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
TikTok’s Sexy Affair With National Parks Isn’t Clickbait. It’s a Wake-Up Call
Social media thirst traps are spotlighting a funding crisis for public lands. And millions of people are paying attention.
National parks, gay country music and thirst traps have a lot in common, at least on the internet.
Hundreds of TikTok posts combining sexually explicit audio, comical memes and stunning views of nature have flooded social media feeds. The viral trend coincides with President Donald Trump’s unprecedented funding cuts targeting federal parks, forests, monuments, seashores and trails.
The message of #ParkTok and #MountainTok is G-rated: to conserve and protect public lands. The raunchy content is merely a wrapper to lure followers and get that message in front of as many people as possible.
At first glance, the TikTok fan accounts for Yellowstone and Joshua Tree — among dozens of other national parks, forests and recreation sites — appear to be competing in an unhinged brawl. Some commenters speculate that federal park rangers or marketing strategists have gone rogue to garner outside financial support.
But the unofficial accounts, which are growing in number daily, are run by independent content creators with no affiliation to the government. According to the National Park Service’s Office of Public Affairs, the NPS has no official presence on TikTok, as there are no terms of service between federal agencies and the platform.
«Viral trends focused on national parks can certainly boost park visibility and drive increased interest and awareness,» the National Park Service told CNET in an email. «We appreciate the enthusiasm for our nation’s parks and the creative ways individuals share their experiences online.»
And millions of social media followers say they’re here for it. Promoting the country’s vast landscape and its preservation for future generations could serve as a kind of spiritual uplift in dark times.
Nature is sexy; budget cuts aren’t
Far beyond the racy adult content, there’s a unifying purpose to posting videos of cascading waterfalls, colossal trees, seductive deserts and enchanting wildlife.
Researchers have noted that national parks are key to conserving biodiversity and supporting people’s well-being. And it seems everyone, not just nature nerds, can get behind these public lands: US national parks saw a record number of recreation visits last year, nearly 332 million.
«If you actually love all this stuff, you get attached to that beauty,» said Kim Tanner, the creator of the Joshua Tree fan account. «And then you realize you don’t want that beauty damaged.»
The Trump administration’s 2026 budget plan includes slashing more than $1 billion from the National Park Service. It also threatens to axe a whopping $33 billion from national recreation management programs and conservation and preservation grants. The grants are critical to maintaining 433 individual areas of public lands covering more than 85 million acres, which are managed by the NPS.
The National Parks Conservation Association says the White House’s budget reductions are the largest proposed cuts to the National Park Service in its 109-year history and could «decimate at least 350 National Park sites.» Many have said Trump is laying the groundwork to sell off public lands and turn recreational areas over to state-level management.
According to Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, the NPS has already lost nearly 2,500 employees, or nearly 13% of its staff, in what she calls a «brain trust exodus» of environmental experts.
«What’s happening right now, in trying to dismantle the National Park Service from the inside out, is more horrific than anything we’ve seen before,» Brengel told me.
Getting wild for the wild
TikTok is controversial, and so is sex. That’s precisely why trends like these have political capital, capable of attracting admirers and haters, and bringing everyone else into the conversation.
«The polarization on social media is reflective of our real-life political polarization,» said CNET social media reporter Katelyn Chedraoui.
The #ParkTok and #MountainTok creators, some of whom are former park employees, are all nature lovers who span the political spectrum. Many of the accounts openly denounce the administration’s threats against the parks and direct viewers to demonstrations or fundraisers, but the trend isn’t overtly partisan or activist-driven.
«Most of their posts work on a subconscious level, prompting viewers to think about the national parks and their own experiences with them,» said Chedraoui. «It’s simple but effective.»
In fact, the TikTok engagement around public lands originated before the budget cuts to the parks. The first three fan accounts — Mount Hood, Mount Rainier and Yellowstone — appeared right after the elections last November. Managed by three friends who are avid outdoor enthusiasts, the accounts put up posts early on that were a mix of comic relief and wilderness awe.
There wasn’t much thirst trap content then. «It was just waterfalls and vistas and sunsets,» said Jaime Wash, the creator behind the Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens fan accounts. Then, two of the creators started trolling each other, and folks loved it.
It was fake beef, but the diss-track template became a winning strategy. By January, the trend started picking up speed, with more fan accounts joining the fray. Over the last several months, the popularity of the posts has seen ebbs and flows — until fairly recently, when all of #MountainTok and #ParkTok blew up for their risqué content.
Private parts in public lands became a magic formula, a kind of viral virility, that the creators knew how to play up.
«Social media users are very used to brands acting unhinged on TikTok,» said Chedraoui.
A bridge over troubled water
Some critics have slammed the parody accounts, accusing creators of trying to monetize a legitimate cause, or claiming that the sexually charged content damages the parks’ reputations.
But according to the creators, who collaborate regularly in a group chat, making money wasn’t, and never will be, their intention. Wash told me that if at any point they do collect a payout for the content, they plan to donate the funds to the parks.
After gaining such a huge following, Wash said, she felt it was her responsibility to get people involved. In April, the Mount Hood fan account brought out followers to Portland’s Hands Off protest.
«We’re building a community to show that things aren’t helpless, that change can happen and we’re there for each other,» Wash said. And besides raising the alarm, the posts add comic relief and entertainment to a daily cycle of doomscrolling and anxiety.
Tanner told me that #ParkTok and #MountainTok can open people’s eyes, showing how fragile nature really is. By highlighting endangered animals and the environmental damage from logging, drilling and mining, the posts can help millions of followers understand what’s really at stake.
