Samsung Galaxy A series phones: Your complete buyer’s guide
The Galaxy A series forms the bedrock of Samsung’s mid-range ambitions. The A-series started out by bringing features previously limited to Samsung flagships at a much more affordable price point. While it was traditionally focused on the mid-range segment, Samsung merged the entry-level Galaxy J series in 2019 into the Galaxy A lineup.
The result is that the Galaxy A series now starts under $159, thanks to devices like the Galaxy A03s. While the budget Galaxy A options make it easier to upgrade to one of the best Samsung phones, the mid-range options like the Galaxy A54 and the A55 offer exciting new features for those who want the latest screen tech and 5G connectivity.
Samsung clearly did the right thing by broadening focus with its Galaxy A devices, and they now account for nearly 60% of all Samsung phones sales globally. Considering the number of phones available in this series, it can get a bit daunting to find the device that’s ideal for your needs. So if you’re looking to upgrade to a new phone in 2024, these are the best Galaxy A series phones you’ll need to consider.
Galaxy A55: Leading the way
The Galaxy A55 is the latest in the A series, and while it doesn’t differ too much from its predecessor, there are a few new features that are noteworthy. The overall design is largely unchanged, and this is true of any Samsung phone in 2024 — even the Galaxy S24 Ultra is virtually indistinguishable to its predecessor.
That said, the Galaxy A55 has a marginally larger 6.6-inch screen, and that makes it a smidgen taller and wider than the Galaxy A54. The AMOLED panel itself is the same, and you get the same brightness levels as last year, 120Hz refresh, and FHD+ resolution, but it now has a coating of Gorilla Glass Victus+.
You get the same set of cameras as last year, and that includes a 50MP main lens, 12MP wide-angle, and a 5MP macro that just doesn’t measure up. The battery is unchanged at 5000mAh, and the Exynos 1480 is nearly identical to the Exynos 1380 that was used in the Galaxy A54, albeit with a slightly higher frequency.
Although Samsung now guarantees seven software updates to its Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy A55 gets the same four platform update cycle as its predecessor. Given the sheer number of similarities to last year, it’s understandable that Samsung isn’t launching the Galaxy A55 in the U.S. at all — the brand is directing customers to pick up the Galaxy S24 or S23 FE instead.
Previous devices in the A5x series sold incredibly well Stateside, and while there isn’t much in the way of new hardware, it’s still bizarre that Samsung isn’t bringing one of its best phones of 2024 to the country.
The Galaxy A55 is slowly making its way to global markets, but the device won’t be heading to the U.S. It has modest upgrades over the Galaxy A54, so if you need a mid-range Samsung phone, you’ll need to pick up the year-old A54 instead.
Galaxy A54: Still a terrific choice
The Galaxy A54 is over a year old at this point, but it is still the default choice if you want a mid-range Samsung phone in 2024. As I said above, the Galaxy A55 doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, and as the A54 has been on shelves for a while now, there are attractive discounts to be had on the device.
There isn’t one area where the A54 truly shines, but the combination of a vibrant AMOLED panel, 50MP camera at the back, decent battery, and four Android OS updates make it a good choice. That said, the phone isn’t particularly fast, and isn’t designed for gaming — it still uses Arm’s old v8 cores and doesn’t pass muster when playing demanding titles.
While you won’t see many slowdowns in daily use, the Galaxy A54 is by no means a powerful phone. But if you don’t intend to play games and want a device that can tackle browsing and social media use, there’s not much to fault with the device.
If you can get a good deal, the Galaxy A54 is a terrific choice in 2024.
The Galaxy A54 is the best choice if you want an affordable Samsung phone in 2024. It has a good feature-set, standout battery, and decent cameras at the back.
Galaxy A35: Everything you need
The Galaxy A35 takes the best features of the Galaxy A54 and brings it to an affordable package. It uses the same Exynos 1380 platform, and while it may not be as fast as what you get on the likes of the Pixel 7a, it is better than the Dimensity 100 that was featured on the Galaxy A34 last year.
You also get a glass back this time around, and it makes the A35 look just that little bit more premium. Samsung didn’t make any changes to the sides, and those are made out of polycarbonate, like last year. The front gets Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, making it more resilient to tumbles.
Samsung also offers IP67 ingress protection as standard on its mid-range phones, and that’s the case with the A35. The 50MP camera takes better photos than previous generations, the 6.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel gets bright in daily use, and the 5000mAh battery is designed to last a day and a half between charges.
Unlike the Galaxy A55, the A35 is available in the U.S., and considering just how similar it is to last year’s Galaxy A54, it may be a better choice if you want a new phone this year.
The Galaxy A35 is a great option if you like the look of the Galaxy A54 but don’t want to shell out as much cash.
Galaxy A25: Delivering timely upgrades
The Galaxy A25 sits one tier below the Galaxy A35, and it is available for $299. You can get it as low as $264 on Amazon, and that is a good value when you consider what you’re getting with the device. As is the case with other Galaxy A models, Samsung didn’t make any changes to the design, and as such the A25 still uses the older waterdrop-style cutout for the camera at the front.
It has the same 6.5-inch AMOLED screen as last year, but this time, the refresh rate goes up to 120Hz (from 90Hz). You still don’t get ingress protection on the A25; if you need the feature, you’ll need to pick up the A35 instead. The 50MP camera at the back is decent enough in its own right, but it doesn’t quite measure up to what you get on the mid-range Galaxy A devices.
That said, there’s still an SD card slot, the same 5000mAh battery that you see across the Galaxy A range, and similar software features. At the end of the day, it’s this familiarity that makes the A25 a good overall choice.
The Galaxy A25 has useful upgrades that make it a good choice, and while there are a lot of downsides, it holds its own in daily use.
Galaxy A15: 5G for everyone
The Galaxy A15 lowers the barrier to entry for 5G quite considerably; the phone is available for just $199 on Amazon, and you get a lot for that price. There’s an AMOLED panel with good color vibrancy, and it goes up to 90Hz. The 50MP camera at the back takes decent shots in daylight scenarios, and while it struggles in challenging situations, it is much better than its predecessor.
The 5000mAh battery lasts two days between charges, and you get One UI 6 based on Android 14 out of the box. Obviously, there are downsides; the Dimensity 6100+ isn’t fast enough, and you’ll see slowdowns and lag in routine everyday tasks. The base model has just 4GB of RAM, and that just isn’t enough — you’ll ideally need to get the 6GB model.
You don’t get any ingress protection, and the design isn’t quite as modern as the Galaxy A55. But there’s an SD card slot as well as a 3.5mm jack here, and while it won’t win any awards, the Galaxy A15 does a good job delivering the basics.
The Galaxy A15 5G is a good choice if you want an entry-level 5G phone. It isn’t fast or fluid in daily use, and the design isn’t exactly new, but you get the basics, and there’s even a 3.5mm jack.