Samsung Galaxy M55: Budget Friendly with Lots of Features

Anupam Das
August 30, 2024

1. Samsung Galaxy M55: First Impression

Released in March 2024, the Samsung Galaxy M55 is another M-Series smartphone from Samsung that is budget-friendly and has some amazing features. This phone is an upgrade to its predecessor – the Samsung Galaxy M54. At first look, it might appear similar to its predecessor, but it has many improved features. Samsung Galaxy M55 is a rectangular smartphone with rounded corners. The smartphone has a uniform bezel around both sides. The bezel is thicker than the bezel of most of the premium Samsung smartphones. However, for budget smartphones, the bezel is standard. Samsung Galaxy M55 is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor – Samsung Galaxy M54. It is easy to hold and feels light in the hand.

The right side of the smartphone contains volume and power buttons while the left side accommodates a hybrid SIM tray. While the SIM tray is leveled with the surface of the side of the phone, the volume and power buttons are hoicked up. The summit of the phone has a microphone while the bottom contains a USB-C port, an additional microphone, and a loudspeaker. The backside of the Samsung Galaxy M55 contains three main cameras, nestled in a column. on the right side. The flash is located at the left of the cameras. The selfie camera is a punch-hole camera, located in the top-middle of the front side.

2. Samsung Galaxy M55: Measurements, Weight, and Set Up

As mentioned before, the Samsung Galaxy M55 has a simple rectangular design. It has a length of 16.39 cm or 6.45 inches and a width of 7.65 cm or 3.01 inches. The Samsung Galaxy M55 has almost similar height and width to its predecessor – Samsung Galaxy M54. However, the Samsung Galaxy M55 is the thinnest M-series smartphone that Samsung has produced till now. The Samsung Galaxy M55 is considerably thinner than its predecessor – the Samsung Galaxy M54 – and all other M-series smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy M54 has a thickness of 0.84 cm or 0.33 inches, the Samsung Galaxy M55 has a thickness gauge of 0.78 cm or 0.31 inches.

Many other Samsung M-series smartphones also are considerably thicker than the Samsung Galaxy M55. For reference, the newly released Samsung Galaxy M35 has a thickness of 0.91 cm or 0.36 inches, the Samsung Galaxy M34 has a thickness of 0.88 cm or 0.35 inches, the Samsung Galaxy M15 has a thickness of 0.93 cm or 0.37 inches, and the Samsung Galaxy M14 has a thickness of 0.94 cm or .037 inches. The newly released Samsung Galaxy A-series smartphones – Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 – are thicker than the Galaxy M55.

In fact, in terms of slimness, the Samsung Galaxy M55 can give tough competition to some of Samsung’s premium smartphones. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a thickness of 0.86 cm or 0.34 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a thickness of 0.89 cm or 0.35 inches. Samsung Galaxy M55 is also slimmer than two of the iPhone 15 series phones – the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 15 Pro – both of which have a thickness of 0.83 cm or 0.33 inches. Other iPhone 15 smartphones – iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have the same thickness.

Samsung Galaxy M55 is also considerably lighter than the Galaxy M34 and some other premium smartphones. While its predecessor – Galaxy M54 weighs around 199 grams, the Samsung Galaxy M55 is markedly lightweight, weighing around 180 grams. Galaxy M55 is also lightweight compared to Samsung’s own Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra, weighing 232 grams and 234 grams respectively. Galaxy M55 is also lighter compared to the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 15 Pro, both of which weigh 221 grams and 187 grams respectively.

Instead of a metal frame, the Samsung Galaxy M55 has a plastic frame and plastic back, making it lighter. Even though it has a plastic back and a plastic frame, it still has a certain toughness to it. However, it is advisable not to drop it frequently or from a considerable height. The back looks smooth and has a decent flat and matte finish with minimal gloss. However, the back does get scratches and marks with extended usage. The front does have Gorilla Glass protection. Instead, the front is protected by Dragontrail Glass which is decent. Unfortunately, it does not have any IP ratings. Hence, users need to be careful with dust and water.

