The comparison between the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy S23 FE may seem unexpected, but it was driven by Samsung’s pricing strategy. With the Galaxy A55 priced at around €400 and the Galaxy S23 FE at approximately €500, the two devices are closer in cost than one might think.
Despite their similar price tags, these devices cater to different audiences. The Galaxy S23 FE offers a flagship-level experience, while the A55 aims to strike a balance between hardware and affordability.
Now, let’s delve into the details. Before we proceed, take a moment to visit our specs page to compare the Galaxy A55 and S23 FE and understand what each device brings to the table.
Size Comparison
Although the Galaxy A55 and S23 FE are similar in size, there are notable differences. The S23 FE is more compact, with a slightly smaller screen. This difference may seem minor on paper but is noticeable when holding the two phones side by side.
The Galaxy S23 FE’s rounded side frame makes it feel more comfortable to hold, while the A55’s sharp edges may not be as ergonomic. In terms of build quality, both phones feature Gorilla Glass on the front and back, but the A55 boasts the newer Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front. Additionally, the S23 FE offers higher water resistance with an IP68 rating compared to the A55’s IP67.
Display Comparison
Both the Galaxy A55 and S23 FE sport OLED displays with HDR10+ support, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a resolution of 1080p+. The A55 features a larger 6.6-inch screen, while the S23 FE has a slightly smaller 6.4-inch display.
Both phones offer a peak brightness of around 1,000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in various lighting conditions.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A55 outshines the S23 FE in battery endurance tests, thanks to its larger 5,000 mAh battery compared to the S23 FE’s 4,500 mAh battery. Despite the A55’s bigger screen, it delivers significantly better battery life in real-world usage.
In battery endurance tests, the A55 surpassed the S23 FE with an Active Use Score of 13:27h compared to the S23 FE’s 8:28h score. The A55’s battery performance is notably superior across all test scenarios.
Charging Speed
Both the A55 and S23 FE support 25W charging via Power Delivery standard. The S23 FE offers slightly slower charging times than the A55 but both are equally efficient overall. Notably, the S23 FE supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the A55.
Speaker Test
While both phones feature hybrid stereo speakers, the S23 FE delivers louder audio output compared to the A55. However, the A55 offers cleaner sound quality, making it a better choice for audiophiles.
Performance
The Galaxy S23 FE excels in performance with its flagship Exynos 2200 chipset, outperforming the mid-range Exynos 1480 found in the A55. The S23 FE and A55 offer similar memory configurations, but the S23 FE offers a max of 8GB RAM compared to the A55’s 12GB, which also features a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Benchmark Performance
In CPU benchmarks, the Exynos 2200 in the S23 FE outperforms the Exynos 1480 by a significant margin, especially in single-core tasks. The S23 FE’s Xclipse 920 GPU significantly boosts performance in GPU-intensive tasks compared to the A55’s Xclipse 530 GPU.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature similar camera setups, including a 50MP main camera with optical stabilization and 12MP ultrawide camera. The S23 FE stands out with an additional 8MP telephoto camera with 3x zoom, offering greater versatility for photography enthusiasts.
Image Quality
While both devices capture similar quality still images with their main cameras, the S23 FE excels in producing better images with its ultrawide and telephoto cameras. The S23 FE’s image processing and dynamic range are superior, especially in low-light conditions.
Verdict
Considering the specs and performance, the Galaxy S23 FE justifies its higher price with superior hardware and camera capabilities. If a compact and comfortable design is crucial, the S23 FE is the ideal choice.
However, the Galaxy A55 offers excellent value for its price, with remarkable battery life, display features, camera performance, and stereo speakers. Unless you prioritize raw performance and camera versatility, the Galaxy A55 is a compelling option.
