Samsung Galaxy F54 5G Review: A Endurance Champion with Compromises in a Crowded Market

The sub-Rs. 30,000 smartphone sector in India appears to be an attractive category for numerous brands, revealing some remarkable releases in recent months. A noteworthy addition seeking your consideration is the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G, which features a substantial battery and a sophisticated primary camera. The F series by Samsung has consistently focused on providing outstanding battery longevity, and this time the company asserts that it has enhanced its design aesthetics as well. This market segment includes many commendable devices, including Samsung’s own Galaxy A34 5G (Review), so can the new Galaxy F54 5G stand out?

Pricing of Samsung Galaxy F54 5G in India

Samsung has introduced a single version of the Galaxy F54 5G in India, featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a price tag of Rs. 29,999. However, those who pre-ordered during initial offers possibly received it at a reduced price.

Design of Samsung Galaxy F54 5G

From the rear, the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G shares a resemblance to its A-series counterpart but is available in distinct colors: Meteor Blue and Stardust Silver. The layout of the rear cameras reflects the aesthetic of Samsung’s more premium S23 series. In contrast to the Galaxy A34 5G, the Galaxy F54 5G has a modern hole-punch design in the display. It is on the bulkier side, and you will certainly notice its weight of 199g. Although the frame is made from plastic, both the front and back panels are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 against scratches and breakage.

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G lacks stereo speakers, which is a significant drawback today. Additionally, it does not carry any official IP certification. The power button is flat and incorporates a fingerprint sensor that functions effectively. The device also supports expandable storage through a hybrid dual-SIM slot.

This smartphone is equipped with a brilliant and vibrant display. It features a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a full-HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which is not adaptive; hence, it consistently refreshes at either 120Hz or 60Hz, even on the Always-on lockscreen.

The striking Stardust Silver variant of the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G may not appeal to everyone

 

The overall ergonomics of the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G are impressive. It’s pleasant to hold and operate, thanks to the rounded frame edges, and the three rear camera protrusions are not overly pronounced.

Specifications and Software of Samsung Galaxy F54 5G

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G is powered by the comparatively recent Exynos 1380 SoC, as highlighted in our first impressions article. This chipset is built using a 5nm process technology and supports a total of 10 5G bands. Additionally, the device offers support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and a robust 6,000mAh battery. The battery can be charged at a rate of 25W, but a charger is not included in the package.

Samsung’s software capabilities have significantly improved, and the Galaxy F54 5G is promised four years of operating system updates and five years of security patches, which is an excellent offer. It comes pre-installed with One UI 5.1 based on Android 13, providing all standard shortcuts, gestures, and customization options we’ve observed on recent Samsung devices. Features like floating notifications, one-handed mode, experimental options in the Labs section, and various Edge panels are available. While some bloatware apps are included, most can be uninstalled.

Performance and Battery Life of Samsung Galaxy F54 5G

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G excels at offering a fairly smooth and responsive Android experience. I experienced slight stutters in some animations, particularly when dismissing the Edge panel from the homescreen, but overall the phone performs sufficiently well. The display shines brightly for outdoor use, touch response is satisfactory, and media consumption is enjoyable. However, the single speaker is a drawback, though it produces adequately loud sound for notifications.

The new Exynos SoC performs decently, comparable to the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC found in the Galaxy A34 5G. In benchmark tests, the Galaxy F54 5G achieved a score of 4,52,104 points on AnTuTu (v10) and scored 1,018 and 2,838 on Geekbench for single and multi-core tests, respectively. While it cannot compete with the more robust chipsets found in Motorola Edge 40 or Poco F5 5G, which have similar price points, it is capable of handling mid-range gaming.

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G feels somewhat bulky and heavy

 

Games like Asphalt 9 Legends and Honkai Impact 3rd run well with pleasing graphics, and Off Road 4×4 Driving Simulator maintains stable frame rates even at the highest settings. A notable observation is that the Galaxy F54 5G tends to heat up quickly during gaming sessions, with certain portions of the back panel becoming warm.

When it comes to battery life, the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G is particularly strong. Generally, one should easily achieve nearly two full days of usage from a single charge, possibly more with careful use. It lasted 22 hours and 51 minutes in our HD video loop test, which is exceptionally impressive. Fully charging it from zero takes about an hour and a half or slightly longer, depending on the charger used.

Camera Features of Samsung Galaxy F54 5G

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G is equipped with a main camera featuring a 108-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, it has an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, it offers a 32-megapixel front camera that supports 4K video recording.

The primary camera typically captures 12-megapixel images through pixel binning, although it also offers the option to shoot in full 108-megapixel resolution. Daylight landscape photographs were decent, with natural colors, appealing HDR, and good details. Close-up shots were vibrant and sharp, although the Scene Optimiser occasionally oversaturated colors in elements like foliage and the sky. Digital zoom is limited to 10X, with subpar quality at this level. The macro camera can be helpful for extreme close-ups, although it often produces dull colors.

Main camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G (tap to view full size)

Close-up shots from the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G (tap to view full size)

Low light samples from the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G main camera (tap to view full size)

 

In low light conditions, the main camera performs admirably, delivering good exposure and detail. If the Scene Optimiser is enabled, Night mode is activated automatically based on ambient lighting. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Night mode is operational even when shooting in full 108-megapixel resolution.

Daylight images captured with the ultra-wide camera are adequately decent. The barrel distortion is well-managed, yielding images with attractive colors. Notably, you must manually activate Night mode for the ultra-wide camera, as it does not engage automatically for some reason. The disparities in exposures between using Night mode and not using it are significant, and overall detail is much inferior compared to the primary camera.

Shots from the ultra-wide camera of the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G (tap to view full size)

 

The selfie camera similarly pixel-bins images to 12-megapixels, although you can capture a full 32-megapixel image as well. The quality of selfies in daylight is acceptable, showcasing natural skin tones once you disable the beautification filters. However, in low light, the performance of this camera declines, leading to grainy selfies, even in Night mode.

Selfie camera samples from the Samsung Galaxy F54 5G (tap to view full size)

 

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G can record videos in up to 4K resolution, but the downside is the absence of stabilization. This is manageable if you are stationary while recording, but walking causes the footage to appear shaky. Video quality remains fairly decent in low light conditions. If stabilization is a priority, you’ll need to switch to 1080p 30fps, where you can switch between the main and ultra-wide cameras during recording. The ultra-wide camera’s video performance is moderate and not impressive in dim lighting.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy F54 5G is a solid smartphone that covers most bases but is currently in a bit of a competitive difficulty. Samsung’s own Galaxy A34 5G is priced similarly and offers comparable performance in terms of system and battery, along with features like stereo speakers, IP67 rating, and an in-display fingerprint sensor—elements that the Galaxy F54 5G lacks. If your priority is having a substantial battery or a high-resolution camera, the F54 5G is a valid choice. For everything else, the Galaxy A34 5G provides better value.

As noted at the beginning of this review, there is no shortage of excellent smartphones available in this segment, and you can explore them in our latest smartphone guide.

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