Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Black 128GB

The Galaxy A54 5G is a fantastic budget buy at $200, nailing the basics with a great camera, killer battery life, and a durable build. Just don't buy it for gaming, the Exynos chip really struggles there. For everyone else, it's one of the best values in unlocked phones right now.

Day-to-day performance is smooth. Apps open quickly, and the 120Hz display makes everything feel fluid. But push it with a demanding 3D game and you'll feel the Exynos 1380 start to sweat. Our benchmarks put its overall performance right in the middle of the pack, and its gaming chops are a real weak spot. The 6GB of RAM is enough for multitasking, but don't expect it to hold a ton of heavy apps in memory without refreshing them. For the target audience, people who mostly stream, browse, and take photos, it's perfectly adequate.

Stacked against the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL or the Apple iPhone 16, the A54 obviously loses on raw power and camera processing smarts. But those phones cost a fortune. The real fight is with something like the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro or the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. The A54 holds its own with a cleaner software experience and that IP67 rating, which the Nothing phone lacks. The Redmi might charge faster, but Samsung's update policy and overall polish give the A54 a slight edge for the average person who just wants a reliable phone that works.

For $200 unlocked, this phone is an absolute steal. You're getting a feature set that competes with phones that cost twice as much just a year or two ago. The combination of a great main camera, stellar battery life, and a premium build with an IP67 rating is almost unheard of at this price point. Unless you're a heavy gamer, it's hard to find a better bang for your buck right now.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is that friend who shows up, does the job, and doesn't make a fuss. It's not trying to be a flagship killer, and honestly, that's why it works so well. You get a big, bright 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 50MP camera with OIS that actually takes decent low-light shots, and a massive 5,000mAh battery that will easily get you through a day and then some. At its current price of $200, it's a screaming deal for an unlocked phone with this level of polish.

But it's not all sunshine. The Exynos 1380 processor is fine for scrolling and streaming, but it's not a gaming phone. Our database puts its gaming score at a pretty underwhelming 44.1 out of 100. And while the build is solid with Gorilla Glass 5 and an IP67 rating, the 25W charging feels slow compared to what some competitors are doing. Still, for the money, the list of things it gets right is way longer than the list of things it fumbles.

If mobile gaming is your main hobby, skip this one. The Exynos 1380 just can't keep up with demanding titles, and you'll end up frustrated with stutters and low graphics settings. You'd be much happier hunting for a used flagship or a phone specifically built around gaming performance.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is the perfect phone for someone who wants a reliable, no-drama device without emptying their wallet. It's ideal for students, parents, or anyone who values battery life and a good camera over bleeding-edge performance. If your phone use revolves around social media, YouTube, and taking pictures of your dog, you'll be thrilled with it.