Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Style Meets Substance?
The Samsung Galaxy F-series has always aimed to deliver unique features and solid performance at competitive prices. While many models have delivered on this promise, the new Galaxy F55 5G is a stylish upgrade that tries to catch the eye with a vegan leather finish and features like an in-display fingerprint reader and 45W fast charging. But does this new mid-ranger live up to the hype? Let’s delve into the Galaxy F55 5G’s features and performance to see if it’s all about style or if it offers substance too.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Price in India
Samsung has priced the Galaxy F55 5G competitively considering its specs. The base variant, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, is priced at Rs. 26,999. The mid-variant, boasting 8GB RAM + 256GB internal storage, is priced at Rs. 29,999, while the top-end option with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is available at Rs. 32,999.
The handset comes in two stylish color options: Apricot Crush and Raisin Black. I was provided the top-end variant in the Apricot Crush finish for this review.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Design
Samsung has finally embraced the vegan leather finish trend with the Galaxy F55 5G, and it’s arguably one of the best executions in this segment. The apricot-colored vegan leather back panel is undeniably eye-catching, with its red stitching running vertically along the edges. This, combined with the gold-colored rings around each camera lens, complements the Apricot Crush color option beautifully. The striking design turns heads: during my review, a stranger inquired about the device and was surprised to learn it was a Samsung, highlighting its success in attracting attention.
The leather finish feels soft to the touch, making the phone comfortable to hold. It also provides a better grip than the usual glass or polycarbonate backs found on other Samsung devices. However, the vegan leather does require regular cleaning and wet-wiping to maintain its shine, more upkeep than typical phone materials. Additionally, the protruding camera modules make the phone wobble when placed on a flat surface.
The matte gold frame with slightly rounded sides is constructed from polycarbonate. The display is flat and features a relatively narrow bezel. At 180 grams, the phone feels surprisingly light in hand, and at 7.8 millimeters, it’s impressively slim.
I appreciate the handset’s IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring protection against accidental spills and splashes. The overall aesthetic and feel of the device closely resemble the Galaxy M55 5G, making the F55 feel like a more refined version.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Specifications and Software
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Specifications
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/ 256GB (expandable to 1TB)
- SIM Slots: Hybrid Dual
- Connectivity: 5G, BT 5.3, Wi-Fi 6
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Charging: 45W wired fast charging
The Samsung Galaxy F55 5G runs One UI 6.1, based on Android 14, which brings a consistently smooth and stable software experience to this price segment. The new One UI features refined animations and improved scrolling compared to previous versions.
One UI offers extensive customization options, including setting up a Work Profile, which allows you to separate work and personal accounts for added organization. The ‘Modes and Routines’ feature lets you adapt the phone’s settings to match your activity, while the Edge Panel provides quick access to your favorite applications.
Unfortunately, the phone comes pre-loaded with a considerable number of apps like PhonePe, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and more, which can be tedious to delete manually. The Glance feature is also enabled by default, which can sometimes be distracting.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Performance
While the Galaxy F55 5G uses the older Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, it still delivers decent performance for daily tasks. In AnTuTu v10, it achieved a score of 5,73,167, and in Geekbench 6, it managed scores of 894 and 2,265 in the single and multi-core tests, respectively. For graphics performance, it garnered 112 FPS in GFXBench T-rex, 59 FPS in Manhattan 3.1, and 29 FPS in Car Chase.
Day-to-day performance is consistently stable. Scrolling Reels, watching YouTube videos, making calls, or using WhatsApp are handled smoothly for casual users. However, I occasionally noticed a slight lag when switching between demanding applications.
Gaming performance is also adequate. When you install a game, it defaults to appearing only in the Gaming Hub and not on the app drawer. However, you can go to Gaming Hub > Settings to change this behavior if you prefer to see it in the app drawer and home screen.
I tested the phone with Asphalt 9: Legends, which ran smoothly at 60 FPS with high-quality graphics. In Call of Duty: Mobile, it comfortably ran with default settings of Very High Graphics and High Frame rate. I didn’t encounter any lag or stutter with these settings. However, when I set the frame rate to Max, I noticed some lag.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Display
The Samsung Galaxy F55 5G receives a resounding recommendation for its display. The Super AMOLED panel delivers vibrant colors with deep blacks, making it a pleasure for watching video content. When streaming Godzilla: Minus One, I found the color reproduction to be excellent, and dark scenes displayed good detail. The device is Widevine L1 certified, allowing you to stream videos from OTT services in full HD quality.
Furthermore, adaptive screen refresh seamlessly switches between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on your usage. Brightness is sufficient for viewing content outdoors. However, the output from the stereo speakers could have been more impressive. While loud, the sound lacks detail in the highs and mids.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Camera
The Galaxy F55 5G features a decent camera performance for a mid-range smartphone. It packs a triple-camera setup on the rear panel, consisting of a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter.
Daylight photos captured with the primary sensor deliver natural colors and good sharpness. While the white balance was slightly off in certain images, the overall quality is impressive.
Low light performance is average. Although the phone takes decent photos with Night Mode, it requires some time to process them. Without Night mode, the images lose detail.
The ultra-wide camera offers decent performance in daylight scenarios. However, the fish-eye effect is noticeable at the corners, and the details could be better, as the color tones differ slightly from the primary camera. In low light, the photos are often unusable.
The front-facing camera captures decent selfies with mostly accurate skin tones. The portrait mode works well in daylight, but in low light, noise becomes apparent when the surrounding lighting isn’t favorable.
In terms of video, the Galaxy F55 5G allows you to shoot 4K videos at 30fps, and OIS support helps capture stable footage. The details are good in daylight videos, but the low light output could be improved.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Battery Life
The battery loop test resulted in a runtime of 13 hours and 15 minutes. The phone comfortably lasted for a full day of heavy usage, which included: scrolling news on Discover, watching YouTube videos, taking photos, playing Call of Duty: Mobile, checking emails regularly, and watching one episode of anime. With casual usage, the phone can deliver nearly two days of battery life.
The large battery boasts 45W fast-charging support, which is above average for a mid-range Samsung smartphone but lags slightly behind the competition. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn’t include the charger in the box, so you’ll need to purchase it separately.
Using a 65W GaN charger, the phone reached 48 percent charge in 30 minutes and 96 percent in one hour from a completely drained state.
Samsung Galaxy F55 5G Review: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy F55 5G stands out primarily for its premium design. Its slim profile and premium leather finish make it a stylish contender at this price point. The IP67 rating is an added bonus. Its Super AMOLED display excels at content consumption. So, if you’re seeking a stylish mid-ranger that offers an appropriate balance of performance and a premium design, the Galaxy F55 5G presents a compelling choice.
However, the phone faces stiff competition in this price segment. The Nothing Phone 2a, starting at Rs. 23,999, offers a unique design, better performance, and superior camera capabilities. The Poco F6 (starting at Rs. 29,999) boasts the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, delivering significantly better raw and gaming performance, faster 90W charging, and gaming-centric features.
At a starting price of Rs. 29,999, Realme’s 12 Pro+ provides a comparable vegan-leather finish, faster 67W charging, and an excellent camera system, including an OIS 3X telephoto camera.
Ultimately, deciding on the Galaxy F55 5G depends on your priorities. If style and a solid, well-rounded experience are your primary concerns, it can be a good option. However, if you’re seeking cutting-edge performance or better camera capabilities, you might find more tempting alternatives within this price range.
