Samsung Galaxy F55 5G review: A stylish mid-ranger with all-round performance  

The Galaxy F55 retail package includes the following items, such as the Galaxy F55, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, and a quick start guide. The F55 is Samsung’s first phone in recent times to feature a stitched leather back design. To be precise, it has a vegan leather back equipped with a saddle stitch pattern on the left and right sides. The golden frame (plastic) and embossed Samsung logo accentuate the look of the phone. The phone comes in two attractive shades: Apricot Crush and Raisin Black. A good thing about its design is that it has a slim profile of 7.8mm and weighs only 180 grams. There is no IP rating for this device.

Around the edges, the Galaxy F55 has a microphone on the top edge, and its bottom features a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. The SIM slot (supports microSD card via hybrid slot) is available on the left, and the volume rocker and a power key are on the right. The earpiece doubles up as the second speaker for stereo output.

On the front, the Galaxy F55 features a 6.7-inch flat AMOLED display that offers an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness. The top and bottom bezels are almost the same size, while the other bezels are thin. Overall, the phone looks good from the front. The screen is visible under sunlight but may struggle under the harshest conditions. The stereo output and the bright display offer a good viewing experience while watching YouTube HDR videos indoors.

The Galaxy F55 has the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, which sounds a bit old when the market has a couple of other phones with Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, and 7+ Gen 3 phones. Nevertheless, the performance of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is similar to the 7s Gen 2, and in real-world usage, it is good enough for everyday use. The F55 is suitable for casual gaming. The Galaxy F55 offers up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

The Android 14 OS is overlaid with the latest One UI 6.1 interface. While the device has several preinstalled apps, the F55 offers longer software support than any other mid-range phones from other brands. It is promised to receive four Android OS upgrades and five years of security patch updates. The Galaxy F55 has a 5,000mAh battery. While the phone supports 45W fast charging, there is no charger inside the box. I used a 45W Samsung charger, which I purchased for an older Samsung flagship, to power up the F55. It took around 1:10 hours to achieve a full charge. Here is how it performs on benchmarking apps.

For selfies, the device has a 50-megapixel front-facing camera instead of the 32-megapixel camera, which was seen on the predecessor. The back panel of the device has a 50-megapixel main camera instead of a 108-megapixel primary camera. Like the predecessor model, the F55 features an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The primary camera does well in capturing shots in both bright and dim light conditions. I would advise users to make use of the Night mode to capture shots as it enhances the image quality by reducing noise and improving clarity in low-light environments. However, the front camera has room for improvement.

The haptic performance is pretty good, providing responsive and satisfying feedback during use. The fingerprint scanner is well-positioned and functions as expected. A good thing is that the device also supports NFC connectivity.

The Galaxy F55 5G is available in the following options in India:

• 8GB+128GB: Rs 26,999 (~$325)
• 12GB+256GB: Rs 32,999 (~$395)
• Colors: Apricot Crush and Raisin Black

This pricing puts the Galaxy F55 in competition with the available phones in its price segment such as the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, Realme GT 6T, and Poco F6, to name a few.

While the pricing of the Galaxy F55 5G may raise eyebrows given the competition, its unique selling points cannot be ignored. The device’s stylish design, featuring a stitched vegan leather back, stands out from the crowd. Its decent display, capable cameras, and promise of extended software support add to its appeal. For consumers seeking a good-looking mid-range smartphone with decent performance, the Samsung Galaxy F55 5G could prove to be a worthy contender. Its distinctive aesthetics and promising longevity might just be the features that tip the scales in its favor.

Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Galaxy F55 5G review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Samsung.