Technologies
Galaxy A54 5G Review: Samsung’s Cheap Phone Struggles Against Google
It’s cheap and offers decent performance, but Samsung’s A54 5G doesn’t quite measure up to the Pixel 6A.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Like
- Big, vibrant screen
- Expandable storage
- Affordable price
Don’t like
- Processor and camera performance lags behind cheaper Pixel 6A
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra packs some of the most potent specs and powerful cameras around. But it also comes with a whopping price $1,200 (£1,249, AU$1,949) tag that’s simply out of the question for many of us. Looking lower down the range doesn’t mean suffering with slow, frustrating hardware. As Samsung’s new $450 (£499, AU$699) Galaxy A54 5G proves, you can get a phone with solid performance for a very reasonable price.
The Galaxy A54 packs a 6.4-inch display, an octa-core processor that offers enough power for daily essentials (including light gaming) and a camera that does a decent job of handling your out-and-about snaps. I even like the design, particularly the lime green version I reviewed. Its 128GB of storage will be enough for most people, and those who need more space can expand it with microSD cards up to 1TB in size.
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It’s got a lot going for it considering its reasonable $450 price tag, but it’s often on sale for even less, with prices of $375 seen on Best Buy and Amazon during my writing of this review, although sadly not at the point of publishing. Even with that potential discount, Google’s budget phones outshine Samsung in key areas — particularly the camera.
The 6.4-inch display is bright and vibrant.
Galaxy A54 or Pixel 6A?
Even at the Galaxy A54’s competitive price, the competition is fierce, with Google’s superb $349 Pixel 6A and the latest Pixel 7A priced at $499 — just $50 more than the A54’s usual retail price. We gave the Pixel 6A a CNET Editors’ Choice award for its combination of solid all-round performance and affordable price, with it remaining one of the best budget phones money can buy. The new Pixel 7A also impressed us with its great camera and smooth performance, pushing CNET to recommend it over the Pixel 7 since it’s $100 cheaper.
Up against the A54 5G, the Pixel 6A is still the phone to go for. Its performance is a bit better, its camera takes nicer shots and Google’s plain version of Android is generally nicer to use than Samsung’s One UI skin. If you’re willing to pay $50 more, the Pixel 7A also offers better camera performance and wireless charging, which is missing from the Galaxy A54 5G. Still, the A54 is slightly larger and offers microSD card storage expansion, so it’s not a total victory for the Pixel. Here’s what you should know about the phone.
Galaxy A54: Fun design, vibrant display
The lime green version of my A54 5G is really quite pretty with its glossy glass back and metallic-looking edging (that’s actually plastic). It feels nice enough to hold, although it lacks the more solid feel of the Pixel 6A or 7A. It’s IP67 rated for water resistance (as are the Pixel 6A and 7A) which will keep it safe during phone calls in the rain or around clumsy friends carrying beer.
A fingerprint scanner is built into the display.
At 6.4 inches, the display is larger than the Pixel 6A’s 6.1-inch screen, which is worth keeping in mind if you spend a lot of time playing mobile games or watching videos and would benefit from a larger screen. The Galaxy A54’s vibrant screen is quite a bit brighter than the Pixel 6A’s and 7A’s, making it more easily readable outdoors under direct sunshine.
Galaxy A54: Processor, software and battery
The Galaxy A54 runs on an Exynos 1380 processor, backed up by 6GB of RAM. It produced fair scores on benchmark tests considering its low price, coming in a bit below the Pixel 6A. Still, there’s enough power to make everyday web browsing, WhatsApp texting and emailing feel swift. I managed to play both Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9: Legends at default settings with fairly smooth gameplay.
