Nothing Phone (4a) vs Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

Nothing Phone (4a)

A genuine highlight for the price — a big 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED that's bright, sharp and HDR-capable, beating similarly priced rivals.

• 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits typical / 1,600 nits HBM / 4,500 nits peak at 1224x2720 (440ppi).
• The 6.78-inch display is 23% brighter than the 3a, reaching 1,600 nits outdoors with a 4,500-nit HDR peak.
• Brightness goes up to 4,500 nits peak, remaining easily readable outdoors — the display is very strong for this price range and one of the standout features.
• In the real world it hits around 700 nits peak SDR and ~1,550–1,600 nits in HDR, with 460ppi and dynamic 120Hz.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

A 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED at 120Hz — vibrant and the highlight of the experience, but caps at ~1,000 nits, below flagship brightness.

• 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED at 120Hz, the same bright, smooth panel class as the A35.
• The viewing experience is basically what makes this phone 100% worth the money.
• It can't match the S24's 2,600-nit peak, maxing at 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode.
• The AMOLED gets very dark at night, which photophobic users particularly appreciate.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A standout 3.5x periscope telephoto at this price and a solid main camera, undercut by an under-optimised zoom and a basic ultrawide.

• A triple setup — 50MP main, a 50MP periscope telephoto and an 8MP ultrawide — undoubtedly one of the best experiences at this level.
• The telephoto has been tweaked to a much better 3.5x (80mm) zoom factor.
• A telephoto with optical zoom at this price is great, but this is the worst optimisation I've seen on a 3.5x camera — expect disappointment if you buy for the zoom.
• The 3.5x optical-zoom telephoto is one of the biggest highlights, adding much more flexibility than most competitors in this price range, and the cameras are surprisingly capable.
• Each camera here feels better than what you'd get on Samsung at the price, and the main is solid with nice detail.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

A 50MP f/1.8 OIS main, 12MP ultrawide and 5MP macro, plus a 32MP selfie. Dependable with strong low-light for the class, weaker against true flagships at night.

• Triple rear: 50MP f/1.8 OIS main (1/1.56"), 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro.
• Dependable camera performance with excellent videos, per the GSMArena review.
• Versus the iPhone 13 it holds its own in almost every scenario, and clearly wins in low light with less noise.
• Night mode isn't on par with the iPhone 15 or Pixel 8 Pro, but it's a clear improvement and competitive at the price.
• Video records up to 4K 30fps on the main, ultrawide and front cameras, with smoother FHD 60fps available.
• It beats the Nothing Phone (2a) on camera and software support, per owners comparing the two.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A capable mid-range chip that handles everyday use and casual gaming well — not a powerhouse, but appropriate for the price.

• Gaming is absolutely possible on this device, with solid everyday performance for the class.
• There's no shortage of substantial hardware upgrades over the 3a, even if the design doesn't stand out as much as the Pro.
• After 24 hours the home screen is extremely customisable and feels massively more functional than iOS, with no responsiveness complaints.
• Gesture-based navigation is fully supported and the overall experience is good thanks to Nothing's optimisations.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

Exynos 1480 with up to 8/12GB RAM — solidly midrange. Smooth for daily use thanks to 120Hz, but with occasional micro-stutter under load.

• The A55 ups the ante with more memory (8GB), a faster Exynos 1480 and a superior camera setup over its predecessor.
• There's occasional lag or micro-stutter when launching the camera in social apps or switching between apps.
• 120Hz is well optimised and the UI stays smooth, with the camera even opening slightly faster than on the A56.
• It runs cooler than a Galaxy S24 in sustained tests (A55 ~31–34°C vs S24 ~37–38°C) and beat the A35 on AnTuTu.
• An owner found it ran cooler/better than an S23 FE, which heats up faster even just browsing social media.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A ~5,080mAh cell with 50W wired charging — reviewers call endurance strong, but a notable group of owners report disappointing screen-on time.

• The Nothing Phone (4a) features a ~5,080mAh cell which delivers very strong endurance in everyday use.
• The battery grew slightly — about 80mAh in most markets but a more meaningful 400mAh in India — with a 50W PD unit recommended on the box.
• Several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time with moderate use — worse than other phones with similar ~5,000mAh batteries.
• Battery life on this phone is excellent in everyday use.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

A 5,000mAh battery with very strong endurance, undercut by slow 25W wired charging and no wireless charging.

• The 5,000mAh battery can stretch toward two days if you're sensible with gaming and camera use.
• It uses only ~2% battery over 8 hours of 5G standby — far better than a Galaxy S24's ~5%.
• Around 8 hours of screen-on-time means it easily lasts a full day; the battery 'just goes on and on.'
• It does not support wireless charging at all; charging is 25W wired over USB-C only.
• The lack of fast charging is the one thing owners really miss in a rush versus 90W rivals.

Nothing Phone (4a)

Aggressively priced below the Pixel 10a with a more distinctive design and a real telephoto — the standout budget pick for buyers who want personality.

• It's a good chunk of change cheaper than the $500 Pixel 10a.
• It fits the perfect budget for buyers who can't afford the ~$1,000 needed for an entry-level iPhone 17, with good hardware and excellent battery.
• A very strong mid-range smartphone that stands out with unique design, great display, solid performance and surprisingly capable cameras — definitely worth a closer look.
• Nothing stands out among the crowd with a brand identity strong enough to turn consumers into fans.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

A 'boring but solid' midranger that becomes an excellent value at its frequent discounts — though it's not officially sold in the US.

• A boring update, but still a solid mid-ranger for its price.
• It once again seems to be one of the best mid-tier Android devices of the year for the rest of the world.
• It packs a lot of premium features into a midrange smartphone.
• It's half the price of its flagship counterpart, but the gap between the two isn't nearly as large as you'd expect.
• It has dropped to as low as £249 in price-cut deals — exceptional value at that level.
• No Galaxy A55 in the US is a win for the Pixel 8a and a loss for Android — US buyers must look elsewhere.