The Samsung Galaxy M55 brings multiple firsts for the M series. You get support for 45W fast charging, a 50MP front camera and a 12 GB RAM option. It also comes equipped with a Snapdragon processor, a 5,000 mAh battery and 50MP triple rear cameras.
These specs are quite hefty for a mid-range phone in the Rs 30,000 price bracket
However, the smartphone market is a very crowded field where big numbers don't always guarantee superior performance. So how does the latest from Samsung stack up in this fiercely competitive arena? Read on to find out.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Unboxing
The Samsung Galaxy M55 comes in a classic white-coloured retail box. Inside, you'll find the phone, some paperwork, a sim ejector tool and a USB Type C-to-C cable. While the phone supports 45W charging, there's no charging brick included in the box.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Design & Display
The Galaxy M55 is well-designed, looking both modern and minimal at the same time. We received the 'Light Green' variant and it looks quite nice!
While the back is made of plastic, it is finished in matte, so it doesn't really pick up too many fingerprints. The frame is also plastic, but it curves seamlessly into the back, giving the phone a sleek look.
Like the premium S24 series, the phone features three separate camera rings arranged vertically in the top left corner, rather than a single camera island.
The phone sports a clean look, but it is getting harder to spot the difference between Samsung's mid-range phones and their flagship offerings.
The front of the Galaxy M55 gets this big and beautiful 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with slim bezels all around. It’s a full-HD+ resolution panel that supports a 120Hz high refresh rate, making everything not only look sharp but also feel smooth as you swipe and scroll.
In true Samsung fashion, colours are rich and punchy, and using this phone for watching content is a treat. The display is also rated for up to 1,000 nits peak brightness, which isn't the highest out there, but we didn't face any issues using the phone outdoors.
Complimenting the screen is a pair of solid stereo speakers, which produce rich sound and don't distort even at high volume.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Camera
The camera system has a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.
In good lighting conditions, the main sensor takes sharp and detailed photos with good colour reproduction. However, I wasn't a big fan of the 2x zoom as it produced some weird and over-processed results.
Portrait mode works decently well, although edge detection can be a bit iffy at times and it might mess up a bit around the edges of your hair. Ultrawide photos can be a little soft on the edges, especially if you zoom in.
The Night Mode is where things get interesting. Samsung calls this Nightography, and the detailing in this mode is very impressive. I’d actually rate the photos that I clicked in the Night Mode higher than the ones I clicked in daylight.
When it comes to shooting videos, the Galaxy M55 can record up to 4k at 30fps. In well-lit conditions, the visuals are clear and adequately vibrant, but a lot of it has to do with how good the lighting is. I also appreciate that footage comes out smooth but the ultra stabilisation mode is capped at 1080p 30 fps and the main camera can struggle to maintain exposure levels.
Upfront, there's 50MP front camera that offers an extra ultra-wide mode for your selfies. Speaking of selfies, once again, I liked the detailing and how it maintains the natural colour of the skin, balancing it with the surrounding lighting. Edge detection also seems to be of better quality in the selfie mode.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Specifications (Hardware)
The Galaxy M55 features a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, so it's not the latest SoC out there, but a reliable one, nevertheless.
To test the power of the chipset, we ran benchmarks on the phone, played a couple of games, and streamed some videos. In other words, we extensively put this phone through the ringer.
I found that the phone is perfectly fine for handling day-to-day tasks, and at no point did I feel that it was struggling to keep up.
Even when playing games like BGMI, I was able to max out the settings and play comfortably for long sessions without facing any lags or dropped frame rates.
Another good thing about this phone is that it doesn't heat up too much even after about 40 minutes of gameplay, which itself is a testament to the fact, that the phone can handle challenging games adequately well.
There's also 12GB RAM and 256GB storage on this review unit, so switching through apps idling in the background wasn't a problem either.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Software
The M55 5G comes pre-installed with Samsung's One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14. It offers a bunch of useful Samsung apps like SmartThings, Samsung Wallet, Bixby, Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Notes.
However, there is a bit of bloatware pre-installed, including some third-party apps that you might not want or need. This includes Snapchat, PhonePe, and DailyHunt to name a few. Thankfully, most of these apps can be uninstalled, so it's not a major dealbreaker.
Samsung also promises 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security updates. This is just about the best software policy you can get in this price range.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Battery and Charging
The M55 5G packs a 5000mAh battery, which should last you a full day on a single charge with moderate use. However, the 45W charger that we mentioned, isn't included in the box, so you will need to buy that separately.
I used a slower third-party charger, which took me a little above 2 hours to fully charge the phone from 0% to 100%. But, if you can snag one of those 45W fast chargers, you should be able to juice this phone up much quicker.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Price
Before we get into the final verdict of the Galaxy M55, let's talk about its pricing. Often, that's usually the most important factor for most folks when buying a smartphone.
The base model comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and is priced at Rs 26,999, while you can get the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant for Rs 29,999. The top-tier model, boasting 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage, will set you back Rs 32,999.
Given these details, I think for many, the base model will be more than adequate. Yes, it has less RAM and storage, but the performance drop isn’t significant, and all variants offer expandable storage.
But no matter which model you choose, there are some pros and cons to consider.
Samsung Galaxy M55 Review: Verdict
The standout feature is the 50MP main camera—it snaps great photos in daylight and really excels in night mode. The 120Hz AMOLED display is great for watching videos and the stereo speakers provide immersive sound.
On the downside, the phone sports a slightly older Snapdragon processor, and it's a bit disappointing that the 45W fast charger isn't included in the box. You might also find the pre-installed software bloatware a bit of a nuisance, although most of it can be uninstalled.
Overall, the Galaxy M55 is a solid choice if you're looking for longevity. Thanks to Samsung's strong software update policy, it's a reliable phone. Plus, it handles casual gaming, photography, and streaming quite well, making it a good fit in the sub- Rs 30,000 price segment.