Galaxy A54 vs. Pixel 6A vs. Pixel 7A performance comparison
- Geekbench 6 (single core)
- Geekbench 6 (multi core)
- 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme
It runs on Android 13 at its core, over which Samsung has slapped its One UI software. While I enjoy the overall look of this skin, I don’t like how much clutter Samsung preloads onto the phone. Apps like Disney Plus, Bolt, TikTok and Booking.com came already installed, along with a plethora of Samsung’s own apps (including its own app store, a Galaxy Shop app, SmartThings, Messages and various TV and media apps). There’s also a bunch of preinstalled Microsoft apps like Linkedin and OneNote. I bought the phone unlocked, directly from Samsung in the UK, so you may find different apps on yours — potentially even more carrier-specific apps if you bought it from a network.
I like the One UI interface, but I don’t like all the preinstalled apps.
While you can uninstall many of these, the extraneous apps make the phone feel messy as soon as you turn it on. By contrast, the Pixel 6A’s default interface is neat, clutter-free and has only the basic Google essentials like Chrome, Gmail and Drive installed as standard, with no third party services forced on you from day one.
Both Samsung and Google promise security updates five years from launch in order to keep them safer to use for longer. However that does mean that the Pixel 6A, having been launched last year, is guaranteed to receive support until 2027, while the A54 should continue to receive updates until 2028. Samsung also offers an additional generation of Android OS updates compared to Google. It’s not a huge difference, but worth keeping in mind if you want to squeeze every ounce of useful life from your device.
The A54 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery which is larger than the 4,410mAh battery in the Pixel 6A. Perhaps due to the larger screen though, battery life was pretty much the same on both phones during my YouTube streaming drain test and in general use throughout the day. With careful use you should get a full day out of either phone, but either phone will still need a full recharge overnight.
It runs Android 13 at its core, with four years of Android generation updates promised by Samsung.
The base Galaxy A54 has 128GB of storage, but it’s one of the last remaining phones to support expandable storage via microSD cards up to 1TB in size. That’s a big tick in its favor as it means you can safely opt for the lowest storage model and simply buy a cheap 128GB card to double the storage, providing loads of room for photos, music or apps.
Galaxy A54: Three cameras for vibrant snaps
On the back of the phone are three cameras; a 50 megapixel main camera, 12 megapixel ultrawide and 5 megapixel macro camera. I found shots from the main camera to be generally decent, although the software optimizations often result in quite oversaturated images which look quite unnatural to my eye. Images look crisp however and the 2x preset digital zoom (there’s no optical zoom here) delivered sharp images.
Taken with the main lens, the camera has done a good job of balancing the bright sky and the more shadowy buildings.
Colors are vibrant here, but a bit cold.
Switching to the ultra-wide lens, the shot looks a lot warmer, which I prefer.
The super wide lens worked well, too, with decent exposures and plenty of detail. I did often find quite a noticeable color shift between the main and wide lenses. The wide lens typically produces slightly warmer colors, which I mostly prefer against the often cool-looking images the main camera captured.
Taken from the A54’s main camera, this outdoor shot is well exposed, but the colours are so over-saturated that they look quite unnatural.
The Pixel 6A’s shot has colors that are much more true-to-life.
Low light images are decent, with the main lens capturing bright, sharp shots that are roughly on par with what we found from the Pixel 6A.
The 5-megapixel macro lens allows you focus close up on your subject. But as with most macro lenses on phones we’ve seen before from OnePlus and Samsung, it’s pretty disappointing. The focus is sometimes off, and colors look more drab compared to photos taken with the main camera. Personally, I’d prefer it had Samsung not tried to squeeze an extra camera in here and simply lopped a little extra off the asking price.
The macro lens lets you get close up on your subject, but the results generally aren’t great and I do find the lens a bit of a pointless addition.
There’s a 32-megapixel selfie camera that does a good job of capturing detailed, well-exposed selfies.
While the A54’s camera setup won’t appeal to photographers among you who want true-to-life images, it’ll do the job well if you just want vibrant shots of your kids on your next beach vacation. But I do prefer shots from both the Pixel 6A and 7A, which produce less over-saturated images with spot-on exposure.