3. Samsung Galaxy M55: CPU, GPU, and OS

Samsung Galaxy M55 comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor. This is an upgrade from the Exynos processors that power most M-series smartphones, including the Galaxy M54. In fact, Samsung Galaxy M55 is the first and, till now, the only M-series smartphone that has a Snapdragon processor. Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is an 8-core processor that comes with a maximum clock speed of 2.4 GHz. The processor comes with one Cortex A710 core with a maximum clock speed of 2.4 GHz, three Cortex A710 cores with a maximum clock speed of 2.36 GHz, and four Cortex A510 cores with a maximum speed of 1.8 GHz.

The transistors of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 have been made by 4-nanometer processes that are smaller than the transistors made by 5-nanometer processes. The smaller size of the transistor means more transistors in a processor, increasing the computational power. It also helps make the system more compact. A compact processor consumes less energy and generates less heat, lengthening the battery life and protecting the circuits from high temperatures.

Along with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, the Samsung Galaxy M55 is equipped with an integrated Adreno 644 GPU. It has a frequency of 0.44 GHz and it supports OpenCL 2.0 FP, OpenGL ES 3.2, and Vulkan 1.1 APIs. It also supports DirectX 12 version which provides an amazing multi-media and gaming experience. The GPU comes with LPDDR5 with a maximum pin speed of 6400 Mbps. It comes with two 16-bit channels and has a ‘burst length’ of 32 bits. The GPU can perform 0.25 TFLOPS at F64/Double Precision 64-bit Floating Points, 1.01 TFLOPS at F32/ Single Precision 32-bit Floating Points, and 2.02 TFLOPS at F16/ Half Precision 16-bit Floating Points.

Samsung Galaxy M55 is equipped with Android 14 and Samsnug’s own user interface – One UI 6.1. The smartphone provides 4 years of OS upgrades. It also comes with Samsung Wallet which provides various digital and online payment solutions and Knox Vault which provides various security features. One UI 6.1 is convenient and customizable.

Users can easily tailor the home screen with wallpapers, widgets, information, etc. It provides tools to edit or alter images taken by the camera, a feature social media users will appreciate. It comes with an optical fingerprint scanner. The in-display fingerprint scanner provides an extra layer of security and convenience. However, the optical fingerprint scanner may not work as fast as the physical one and may lag or delay some time.

The combination of CPU and GPU provides an amazing performance for any budget smartphone. Opening various apps is smooth and instantaneous. Hopping from one app to another is crisp and without any lag and multi-tasking is a breeze. Browsing and scrolling the internet is flawless and without any freeze. Watching videos or movies is also hassle-free. Playing games is also effortless. However, playing high-powered games may cause some issues of lagging and freezing after an hour or two. Too many high-intense activities may cause heating issues.

4. Samsung Galaxy M55: Cameras

For an economical smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy M55 provides an amazing collection of cameras. It has three main cameras on the left side of the back of the phone, arranged in a column and surrounded by protruding rings. Just right to the camera system, there is a flash. At the top of the camera system, there is an 8 MP ultra-wide camera with an angle view of 123^oand an aperture of f/2.2. This ultra-wide camera provides a wide field of view and a large depth of field. However, the relatively smaller aperture could not allow an ample amount of light to enter the lens.

The main camera of the Samsung Galaxy M55 is located at the bottom of this 8 MP ultra-wide camera. The main camera is a 50 MP wide camera with an aperture of f/1.8 and an image sensor of 1/1.56 inches. Unlike the 8 MP camera, the main camera is good for low-light environments as the bigger aperture of the main camera allows a lot of light to enter through the camera lens. However, the same feature may distort some of the images, taken under a very bright Sunlight.

Below the main camera, there is a 2 MP Macro camera with an aperture of f/2.4. This camera is ideal for focused, close-quarter, and zoom-in photography. This camera is ideal for zoom-in nature photography of insects, flowers, leaves, etc. It can also be used for jewelry photography.

