Comparison between Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy S23 FE (Exynos)

The comparison between the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy S23 FE may seem unexpected, but it is driven by Samsung’s pricing strategy. The Galaxy A55, priced at around €450 (now slightly over €400), closely competes with the budget flagship Galaxy S23 FE.

Despite their similar price tags, these devices cater to different target audiences. The Galaxy S23 FE offers a premium experience, while the A55 aims to balance hardware and cost effectively.

To delve deeper into the comparison, it’s best to visit our specs page and compare the Galaxy A55 and S23 FE to understand what each device offers.

Size comparison

While the Galaxy A55 and S23 FE have similar sizes, there are notable differences. The S23 FE is more compact with a slightly smaller screen, resulting in a shorter and narrower body.

Although the difference in size might seem insignificant on paper, it is noticeable when holding the two devices side by side. The S23 FE feels more comfortable in hand due to its rounded side frame, while the A55’s design may appeal more visually.

Both devices boast Gorilla Glass front and back held by aluminum frames, but the A55 edges ahead with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front compared to the S23 FE’s Gorilla Glass 5. Additionally, the S23 FE offers higher IP68 ingress protection than the A55’s IP67, providing slightly better water resistance.

Display comparison

Along with the screen size difference, the Galaxy A55 and S23 FE share similar display features. The A55’s 6.6-inch OLED screen caters to those seeking a larger panel, while the S23 FE’s 6.4-inch OLED suits users looking for a more compact display.

Both devices support HDR10+, have a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080p+ resolution, and offer similar maximum brightness levels. They both reach around 1,000 nits in manual and auto modes.

Battery life

The Galaxy A55 shines in battery life due to its larger 5,000 mAh battery compared to the S23 FE’s 4,500 mAh capacity. Despite the smaller cell, the S23 FE falls short in endurance tests, emphasizing the A55’s superior performance.

Notably, the Exynos version of the S23 FE is compared to the A55, as the latter is not yet available in the US where the Snapdragon S23 FE offers better battery life across various tests.

In battery endurance tests, the Galaxy A55 outperforms the Exynos S23 FE with an Active Use Score of 13:27h against the S23 FE’s 8:28h Active Use Score.

Despite its larger screen, the A55 fares better in all tests, with significantly longer video playback runtime. The Exynos 1480 chipset on the A55 proves more battery-efficient than the flagship Exynos 2200 on the S23 FE.

Charging speed

Both devices support 25W charging over the Power Delivery standard, with no chargers included in the retail box. While the charging times are comparable, the A55 slightly outpaces the S23 FE towards the end of the charging cycle.

It’s worth noting that the S23 FE offers wireless charging capabilities and reverse wireless charging—a feature lacking in the A55. This can be useful for charging accessories that support wireless charging.

Speaker test

Both handsets feature a hybrid stereo speaker setup but exhibit differences in tuning and loudness. The S23 FE boasts louder speakers with a “Very Good” loudness score of -23.7 LUFS, compared to the A55’s -25.7 LUFS.

While the S23 FE is louder, the A55 provides cleaner audio quality with more pronounced vocals and less distortion at higher volume levels.

Performance

The Galaxy S23 FE’s flagship Exynos 2200 chipset outperforms the mid-range Exynos 1480 in the Galaxy A55 significantly. While both devices offer 8GB/128GB memory configurations, the A55 can expand up to 12GB with the inclusion of a microSD card slot.

Benchmark performance

In CPU benchmarks, the Exynos 2200 surpasses the Exynos 1480 by around 18%, with single-core tasks showing a wider 41% performance difference. The gap widens further in combined workloads, indicating a significant performance boost with the S23 FE’s chipset.

GPU-intensive tests like 3DMark Wild Life also highlight the S23 FE’s superiority, with the Xclipse 920 GPU outperforming the A55’s Xclipse 530 by a significant margin.

Camera comparison

Both devices sport similar camera systems, including a 50MP main camera, optically stabilized ultrawide camera, and comparable specs. The S23 FE offers additional versatility with an 8MP telephoto camera, enhancing its photography capabilities.

Image quality

In terms of image quality, both devices perform similarly with their main cameras. However, the S23 FE offers slightly cleaner and wider dynamic range images, especially with its ultrawide and telephoto lenses.

When it comes to night photography, the S23 FE excels with better processing and image quality, showcasing its superior camera system.

Verdict

On closer inspection, the Galaxy S23 FE emerges as the better choice for those prioritizing performance and camera versatility, despite a higher price point. However, the Galaxy A55 provides a compelling option with superior battery life, display quality, and comparable main camera performance.

Ultimately, the decision between the two devices boils down to personal preferences, with the Galaxy A55 offering a more affordable alternative that doesn’t compromise on essential features.