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G?
The A54’s combination of decent performance, fun design, vibrant cameras and low price make it a potentially great budget option. Its bright screen, expandable storage and longer software support are ticks in its favor over Google’s Pixel 6A, but the Pixel 6A wins in almost every other respect. The software is nicer to use, the cameras are better and it’s even cheaper. Between the two, my money would go on the Pixel 6A.
Technologies
San Diego Comic-Con Draws a Line: No AI Art Allowed at 2026 Event
The long-running fan convention is banning AI-created works from its popular art show.
Like Sarah Connor in The Terminator, San Diego Comic-Con is fighting back against AI. The prestigious, long-running pop culture convention has banned all artwork created by artificial intelligence from the 2026 Comic-Con art show. Rules posted on the Comic-Con website now state that AI-generated art won’t be shown in any form.
«Material created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) either partially or wholly, is not allowed in the art show. If there are questions, the Art Show Coordinator will be the sole judge of acceptability,» the website reads.
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A representative for San Diego Comic-Con did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In the past, the convention allowed participants to display AI artwork, provided it was clearly marked as such and wasn’t sold. But now, those artists can’t even bring it through the door. The rule change is a response to artist-led pushback, according to a 404 Media report. San Diego Comic-Con is one of the world’s most famous pop culture conventions, uniting comics, movies, television, gaming, cosplay and collectibles.
Jim Zub, writer for the Conan the Barbarian and Dungeons and Dragons comic book series, told CNET he supports Comic-Con’s decision and hopes other conventions will follow their lead.
«Hundreds of thousands of people attend San Diego Comic-Con each year, and the excitement that generates isn’t because they’re eager to meet a computer spitting out homogenized slop,» Zub said.
Zub, who’s also an artist, is scheduled to appear at Comic-Con in 2026.
Entertaining AI
The use of generative AI in comic book and pop culture art has generated controversy in recent years as AI programs have become more skilled at imitating creators.
A central focus of the 2023 actor’s strike involved backlash against the use of AI in movies and television. The issue has continued to roil Hollywood, as actors, special effects designers, and other film workers see the technology as a threat, while some movie studios view AI as a way to reduce production costs.
Netflix has already begun using AI-generated imagery in at least one series, Argentine sci-fi show El Eternauta. CEO Ted Sarandos praised the technology during a 2025 earnings call.
«We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,» Sarandos said at the time.
AI is also an issue in the video game industry, with publishers facing swift backlash whenever fans discover AI was used in a game. The Indie Game Awards rescinded two awards for the hit RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, after they found out that AI-made placeholder assets were included when the game launched. The game developer quickly patched the assets out.
While the movie and video game industries appear to have mixed views on using AI, Comic-Con has taken a firm stance, at least for now.
«Artists, writers, actors and other creatives gather and celebrate the popular arts in person because the people part of the equation is what matters most,» Zub said.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, Jan. 24
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 24.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s a long one, as per usual on Saturday. 1-Down made me awfully hungry! Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Snow day vehicle
Answer: PLOW
5A clue: Steam room alternative
Answer: SAUNA
6A clue: Show on which Jon Hamm had his breakout role
Answer: MADMEN
7A clue: Subject of negotiations with a 3-year-old
Answer: BEDTIME
8A clue: Respected veteran, in slang
Answer: OLDHEAD
9A clue: Gain back, as trust
Answer: REEARN
10A clue: Spooky
Answer: EERIE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Noodle dish garnished with lime wedges and crushed peanuts
Answer: PADTHAI
2D clue: Singing candlestick in «Beauty and the Beast»
Answer: LUMIERE
3D clue: ___ band
Answer: ONEMAN
4D clue: Decreased in size, as the moon
Answer: WANED
5D clue: More blue
Answer: SADDER
6D clue: Chaotic fight
Answer: MELEE
7D clue: Total snoozefest
Answer: BORE
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Technologies
iPhone 17 Pro Max Specs vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Best Top-Tier Phones, Compared
The top premium phones from Apple and Samsung have the best specs, cameras, battery life and more among their lineups.
