Samsung Galaxy A54 (Review), the recently launched by the South Korean smartphone giant, is now on sale in India starting at Rs 38,999. Among the things to note is the camera equipment of the handset that includes a triple-lens setup at the back and a 32MP selfie camera at the front. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (Review) is a device worth considering Viable alternative to the Samsung Galaxy A54, as it offers similar camera capabilities but at a lower price. In this camera comparison let’s see if the higher cost of the A54 is justified by its optical capabilities.
daylight hdr
Looking at this daylight shot of Anjuna Beach in Goa, things are looking different. With the Galaxy A54, there is clearly more detail in the sand, and the texture is more defined as well. However, with the Note 12 Pro+, some overprocessing is visible. The sky and sand colors appear a bit saturated on Samsung’s handset but the extra vibrancy should appeal to users. On the horizon, a slight fringing is noticeable on both phones, but only if you zoom in to nitpick detail. Boats in water are a bit sharper on the Galaxy A54 Snap but the Redmi does a decent job too. Lastly, both the images have ample dynamic range and the exposure is also managed quite well. As an overall shot, I’d have to go with the Galaxy A54 image here, just because of the higher level of detail in the shot.
Winner: Galaxy A54
ultra wide
Now coming to ultra-wide images, both the phones are quite adept at showing a wider landscape than their respective primary sensors can churn out. The difference is that the Galaxy A54’s focus is fairly sharp across the frame, while the Redmi has it mostly around the center. In the above image, it can be clearly seen that the fern on the far left has sharper details with the Samsung’s Snap. I also noticed that the Redmi image provides a slightly higher exposure for objects in the shadows. In contrast, the A54’s image gives these areas a more natural look while also delivering realistic colours. Nevertheless, the slightly increased exposure of the Note 12 Pro+ allows it to gather more detail in the frame. There’s no warping on the edges of either phone, which is always nice to see. However, the Galaxy A54 takes this round thanks to its even tone and more natural look to the image.
Winner: Galaxy A54
macro image
The macro sensor on either device is nothing to brag about. On the Galaxy A54, the resolution is 5MP while the Note 12 Pro+ faces less than half that. None of them can shoot close-up macro photos that can be viewed on a large screen from a smartphone. However, if I have to choose, the Galaxy A54 is the way to go, thanks to the high level of detail in its shots. With both the devices having nearly identical colors and focus distance, Samsung’s offering completes the round.
Winner: Galaxy A54
low light
Talking about the low light capabilities on offer, the images from both the phones can be said to be quite good. Taking a look at the poolside area, the railing and wooden planks are captured in better detail with the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. In fact, everything in the frame that’s close to the camera is slightly sharper than the A54’s image. Furthermore, there is an equal amount of detail with any given shot in terms of building texture and color. Lights appear slightly better with the Redmi, although shadows lack detail. Noise can be seen in the night sky in both images, but the Galaxy A54 has a bit more overprocessing. This round will go up to Redmi Note 12 Pro+.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro+
night mode
The dedicated night mode usually turns on automatically on any device when the landscape is in dim light. You can turn it on manually for extra detail and clarity even with moderate ambient lighting. At this first event at the Beach Shack in Calangute, Goa and I think the Galaxy A54 does a tremendous job of getting the right amount of detail and controlling over exposure. If you look at the Note 12 Pro+’s output, it shakes the bright yellow flair distributed across the frame giving it a very unnatural look. Even the sky looks pale blue, which could be mistaken for early evening when the picture was actually taken somewhere near midnight. The A54 corrects colors as well as defines highlights with undertones.
Even with this second shot, the Note 12 Pro+ amplifies the light of the wall lamp and while there is more detail in the wall and shadows, I again prefer the more soothing look of the Galaxy A54’s shot. Plus the latter has better noise reduction than the former, which adds more depth to night shots. Overall, I believe this is a win for the Galaxy A54.
Winner: Galaxy A54
portrait shot
Taking good portrait shots requires two major things. Subject separation and a clean background blur. Suffice to say, both these qualities are on display with the shots of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and the Galaxy A54. Apart from this, you can also control the requirement of Bokeh from any phone. However, when it comes to colors and fine details, the Redmi offering looks more natural. Edge detection is accurate on both, but overall it’s a round one that can be given to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro+
selfies
Selfies taken from both the devices in sufficient sunlight are very good. You can see a lot of facial features in the shots of both the phones but it looks like the Note 12 Pro+ has a shade of extra detailing. Skin tones also look a bit more realistic than the Galaxy A54 and the background behind my face is in sharper focus. While little separates the two, this round is won by Redmi.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro+
Decision
The Samsung Galaxy A54 won round four, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ won round three. However, not all categories are equally important and the A54 is ahead of the Redmi offering in some key areas such as daylight, ultra-wide and night mode photography. It is also important to know that the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is priced at a much lower Rs 29,999. Still, if you’re looking for a better image-capturing experience and don’t mind spending the extra premium, the Galaxy A54 is the phone for you.