The main camera is top notch and the images come with amazing clarity and depth. The colors come alive with incredible hue and contrast. Various shades of color are easily distinguishable and allow for a vibrant image. The daytime images by the back cameras are clear and sharp with lucid hue, contrast, and saturation. The nighttime images, with ample artificial lighting, are clear and have good clarity. However, the images in a very low-light environment may not be as sharp and clear. The portrait images are decent but nothing special. The depth of field may not get too shallow and focusing on the subject may become a bit cumbersome.

The back cameras can record videos in 4K, 1080P, and 720P qualities in 60 frames per second or 30 frames per second. The cameras are equipped with HDR technology which adjusts the videos according to the environment. It also comes with ‘Phase Detection Auto Focus’ and ‘Optical Image Stabilization’ technologies. Both of these theogonies allow for better video quality with minimal shaking. The playback is smooth and the color dynamism of the environment is preserved.

Samsung Galaxy M55 has one of the best selfie cameras in M-series and the budget smartphone segment. In terms of Mega Pixels yardstick, its selfie camera beats some of the premium smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, etc. The selfie camera of the Samsung Galaxy M55 is a 50 MP wide camera. It has an f/2.4 aperture which is smaller than the main camera. So, the amount of light that can enter the selfie camera’s lens is less than the amount of light in the light that can enter the main camera’s lens.

Still, the selfie images are good with sufficient clarity and sharpness. The daytime images are vibrant with adequate contrast and hue. Although some overexposure can occur in very bright Sunny environments. The nighttime images are also decent with plenty of sharpness and clarity. However, in very low-light environments, images may appear as blunt and dull. Still, the selfie camera of this smartphone is one of the best in the budget phone market. The selfie camera can record videos in 4K, 1080P, and 720P qualities with 60 frames per second and 30 frames per second.

5. Samsung Galaxy M55: Display

Samsung Galaxy M55 comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display. The display is protected by Dragontrail protective glass and has a screen area of 108.4 cm² or 16.80 inches². Although Dragontrail protective glass provides comprehensive protection to the display, not having Gorilla Glass protection is let down, even for its price range. The bezel is uniform all around the smartphone and is relatively thin for a budget-class smartphone. The phone has a screen-to-body ratio of 86.5% which is the best among all the M-series phones.

Samsung Galaxy M55 has a maximum resolution of 2400 X 1080 pixels. The display has a ratio of 20:9 ratio and a screen density of 394 pixels per inch. The display has a dynamic refresh rate of 120 Hz which adjusts itself according to the specification of the multi-media being played on the screen. HD Videos and games can easily be played on the display without any lag or freezing. Dynamic refresh rate also reduces the stress on the battery and extends the battery life.

The display of the Samsung Galaxy M55 has a color depth of 16M, meaning that the display has 2⁸ or 256 color variations for each of the RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) colors which adds up to a number more than 16 Million. It has more than 16 Million shades of pixels, giving the image an amazing color profile for the display. The display has the highest 1000 nits which is decent in this smartphone segment. The screen visibility is quite good in normal outdoor brightness. However, in direct Sunlight, it may face some issues. The videos with dark or night scenarios may also appear a little bleak.

6. Samsung Galaxy M55: Battery and Charging

Samsung Galaxy M55 is equipped with a non-removable 5000 mAh battery. Although the battery size is impressive, it is one of the lowest-capacity batteries in the latest M-series smartphones. Its predecessor, Galaxy M54 has a 6000 mAh capacity battery. In fact, the predecessor of Galaxy M54, Galaxy M53 has a battery of 5000 mAh. So, the Samsung Galaxy M55 has devolved in terms of battery capacity. However, the decrease in the battery capacity has been mitigated by improving the design of the phone, making the phone lighter and thinner than other M-series smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy M55 does not provide wireless charging instead it provides a 45 W fast capacity wired charging facility via a USB Type-C 2.0 port. It is the first M-series smartphone and one of the few Samsnug’s budget smartphones with 45 W charging capabilities. It takes the smartphone 55-60 minutes to get charged from 0% to 100%. A fully charged phone could last for 42-45 hours with normal usage. For looping video watch, it can last up to 12-14 hours. For intense gaming, the battery life dips a bit and can give 6-8 hours of gaming time. The intense gaming may create heating and lagging issues.

