Samsung Galaxy M55 One-month review: A smartphone that just chugs along

It’s been almost a month since I unboxed and set up the Samsung Galaxy M55 review unit that had landed on my doorstep. It’s Samsung’s latest, and probably, most compelling mid-range unit in a very long time. Yes, forget the ‘A series’ from the company because all the focus is on the ‘M series’ and it shows. The Galaxy M55 has grown on me in the weeks that I have been using it.

There are some key areas in which the Galaxy M55 outshines any previous M series smartphone before it. Some are also notable firsts within the M series lineup. The Galaxy M55 is the first Galaxy smartphone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset. Surprise surprise. It has a Snapdragon chip and not an Exynos one!

There’s 12GB of RAM, plenty for this segment. The Galaxy M55 features an under-display fingerprint sensor and stereo speakers, yet another first. Last, but not least, the selfie camera has been upgraded to a 50MP one. Additionally, the smartphone supports 45W fast charging.

While the Galaxy M55 has put one foot forward, it’s also kept the other one hanging behind. The Galaxy M55 features a 5,000mAh battery (as compared to the Galaxy M54’s 6,000mAh battery). There’s also a 50MP rear camera instead of a 108MP camera. Of course, it isn’t only about the megapixel count, but many will see this as a downgrade. 

What’s most impressive is the aggressive pricing introduced by Samsung. Starting at Rs 26,999, the Galaxy M55 is a strong mid-range offering that is up against heavyweights such as the Nothing Phone (2a) and the OnePlus Nord CE 4.

What I liked about the Galaxy M55

Sleekness: Coming in at just 7.8mm thickness, the Galaxy M55 feels very sleek and has a good lean profile. There may not be a metal frame or glass back (both features reserved for more premium offerings from the company) and the display might be protected by Dragontrail Glass (instead of Gorilla Glass), but still, the build quality is solid and the phone’s design is above average. It’s got that smooth finish on the rear panel. It’s a one-handed user's dream. The frosted glass pattern with a matte texture may lend a certain premium texture, but nothing that’ll help it stand out from the crowd.

Display: Samsung has always excelled with respect to its displays. The Galaxy M55 is no different. I’ve been watching a lot of IPL on it, and even some co-passengers have been peering into my screen. Neither of us had anything to complain about. The Galaxy M55 comes with a 6.67-inch FHD+ display (with a resolution of 1080x2400 pixels). It’s got the Super AMOLED Plus technology. There’s a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. One would have hoped for a slightly higher resolution display. Nonetheless, the colours are vivid, the text is sharp and the viewing angles are good.

Processor: Hallelujah! Samsung made the decision to switch to Snapdragon from its in-house Exynos chips for the Galaxy M55 and it has paid off. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset is a powerful and efficient chip. Combined with 12GB of RAM, the smartphone just flies. Executing daily tasks is a breeze. Even doomscrolling is a smooth experience. The smartphone maxes out at 256GB of storage but once can expand it up to 1TB using a microSD card. 

The smartphone isn’t meant for gaming but EA Sports FC Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile and other games will work smoothly on medium settings. 

Battery life: The combination of a 5,000mAh battery and an efficient Snapdragon processor means that you’ll not need to charge your phone during the day. On many occasions, I only had to charge my phone the next morning. 

There’s 45W fast wired charging support and the phone can be juiced from 0 to 100 in just under an hour.

Unfortunately, like most smartphones these days, there’s no dedicated power adapter in the box.

The one thing that could have been better on the Galaxy M55

Camera. Yes, the camera is something that didn’t enthral me during my review period of the Galaxy M55. The Galaxy M55 comes with a triple rear camera setup. There’s the 50MP primary sensor (with an f/1.8 aperture), an 8MP ultra-wide sensor (with f/2.2 aperture) and a 2MP depth sensor (with an f/2.4 aperture). The primary camera comes with optical image stabilisation.

The camera performs best in good daylight conditions. The photos taken in good daylight conditions retain a fair amount of detail and the colours are vibrant and punchy. The colour science lends itself to a natural and pleasing tone.

It’s in low-light scenarios where the Galaxy M55’s camera falls off a cliff. There is a lot of noise and very few details are preserved. With the dedicated night mode, the photos are better, but still no up to par.

Portraits are also strictly okay. The bokeh effect is natural and pleasing to the eye but it isn’t very accurate concerning its separation. 

The selfies though are very good thanks to the 50MP sensor. The selfies come out with a large amount of detail and good punchy colours.

What I learnt about the Galaxy M55

If Samsung lives up to its promise of regular updates then the Galaxy M55 could be one of those unassuming phones that just chugs along and performs for many years to come. In short, the Galaxy M55 gets the job done. For the average consumer, the Galaxy M55 is a compelling choice. If you aren’t in favour of doing extensive research and just want a device that works for you, then the Galaxy M55 is it.

Why do I say that, you may ask? Over the one month of my usage, I’ve had very little to complain about concerning the Galaxy M55. I’ve opened Instagram daily, I’ve watched Indian Premier League matches on it and I’ve even typed out short articles. Even playing casual games hasn’t deterred the smartphone. It doesn’t heat up, it doesn’t slow down, and if there are regular updates that keep it performing like brand-new, then customers will be extremely happy.

Verdict

An all-around device. Even though the camera disappoints, there isn’t much else going against the Galaxy M55. Sure, if you’re a gamer or want the absolute best photos, then stay away from the Galaxy M55. But if you want a no-nonsense smartphone with a promise of regular updates, the Galaxy M55 should be on top of your list and it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

The change from an Exynos chip to a Snapdragon chip is one of the primary reasons as to why this smartphone performs so well.

If you do buy the Galaxy M55, then invest in tempered glass protection and a case as this smartphone lacks a Gorilla Glass coating.