Samsung Galaxy F55 5G: A Striking Blend of Elegance and Everyday Performance

The Galaxy F-series from Samsung has consistently aimed to provide distinctive features alongside solid performance. Having tested various models in this range, I’ve come to realize that these devices effectively balance aesthetic appeal and efficiency, especially given their mid-tier price. In line with this approach, Samsung has recently launched the Galaxy F55 5G, introducing a touch of vegan leather into its smartphone lineup. This model boasts features such as an in-display fingerprint scanner, 45W fast charging, and more. But is this sleek mid-range device merely fashionable, or does it deliver on performance as well? Let’s dive in!

Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Pricing in India

The pricing strategy for Samsung’s new Galaxy F55 5G appears reasonable based on its specifications. The entry-level version is priced at Rs. 26,999, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The mid-tier model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage costs Rs. 29,999, while the high-end variant, which includes 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, retails for Rs. 32,999. This smartphone is available in two colors: Apricot Crush and Raisin Black. For review purposes, I received the high-end variant in the Apricot Crush hue.

Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: A Look at the Design

Samsung has joined the ranks of smartphone makers incorporating a vegan leather finish in its latest model, and I believe their take on this trend is among the finest in its category. The apricot-hued vegan leather back certainly makes a statement, complemented by red stitching along its edges.

With the Galaxy F55 5G, Samsung introduces vegan leather into its offerings.

 

The gold accents surrounding each camera lens enhance the Apricot Crush aesthetic. There was an interesting moment while testing the camera; a passerby inquired about the phone and was taken aback to learn it was a Samsung—especially at this price range. Clearly, it captures attention effectively.

The leather texture is soft to the touch, making it pleasant to hold while providing a better grip than typical glass or plastic backings found on other Samsung models. However, it does require consistent cleaning to keep it looking pristine, unlike many other phones. Additionally, the protruding camera lenses can cause it to wobble when placed on flat surfaces.

The Samsung Galaxy F55 5G features stereo speakers but lacks a headphone jack.

 

The matte gold frame, slightly rounded, is constructed from polycarbonate. The flat display comes with a reasonably narrow bezel. Weighing in at just 180 grams, this phone feels lightweight and measures a slender 7.8mm in thickness.

I appreciated the IP67 rating, ensuring it’s resistant to dust and water. Accidental spills or splashes won’t be an issue. The overall appearance and feel bear a strong resemblance to the Galaxy M55 5G, indicating that it’s essentially a more refined version of the M55.

Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Technical Specs and Software.

Equipped with One UI 6.1 based on Android 14, the Samsung Galaxy F55 5G delivers reliable performance and a smooth software experience in its price category. The latest UI enhances animations and optimizes scrolling, making it more fluid than its predecessors.

This interface provides numerous customization options, including a Work Profile feature to organize professional and personal accounts—an especially useful function.

You can also take advantage of the ‘Modes and Routines’ options to tailor the phone’s settings to your activities. The Edge Panel simplifies access to your favorite apps with a quick tap of the device’s edge.

That said, it comes pre-loaded with a variety of applications like PhonePe, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, making it somewhat tedious to uninstall them manually. The Glance feature is enabled by default, which can be a bit distracting at times.

Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Performance Overview

Despite being powered by the older Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, the phone provides satisfactory performance for daily tasks.

 

Transitioning to a Qualcomm chipset with the Galaxy F55 5G allowed it to score 5,73,167 in AnTuTu v10, with Geekbench 6 revealing results of 894 for single-core and 2,265 for multi-core performance. As for graphics, it recorded 112 FPS on GFXBench T-rex, 59 FPS in Manhattan 3.1, and 29 FPS in the Car Chase benchmark.

In everyday use, performance remains stable. Whether scrolling through Reels, watching YouTube videos, chatting, or using WhatsApp, the phone handles casual usage fairly well, but there were a few moments of lag when switching apps.

The Samsung Galaxy F55 5G includes a Gaming Hub to organize all your games in one location.