Apple’s full iPhone 17 lineup offers great phones that meet different needs, but one that rises above the rest for specs and sheer size: the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The company’s priciest top-tier iOS handset goes toe-to-toe with the top Android phones, and at the top of that list is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, that company’s highest-end conventional phone.
Both phones live up to their names, with nearly 7-inch screens, advanced cameras and the most powerful specs to date. While they have a lot in common, they follow slightly different approaches for assembling the most premium phone on the market.
Here’s how the iPhone 17 Pro Max specs match up to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Looking to order the iPhone 17 Pro Max? Check out our deals guide to learn if you can get it free and other great offers.
Want to buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? Find out which carriers and retailers have the best deals on Samsung’s slim phone.
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iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price comparison
- iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB of storage): $1,199
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB of storage): $1,299
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has been the same price gap between these phones in prior years. Samsung’s phone does have a notable hardware extra with its S Pen stylus (stored within the handset), but it’s also far more likely to go on sale than Apple’s big handset, assuming prior years’ trends continue.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra design and displays
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Heat-dispersing focus. This year’s Pro Max reverts to an aluminum frame and introduces a vapor chamber to better vent heat.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Best screen yet. The display’s new anti-reflective coating on the Ultra may be its best feature.
These are the biggest and densest phones beyond foldables, so they stack up pretty well, at least on the outside.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch OLED display, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.8-inch screen (both have 1-120Hz variable refresh rates). In Jan. 2025, when the Ultra was released, CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland called it «the best I’ve seen» on a phone, thanks to its new antireflective coating that makes the phone more usable under direct light, along with 2,600-nit top brightness. For its part, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is easier to see in daylight with its 3,000-nit maximum brightness (up from 2,000 nits in last year’s iPhones).
Thanks to its titanium frame, Samsung’s phone is slightly lighter at 218 grams and potentially more durable than the aluminum frame on Apple’s premium phone (which is heavier at 233 grams).
But interestingly enough, it seems Apple reverted from the titanium frame on the iPhone 16 Pro Max back to aluminum in its new top-tier phone in favor of better thermal regulation. To handle heat even better, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a vapor chamber filled with deionized water sitting over the CPU and other chips to disperse heat away from the silicon. The S25 Ultra has its own vapor chamber (40% larger than its predecessor’s, Samsung said).
The S25 Ultra also has the advantage of its own stylus that tucks into a dedicated slot on the phone’s underside. Unfortunately, it’s not as smart as the S Pen of previous S-series Ultra models. Samsung removed the remote Bluetooth controls, which the company said were only used by barely 1% of Ultra owners, but it’s still disappointing to see tech revert.
Like all iPhones since last year’s models, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a Camera Control button on its right side. This button launches the Camera app, allows you to take photos and tweaks settings while shooting. The button can also activate Visual Intelligence, which lets you do a Google image search or prompt ChatGPT using what the camera is pointed at.
Comparing iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cameras
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Nearly all cameras are now sharper. Everything but the main camera got a megapixel upgrade.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Better ultrawide camera. The 50-megapixel ultrawide captures more light and detail.
From the outside, not much looks different with either phone’s array of cameras compared to their predecessors, though the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s rear camera bump has been extended across the width of the phone. But the big changes are packed inside that «plateau,» as Apple calls it, with improvements to nearly all of its cameras.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 48-megapixel main and ultrawide cameras are largely untouched, but the telephoto camera is now also 48 megapixels (up from 12 megapixels in last year’s Pro Max). All three are «dual fusion» cameras that can zoom in twice at 12-megapixel resolution using sensor cropping. This effectively means the telephoto can go to the equivalent of 8x optical zoom, or up to 40x digital (up from 25x).