7. Samsung Galaxy M55: Variants, Prices, and Connectivity

Samsung Galaxy M55 comes in two color variants – Light Green and Denim Black. The backside of both the color variants looks shiny and both reflect a certain amount of light. The smartphone comes with 8 GB and 12 GB RAM options. The smartphone provides 128 GB and 256 GB storage options. In the Indian market, the Samsung Galaxy M55 will cost around ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 while in the US market, it will cost around $300-$400.

Samsung Galaxy M55 provides a hybrid SIM card slot with options of either two nano-SIMs or one nano-SIM and a MicroSD card. It provides both wireless and wired connectivity. It provides mobile network connectivity of 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G bands. It has GSM, HSDPA, LTE, and Sub-6 FDD/TDD connectivity. The smartphone has Wifi 6 technology that works from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz bands. It also has Bluetooth 5.2 version. For wired connectivity, Galaxy M55 has USB Type-C 2.0.

8. Samsung Galaxy M55: Main Specifications, Pros & Cons, and Score

Specifications

Released: 28th March, 2024
Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
GPU: Adreno 644
Operating System: Android 14
Storage: 128 GB/256 GB
RAM Memory: 8 GB/12 GB
Dimensions: 16.39 X 7.65 X 0.78 cm / 6.45 X 3.01 X 0.31 inches
Weight: 180 grams
Screen Size: 17.01 cm / 6.7 inches
Screen Area: 108.4 cm² / 16.80 inches²
Resolution: 2400 X 1080
Highest Nits: 1000
Battery: 5000 mAh
Charging: 45 W
Battery Life: Up to 45 hours (Normal Usage). 12-14 hours (Continuous Video Playback). 6-8 hours (Intense Gaming).
Wired Connectivity: USB Type-C 2.0
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 5G
Bluetooth Version: 5.2

Pros & Cons

Pros

Equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
Good collection of cameras including a selfie camera with 50 MP
45 W wired charging
Lighter and slimmer compared to other M-series smartphones
Android 14 with 4 OS upgrades

Cons

It may experience heating issues, especially when playing high-intense games
No Gorilla Glass protection for display
No IP ratings. May be vulnerable to dust and water
Display may dim in direct sunlight or in very bright daytime
Lower capacity battery (5000 mAh) compared to the predecessor Galaxy M54 which has a 6000 mAh battery

Score

Functions	Score
Performance	7.5/10
Power	7.5/10
Display	6.5/10
Storage	6/10
Battery	7.5/10
Connectivity	7/10
Value for Money	8/10
Overall Score	50/70

(1 = Lowest. 5 = Highest). (0.5 increments)

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy M55 is a mid-range smartphone that comes with a lot of decent features. Some of the features, that it has, are new for the budget smartphone M-series. It has a comparatively sleek and light design with the spectrum of budget smartphones. Among the smartphone segment, it is lightweight and thinner and has a better and faster CPU, better GPU, and better cameras.

However, it also has its own shortcomings. It can cause heating issues and the battery is comparatively smaller than other M-series phones. The power of the CPU is not good enough to support high-octane gaming for long hours. Some images taken by the cameras can have overexposure issues. The display may dim in very bright Sunlight.

Still, it is one of the best mid-range smartphones available in the market that comes with decent features. Users who are looking for a decent smartphone with good features but are tight on budget can go for the Samsung Galaxy M55.

*The information in this article may not be 100% accurate and it may change or vary.

**Do not make your decision based solely on the information provided in this article. Do your own research.

***Prices are subject to change.

Samsung Galaxy M55: Budget Friendly with Lots of Features

Table of Contents