 

Gaming on this device is adequately smooth. Games installed appear solely in the Gaming Hub and not in the app drawer by default. However, you can adjust this in Gaming Hub > Settings if you prefer them visible on the main screen. While playing Asphalt 9: Legends, the gameplay ran smoothly at 60 FPS with high settings.

For Call of Duty: Mobile, the device performed comfortably at Very High Graphics with High Frame Rate settings without any discernible lag. However, I did experience slowdowns when I switched to Maximum Frame Rate.

The Super AMOLED display provides sharp imagery and impressive viewing angles.

 

The Samsung Galaxy F55 5G earns high marks for its display. The Super AMOLED screen showcases vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it enjoyable to watch visual content. Viewing Godzilla: Minus One was engaging, as color accuracy was excellent, and dark scenes maintained good detail. Being Widevine L1 certified means you can stream in full HD quality on various OTT platforms.

Furthermore, the adaptive refresh rate adjusts between 60Hz and 120Hz based on usage, with sufficient brightness for outdoor viewing. However, the stereo speakers could offer a better sound experience; although loud, they fall short in clarity for high and mid frequencies.

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A triple-camera array provides reasonable performance in daylight conditions.

 

In my battery loop test, the phone managed to last 13 hours and 15 minutes. It made it through an entire day of heavy use, which included browsing news on Discover, watching YouTube videos, taking photos, gaming on Call of Duty: Mobile, checking emails periodically, and rounding off the day with an episode of anime. With moderate use, the device can easily provide nearly two days of battery life.

The substantial battery supports 45W fast charging, which is decent for a mid-range Samsung device, though slightly slower compared to competitors. Unfortunately, Samsung does not include a charger in the box, necessitating a separate purchase. Once the battery is fully depleted, the 45W fast charging functionality becomes applicable. I used a 65W GaN charger, achieving 48% in 30 minutes and a full charge of 96% in one hour.

Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Camera Capabilities

The camera capabilities of the Galaxy F55 5G are respectable for a mid-tier smartphone. The rear features a triple-camera setup that includes a 50-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

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Camera samples from Samsung Galaxy F55 5G in daylight. From top to bottom: 2X digital crop, primary camera, ultra-wide camera. (tap images to view enlarged)

 

The daytime images exhibited natural colors and satisfactory sharpness from the primary sensor, though the white balance was inconsistent in some shots.

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Low-light samples from the Galaxy F55 5G. Top: Primary lens, bottom: ultra-wide lens (tap images to view enlarged)

 

Low-light photography yielded a mixed performance. While Night Mode managed to create decent images, processing times extended. Without Night Mode, photos often lost significant detail.

The ultra-wide lens performed adequately in daylight but displayed noticeable distortion along the edges. Moreover, a color difference between the primary and ultra-wide lenses was visible. Low-light photos from this lens were often subpar.

The front camera performed commendably for selfies, capturing natural images with generally accurate skin tones, and portrait mode handled well in daylight conditions. However, in low-light scenarios, it produced noticeable noise under inadequate lighting conditions.

As for video capabilities, the Galaxy F55 supports 4K recording at 30fps, with optical image stabilization ensuring smooth footage. Daylight videos appeared detailed, but low-light performance could be improved.

Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Final Thoughts

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy F55 5G predominantly showcases a luxury design. Its sleek profile and premium leather finish make it a stylish contender in this price bracket. The IP67 rating adds further appeal. Its Super AMOLED display enhances content consumption, making it a worthwhile choice for those seeking an aesthetically pleasing mid-range smartphone that offers a decent blend of performance and upscale design.

Nonetheless, there is considerable competition within this price range. The Nothing Phone 2a (Review), starting at Rs. 23,999, provides a distinctive design, superior performance, and enhanced camera capabilities. The Poco F6 (Review) starts at Rs. 29,999 and offers the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, yielding significantly better raw and gaming performance alongside faster 90W charging and gaming-oriented features.

For a starting price of Rs. 29,999, Realme’s 12 Pro+ (Review) provides a compelling alternative with a similar vegan-leather finish, faster 67W charging, and an exceptional camera array (including an OIS 3X telephoto lens) tailored for a mid-range device.

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