The Galaxy M55 and M15 were launched in the Brazilian market a few weeks ago and were launched in India this week. We’re more interested in the M55 mid-range phone – its odd combination of specs might make it the perfect phone for you. Or is it?
The Samsung Galaxy M55 is quite different from its predecessor, the M54, as well as the A55, which you might consider as an alternative. Let’s start with pricing. The base price of the M55 8/256GB is BRL 3,000 and in India, the base price for the 8/128GB variant is Rs 27,000. In addition, there is an 8/256GB version priced at Rs 30,000 and a 12/256GB version priced at Rs 33,000. This model has a microSD slot for more storage, as does the A55.
Samsung Galaxy M55 light green and denim black
Wait, 12GB of RAM? That’s more than the Galaxy S24 flagship and S23 FE! It’s worth mentioning that the M55 is Samsung’s first mid-range product to feature 45W fast charging, a level previously reserved for flagship products. Well, some flagships, the S24 and S23 FE are capped at 25W (to be fair, they also have wireless charging).
The battery capacity is smaller than last year at 5,000mAh (the M54 has a 6,000mAh battery), but that’s still larger than any flagship, and even a bit larger than the similarly sized S24+.
Look at the selfie camera – 50MP is Samsung’s highest resolution since the Galaxy A80 (and “cheats” with a flip camera). Sadly, last year’s 108MP main camera is gone, replaced by a 50MP module with a rather large 1/1.56” sensor.
Samsung Galaxy M55: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 • 45W charging • Camera details
The 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate is more or less what we expected. Samsung didn’t reveal what kind of glass protects it, nor is it rated for dust and water resistance like the A series.
Everything looks great so far, why do we call it a “weird spec combination”? Well, apart from the unexpected 45W charging rate, this phone is powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. Not 7s/7+ Gen 2 or 7/7+ Gen 3, but the original 7 Gen 1. The chip leaves a lot to be desired. In terms of performance and efficiency, especially compared to its newer counterparts, we think this is one for the history books.
In other words, the Galaxy A55 8/128GB version is priced at Rs 40,000, which is nearly 50% higher than the M55. Even the 8/128GB variant of the A35 is priced at Rs 31,000, which is Rs 4,000 more expensive than the M55. The M55, A55 and A35 will all get 4 OS updates and 5 years of security patches, so the extra cost doesn’t mean longer support.
Samsung Galaxy A55 • Samsung Galaxy A35
The OnePlus Nord CE4, launched earlier this month for just Rs 25,000, comes with Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 for a huge boost in speed and longevity. It also has a microSD slot, but RAM capacity is capped at 8GB, and it has a shorter update schedule – 2 major OS updates and 3 years of patches. The battery is bigger (5,500mAh), it’s faster (100W), but the camera isn’t as good (mainly a smaller 1/1.95″ 50MP sensor, and only a 16MP selfie). Despite its cheaper price, the CE4 at least has an IP54 rating.
The Poco X6 Pro with additional storage (8/256GB) is priced at Rs 27,000, although it does not have a microSD slot. It’s powered by the Dimensity 8300 Ultra chipset and has a slightly sharper 1220p+ display (with Gorilla Glass 5 and IP54 rating). The camera isn’t great, and the battery is 5,000mAh with 67W charging power.
We can also look at the Nothing Phone (2a), priced at Rs 26,000 for the 8/128GB unit (no microSD slot). This camera stands out above the rest with a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 32MP selfie (the Nord and Poco have 16MP selfies). They are connected by a 50MP main pump (1/1.56”). The phone is powered by the Dimensity 7200 Pro and has a 5000mAh battery with 45W charging power. The 2a will get 3 major OS updates and 4 years of patches.
OnePlus Nord CE4 • Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro • No phone (2a)
The pricing of the Samsung Galaxy M55 looks good compared to the A55 or even the A35, but compared to mid-range phones from other brands, the phone’s flaws start to stand out.
Even so, for fans of One UI and Samsung hardware, this is still an enticing deal in the segment. Will you buy one? You can vote below and leave more details in the comments.