The stunning power of social media
Social media acts as a cultural barometer, unveiling public sentiment in real time and broadcasting issues that most resonate. Platforms like TikTok also give grassroots movements a megaphone, allowing everyday people to bypass traditional media filters and speak directly to broad audiences.
«We’ve seen digital action lead to tangible action,» said Sheila Nguyen, associate director of communications and engagement for the National Parks Conservation Association. «The more people who see that social media content, the bigger the pool of people who may speak up and the more collective impact we can have,» Nguyen told CNET in an email.
In fact, social media publicity has been shown to boost national park visitation. A 2024 research study found that positive social media posts that include photos or videos drive the biggest increases in visitation.
«The more people we can get into these parks, the better. That way, they can experience it firsthand, see it, fall in love with it, and then want to protect it,» said Tanner.
The National Parks Conservation Association urges people to sign up for alerts on its advocacy page so they can raise concerns with congressional representatives.
«We feel that Congress is the best option right now to get the administration to back off of these bad proposals,» said the NPCA’s Brengel. «Congress needs to be pushed to stop some of these terrible actions.»
Many TikTok creators I spoke with also said they’re advocating ways to hold elected officials accountable.
«It’s heartbreaking to think the places that I absolutely love may never be the same again,» said Wash, «and I want to do anything to stop that.»
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 20, #239
Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 239, for May 20.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Connections: Sports Edition has one of those oddball purple categories today, and I think I could’ve stared at the puzzle for a week and not solved it. It’s one of those «play with the letters» categories, and they’re always fun after I see the answer, but I seldom get it right. Read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Your group.
Green group hint: Where the Pope is from.
Blue group hint: All-Star player.
Purple group hint: Change a letter.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Team
Green group: Chicago teams
Blue group: Teams Juan Soto has played for
Purple group: NBA teams with the first letter changed
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is team. The four answers are club, side, squad and unit.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is Chicago teams. The four answers are Bears, Fire, Sky and White Sox.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is teams Juan Soto has played for. The four answers are Mets, Nationals, Padres and Yankees.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is NBA teams with the first letter changed. The four answers are Buns, Gulls, Meat and Slippers.
Technologies
Trump to Sign Bill Banning Deepfakes, Nonconsensual Images: What to Know
The bipartisan ‘Take It Down’ Act passed swiftly in both the Senate and the House, and has been championed by First Lady Melania Trump.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bipartisan Take It Down Act into law on Monday, a significant step in regulating the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. The legislation aims to protect individuals from the harmful effects of such content, which has been increasingly prevalent in the digital age with the expansion of artificial intelligence.
Read more: Jamie Lee Curtis Celebrates Meta’s Removal of Fake AI Ad
What are deepfakes?
Deepfakes are realistic but fake images, videos or audio created using artificial intelligence to mimic someone’s appearance, voice or actions.
One widely reported example was a 2022 viral video of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the altered clip, Zelenskyy appeared to urge Ukrainian soldiers to surrender to Russian forces, a message he never actually delivered. The video was quickly debunked, but it raised serious concerns about the use of deepfakes in disinformation campaigns, especially during wartime.
Deepfakes have also been used to spread sexually explicit content or revenge porn.
Read more: Election Deepfakes Are Here and Better Than Ever
What are the key aspects of the Take It Down Act?
The Take It Down Act prohibits knowingly sharing or threatening to share intimate images of someone without their permission, including digitally altered or AI-generated deepfakes. Here is a breakdown of the bill and what it targets:
- Criminalization of nonconsensual sharing: The act makes it a federal offense to distribute intimate images without the subject’s consent. The bill applies to both real and AI-generated content.
- Mandatory removal: Online platforms, such as tech and social media sites, are required to remove flagged content, including any copies of the material, within 48 hours of notification by the victim.
- Mandatory restitution: Violators will face mandatory restitution and criminal penalties such as prison time, fines or both.
- Protection of minors: The legislation imposes stricter penalties for offenses involving minors, aiming to provide enhanced safeguards for vulnerable individuals.
- Enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission: The FTC is designated as the primary agency responsible for enforcing the provisions of the act.
Who supports the Take It Down Act?
First Lady Melania Trump has been a vocal advocate for the legislation over the last several months, emphasizing the need to protect children and teenagers from the damaging effects of online exploitation. Her efforts included public appearances and discussions with lawmakers to garner support for the bill.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), gained bipartisan backing, with cosponsors including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). It passed the Senate unanimously in February, followed by House approval in April with a 409-2 vote.
What are the criticisms and concerns about the bill?
While the act has been praised for addressing a growing issue, it has also faced criticism from various groups. Some digital rights organizations express concerns that the law could infringe on privacy and free speech, particularly regarding the potential for false reports and the impact on encrypted communications. There are also apprehensions about the enforcement of the law and its potential misuse for political purposes.
For instance, representatives of The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, a nonprofit that supports victims of online abuse, voiced strong concerns about the bill, according to PBS News. The group criticized the takedown provision as overly broad, vaguely written and lacking clear protections to prevent misuse.
What are the next steps?
Trump is expected to sign the bill Monday at 3 p.m. ET. This act will mark Trump’s sixth bill signed into law so far in his second term. By his 100th day back in office, he had enacted only five, marking the lowest number of new laws signed by a president in the first 100 days of a term since the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s, based on an analysis of congressional records by NBC News.
The signing of the Take It Down Act represents a significant move towards regulating nonconsensual intimate imagery in the digital realm. While it aims to provide greater protection for individuals, ongoing discussions will be essential to address the concerns and ensure the law’s effective and fair implementation.
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