 opts for a flat display screen and edges, the Honor leans into one thing fairly totally different, with its Quad-Curved Floating show. This serves up curves on all sides of the display screen and again panel – a design strategy that has been left behind by many producers, however that nods to Honor’s time beneath Huawei.
Which you favor shall be a private factor – however I would most likely say the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G seems to be costlier, notably with its Gorilla Glass Victus back and front. The Honor 90 opts for a plastic end on the again as a substitute, which simply would not really feel as premium within the hand (although does make it a lot much less slippy).
Colors are equally different irrespective of which mannequin you go for, with a alternative of Diamond Silver, Emerald Inexperienced, Peacock Blue and Midnight Black for the Honor 90, or Phantom Black, Inexperienced, Lavender and Cream for the A54. The Diamond Silver end on the Honor 90 will not be to everybody’s style, with a diamond sample etched into the again panel, however the different colors are plain and look nice, with a pearlescent end. Samsung goes slightly extra daring with its choices – although as soon as once more, which you favor will come down to private desire.
On the subject of dimensions, there’s not a lot in it, with the Samsung A54 developing slightly bit shorter within the hand, but additionally a contact wider, thicker and heavier. In actuality there’s mere millimetres and some grams in it, so you’re unlikely to note until you have been holding them subsequent to 1 one other, however the Honor 90 does really feel barely bigger general.
After all, that is due to the display screen, which is larger on the Honor 90, at 6.7in in contrast with 6.4in. Contemplating the additional display screen actual property right here, the very fact the additional millimetres have been stored to a minimal is definitely fairly spectacular.
As is Honor’s approach, the Honor 90 makes a design assertion with its cameras, with two giant digicam “islands” to deal with the three cameras and flash. The Samsung A54 5G retains issues slightly extra refined, with three lenses mounted indiviidually onto the again of the telephone. It isn’t one thing that may sway my determination both approach, however the Galaxy A54 seems to be a liitle neater.
Show
As talked about above, the Honor 90 gives a 6.7in show, whereas the Samsung A54 5G goes barely smaller, for a 6.4in show.
On paper, you will get a barely crisper picture on the Honor, with 435ppi in contrast with 411ppi on the Samsung, and a 2664×1200 decision, in contrast with 2400×1080. Each provide a 120Hz refresh fee, although the Honor 90 can go a good bit brighter – providing 1600 nits peak brightness in contrast with 1000 nits. This helps the Honor 90 ship help for HDR10+, receiving a Netflix HDR and Amazon Prime Video HDR certification within the course of.
Like we noticed within the Honor Magic 5 Professional, the Honor 90 is on the receiving finish of a number of eye consolation options, together with 3840Hz PWM dimming, a circadian evening show and a TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification – which means it must be kinder and fewer fatiguing in your eyes always. Samsung’s A54 does provide dynamic dimming that will help you gear your peepers up for some slumber at evening time, however Honor pushes issues a bit tougher right here.
Each shows arguably provide little to grouse about, nevertheless it’ll rely if you’d like a bigger show or one thing barely extra compact as to which is able to go well with you higher. Should you’re on the fence, the specs would counsel you will get the higher show on the Honor 90 – although as soon as once more, you’d most likely solely discover should you had them facet by facet (and even then it may be tough).
{Hardware} and software program
The Honor 90 makes use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Version 5G chip, in contrast with Samsung’s personal {hardware} within the Galaxy A54 – the Exynos 1380, which is the corporate’s mid-range chip.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is the marginally older chip, launched in mid-2022 in contrast with the Exynos in early 2023, however the Honor 90 does utilise the Accelerated model for pushing peak CPU speeds to 2.5GHz.
That is supported by a alternative of 8GB or 12GB RAM within the Honor 90, with 256GB or 512GB storage choices. The Galaxy A54 sticks with simply 8GB RAM with a alternative of 128GB or 256GB storage in-built, however that is expandable by microSD as much as 1TB. That is a very useful characteristic that is getting rarer. Contemplating how inexpensive microSD playing cards have turn into, you possibly can get some sizeable storage for not very a lot cash in any respect – making the A54 a fantastic possibility for these with numerous content material they prefer to carry on their machine.
When it comes to how the chipsets right here play out in actual life, in our expertise we observed some delicate stutters on the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, and some contact anomalies on the Honor 90, however general each provide a strong efficiency with little to grouse about.
Battery is matched between the 2 at 5000mAh, although they each have plus factors of their nook. With the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, that is wi-fi charging, which the Honor 90 would not have, nevertheless it does include a 66W wall charger within the field, that prices from empty to 50 per cent in simply 20 minutes. Each telephones held up admirably with regards to battery life although, simply getting by a busy day with some cost nonetheless remaining.
On the subject of software program, each run their very own skins excessive of Android 13, and each include some undesirable bloat that may be irritating to navigate. We like that the A54 5G nonetheless has the app tray, which the Honor 90 goes with out, although general we discover annoyance with each UIs.
Nonetheless, the Samsung does promise 4 OS updates for the A54 in comparison with Honor’s two, and 5 years of safety updates, in contrast with Honor’s three.
Cameras
Each the Honor 90 and the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G have three cameras on their rear, although how they’re cut up out is slightly totally different.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G has a 50MP principal digicam (f/1.8), a 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2) and a 5MP macro (f/2.4). On the Honor 90 you may have a large 200MP digicam (f/1.9), a 12MP ultra-wide/macro (f/2.2) and a 2MP depth digicam (f/2.4).
Meaning each have simply two cameras which might be actually worthwhile (the macro lens on the A54 could be very so-so and the Honor’s 2MP depth digicam is all however pointless), and each the place the primary digicam is – unsurprisingly – the star of the present.
These principal snappers each produce nice photographs in good daylight, with good evening performances too – due to these first rate f stops. There is a clear megapixel distinction between the 2 on paper, however the variations in actuality are most likely fairly small – they each ship crisp, well-balanced footage. The ultra-wide lenses could be a bit hit or miss on each, with some element missing, however general there’s little to complain about right here.
The dearth of OIS on the Honor 90 does maybe tip the favour in the direction of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, however that 200MP lens on the Honor does make it a fantastic possibility for those who need to seize tremendous high-quality footage on the go. Pictures are downsampled to 12MP by default however you’ll be able to pressure the upper high quality image if you want – simply be sure to have a tripod for finest outcomes.
As for the front-facing cameras, as soon as once more the Honor gives the higher megapixels on paper, however there’s not likely a lot in it.
Which is best for you?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Honor 90 are each very good midrange telephones with heaps to love in every, although which you must select shouldn’t be as easy as you would possibly hope. You arguably get slightly extra to your cash with the Honor 90, and a much bigger display screen in addition, however the Samsung picks up factors within the nice-to-haves, like a greater design, waterproofing, expandable stoage and optical picture stabilisation. That arguably makes it the extra rounded telephone, and it additionally has wider availability, to not point out will get safety and OS updates for longer than the Honor 90 does.
For that cause, we expect the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G has the sting over the Honor 90 on this midrange telephone battle.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
A extra rounded midranger
$400 $450 Save $50
Nonetheless, should you like a bigger display screen, need to take high quality images on the go or will profit from tremendous quick charging, the Honor gives rather a lot to love too, and provides you slightly extra to your cash from a storage and RAM perspective.
Honor/Pocket-lint
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