There’s the big upgrade for selfie lovers: The front-facing camera is now 18 megapixels (up from 12 megapixels in last year’s model), which is nice but less important than the larger sensor behind the lens. It’s square in shape, which allows users to switch between taking selfies in either horizontal or vertical orientation without rotating their phone. It also enables Center Stage, the video chat feature that first debuted on iPad Pro and Mac devices, which keeps the focus on the user even if they move around and can adjust the orientation if more people enter the frame.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra retains its four rear camera setup, fronted by an impressive 200-megapixel main shooter. But it’s the 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (up from 12 megapixels in the S24 Ultra) that delighted CNET reviewer Holland, who felt the larger sensor afforded crisper shots with more light in both very wide and close-up macro shots. The phone also has a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom paired with a 50-megapixel 5x optical zoom for different levels of telephoto shots, topping out at 100x «Space Zoom.»
Both phones have dueling AI-assisted tools for video. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the Audio Mix feature introduced in its predecessor that isolates desired audio sources (like subjects talking) and cancels other ambient noise. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has its own tool, Audio Eraser, which trims away wind, music, street noise or other disturbances. As a last difference, the Galaxy S25 Ultra can shoot footage in 8K while the iPhone 17 Pro Max tops out at 4K video.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs compared
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Better specs, bigger battery. The Pro Max gets a new chip, better performance and longer battery life.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Great performance. The S25 Ultra boasts better performance than any other phone we’d tested.
Both phones are at the absolute top of their lineups and are in the running for the most powerful phone on the market anywhere in the world. Unsurprisingly, they’re pretty competitive in terms of specs and performance, with each edging out the other in specific ways.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max packs a new A19 Pro chip that, combined with the improved heat management, results in 40% better sustained performance compared to last year’s Pro Max, Apple said during the new phone’s launch presentation. Apple has continued not to state how much RAM the phone packs (conventional wisdom suggests at least 8GB to run AI features).
The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes with configuration tiers for 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and the new 2TB option. That max storage pushes the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s overall price to around $2,000. Apple also doesn’t release exact battery capacity, but did suggest the Pro Max has an even bigger one this year.
In CNET’s battery tests, the iPhone 17 Pro Max scored better than any phone we’ve tested, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It has a top wired charging speed of 40 watts or wireless at 30 watts, and built-in MagSafe magnetic attachment capability.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a Samsung-customized Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM, both of which enable more on-device AI that runs smoother than the hybrid and cloud AI tools used in prior Galaxy Ultra models. In benchmark tests, the Galaxy S25 Ultra outperformed other leading smartphones, including the OnePlus 13 and last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, but we’ll have to wait for our tests on the iPhone 17 Pro Max to truly compare both. Samsung’s premium phone has 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000-mAh battery, 45-watt maximum wired charging and Qi2 wireless charging up to 15 watts, though it doesn’t support magnetic attachments (unless you get a case with built-in magnets).
Of course, both phones have their own suites of generative AI technology. Apple didn’t introduce any new features this year, relying on the Apple Intelligence suite of assistive tech that debuted with last year’s iPhone 16 series. Samsung’s phone has its own suite of Galaxy AI features, like answering requests with info from apps and Google’s Circle to Search feature that can now recognize audio in videos and social media posts (or even tunes you hum yourself, supposedly).
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.9-inch OLED; 2,868×1,320 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460ppi | 501ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 in | 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 233g (8.22 ounces) | 218g (7.69 ounces) |
| Mobile software | iOS 26 | Android 15 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto) | 200-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 18-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 8K |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| RAM/storage | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | None | None |
| Battery | Up to 39 hours video playback; up to 35 hours video playback (streamed). | 5,000 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None |
| Special features | Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger. | Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass; ultrawideband |
| US price off-contract | $1,199 (256GB) | $1,300 (256GB) |
| UK price | £1,199 (256GB) | £1,249 (256GB) |
| Australia price | AU$2,199 (256GB) | AU$2,149 (256GB) |
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