Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs OnePlus Nord 4: Which is a Better Buy?

Published

2 months ago

October 27, 2024

When it comes to buying the right phone, the choice isn’t always obvious with so many options across a range of price points.

The mid-range phone market, in particular, is filled with a lot of competitive offerings, and the Samsung Galaxy A55 and OnePlus Nord 4 are two standout contenders.

Both phones provide premium features at an affordable price, but they cater to slightly different user needs.

Here’s a comprehensive comparison of these two devices, to help you decide which better meets your needs.

Design & Build

The Galaxy A55 boasts a premium build with an aluminium frame and a glass back, closer to that of flagship models. It retains IP67 water and dust resistance, making it a robust choice for those who want durability without compromising on style.

The phone is available in multiple colours, like Awesome Iceblue, Navy, Lilac, and Yellow, offering a vibrant palette for consumers. However, its heavier weight of 213g and larger size might make it less comfortable for some users.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The OnePlus Nord 4 features a relatively unique metal unibody design, which gives it a premium feel while keeping the weight relatively low at 199.5g. The distinct two-tone rear design – although eye-catching – is prone to fingerprints and smudges.

It packs an IP65 rating, which is slightly less robust than the Galaxy A55’s IP67 certification, but still offers protection against dust and water. The phone’s aesthetics might also appeal more to those looking for a sleek and modern look, with some standout design elements.

Chris Martin / Foundry

The Galaxy A55 offers a more premium feel, with its aluminium frame and glass back, along with superior water and dust resistance. While the OnePlus Nord 4 has a lighter metal unibody and unique design, it falls short in durability.

The Galaxy A55 also comes in a wider array of finishes, which may appeal to those looking for greater personal expression.

Display & Speakers

The Galaxy A55 comes with a 6.6-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, featuring a peak 120Hz refresh rate. The panel boasts vivid colours and solid brightness output, although it’s not ideal for outdoor use in bright sunlight unless auto-brightness is enabled.

The stereo speakers deliver decent clarity but lack bass depth, making them suitable for casual listening but not for audiophiles.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The Nord 4 offers a slightly larger 6.74-inch Full HD+ OLED display, with a higher resolution of 2772 x 1240. It also supports a 120Hz peak refresh rate.

The display performs well across various lighting conditions, and the dual stereo speakers deliver a satisfactory audio experience, with more prominent bass compared to the Galaxy A55.

Chris Martin / Foundry

The Nord 4’s OLED display totes a higher resolution and provides better performance in different lighting conditions, making it more versatile for outdoor use.

While both phones top out at a 120Hz refresh rate, the Nord 4’s display offers sharper visuals.

Performance

The Galaxy A55 is powered by the Exynos 1480 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM.

It provides smooth performance for daily tasks and handles moderate gaming well. However, it falls short when it comes to intensive gaming, where frame rates may drop on higher fidelity graphical settings.

The phone comes with 128GB or 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD, which is a bonus for those needing additional space.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The Nord 4 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, which is a step down from today’s flagship-class processors but still delivers excellent performance.

With 12GB or 16GB of RAM, multitasking is a breeze, and gaming performance is solid too, though not flawless for graphically demanding games.

Storage options are 256GB and 512GB, but unlike the Galaxy A55, there is no microSD slot for expansion.