Samsung Galaxy M55 Review: Smoothly, solidly mid-segment Samsung

Its flagships and foldables might make headlines, but beneath that premium phone cream of Samsung lies some good, old-fashioned, solid, value-for-money mid-segment mobile cake. Running up the mid-segment numbers for the brand is the task mainly of its M series, which features rock-solid devices that are designed for the rough and tumble regularity of daily mainstream lives rather than for flagship cruises.

The latest regular on the Samsung M block is the Samsung Galaxy M55 5G, which goes right into the slightly premium side of the mid-segment, looking to overcome spec-tacular opposition from the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus. It is hardly a spec monster, but it is a Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy M55 design and appearance: Functionally fantastic, even if made of plastic

The Galaxy M55 comes with the clean, minimalistic design that Samsung has adopted in recent times. Our light green variant had a fresh, clean look about it, and while some might complain about the plastic back and frame, all we have to say is that it looked good and is the first mid-segment phone we have used comfortably for a while without a case as it gets no stains or smudges.

The back has a smooth, shiny finish that reflects a slightly pink color when light falls on it from some angles, but it is a largely understated, elegant look.

Samsung has kept the cameras on the back in the form of three independent ‘drop-like’ structures with metallic outlines instead of putting them in a camera unit like some of its rival brands – the change is definitely easy on the eye.

The front is dominated by a flat, tall display, while the sides and back are slightly curved. At 163.9 mm, the Galaxy M55 is a tall device, but it is impressively slim at 7.8 mm and surprisingly light at 180 grams when you consider its size and the fact that it comes with a large 5000 mAh battery.

The phone comes with no official dust or water resistance or even any Gorilla Glass protection on its display, but it has a very solid feel to it. We have been using the phone without a case or a screen protector for almost two weeks, and it seems perfectly fine. However, yes, an IP rating and some glass protection would have been welcome.

All said and done, the Samsung Galaxy M55 is not made for beauty contests, but it will not turn heads away either, and you sure will not feel like slapping a cover on it.

Samsung Galaxy M55 specs: Display and camera are the stars

In terms of hardware, the Galaxy M55 takes the mid-segment road. As with many Samsung devices, perhaps the biggest highlight of the Galaxy M55 is its large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 2400 x 1080px resolution. In the best Samsung tradition, it is a vivid and colorful display, and although we have seen other displays that claim to be brighter than its 1000 nits, it is one of the best we have seen in its segment.

Less impressive is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor powering the device, which is an able but now a trifle old chip. The phone comes with 8 GB RAM and two storage variants of 128 GB and 256 GB, with the option to expand storage to 1 TB using a microSD card.

The Galaxy M55 is very well endowed in the camera department, with a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS at the back, accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 2-megapixel macro, and also a 50-megapixel selfie sensor, the first time Samsung has used one in a M series device. The phone runs on a 5000 mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging but comes with no charger in the box. You also get stereo speakers but no 3.5 mm audio jack.

On the software side, the Galaxy M55 is powered by Android 14 with Samsung’s OneUI on top of it. The phone also comes with assured Android updates for four years and security updates for five years, which is very reassuring, given Samsung’s excellent track record in this regard. It is a pretty routine mid-segment spec sheet, preferring to tick existing boxes instead of creating new ones, with the cameras and displays being the standout features.

Samsung Galaxy M55 cameras: A tale of two 50 megapixel cameras, front and back

The camera experience on the phone, therefore, boils down to being a tale of two 50-megapixel sensors, and it is surprisingly different. The rear 50-megapixel camera is the star of the Galaxy M55 photography, delivering a very impressive amount of detail and surprisingly sticking to slightly more realistic colors as compared to the saturated shades one gets in the segment.

We also have reasonably good quality videos and very good low-light performance (Samsung’s Nightography) for the segment with reasonable detail and clear colors. Our only complaint was that photography sometimes seemed a little sluggish, with images taking some time to be processed, especially when we kept night mode on for low-light photography,

The 50-megapixel selfie camera, however, was a relative disappointment given the hype around it. While it did deliver a lot of detail (almost too much), colors seemed a little faded, and snaps even seemed a little blurry, with bokeh even going missing even in portraits. We expect Samsung to fix it with an update, as its support for 4k video could be a great tool for content creators, although it does lack autofocus.

The 8-megapixel ultrawide camera is reasonable for a wider perspective, although it lacks detail, and the performance of the 2-megapixel camera is not really worth mentioning. The main sensor of the Galaxy M55 is a star, but its supporting cast leaves a bit to be desired, and its selfie counterpart definitely could do with an update or two.

Samsung Galaxy M55 performance: Regular routine rockstar

The Galaxy M55 is a great daily driver. That large, bright display is great for viewing content, whether one is watching shows or just reading text on websites. The stereo speakers on the phone turn in a very impressive performance, making multimedia much more immersive – we think that this is one of the best phones for just watching content on. Of course, this being a Samsung, network and call connectivity is very good. The Galaxy M55 is also very good at handling regular tasks like browsing the Web, social media, mail and messaging and is an able enough multitasker. Samsung’s OneUI, on top of Android 14, is a little crowded, but it works smoothly.

In terms of gaming, the Galaxy M55 is very much a mid-segmenter. It can play most casual titles effortlessly, but while it can run the likes of Call of Duty and the Asphalt series, you would need to turn down the graphics settings to get a decent performance. It is a bit of a pity when you consider that gorgeous display, but then the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip is not exactly a gaming beast.

Samsung Galaxy M55 battery life and charging: Big battery? Present! Fast charging? Present! Charger? Err…

The Samsung Galaxy M55 comes with a 5000 mAh battery that comfortably lasts a day and a half of regular usage and can even last two days with some careful handling (and reducing the refresh rate). Samsung surprised many when it announced 45W charging support for the Galaxy M55, which has the same charging speed as the flagship S24 series.

And with a compatible charger, the phone gets fully charged from zero battery levels in about 70-75 minutes, which is decent. However, the catch is that there is no charger in the box. We really do wish Samsung would rethink its strategy in this regard at these price points where the competition is giving 80W and even 120W chargers.

Samsung Galaxy M55 5G Pricing: Going up against some serious competition

The Samsung Galaxy M55 is available in these RAM and storage variants at the following prices:

• 8 GB/ 128 GB – Rs 26,999
• 8 GB/ 256 GB – Rs 29,999

Some might consider those prices to be a bit on the higher side, and they certainly put the Galaxy M55 in the range of a few very strong performers, many of whom bring better specs to the mid-segment table.

The Poco X6 Pro leads the challengers, which does not boast as good cameras but is powered by an almost flagship-level Dimensity 8300 Ultra chip, supports 67 W charging (and a charger in the box), and is priced at Rs 26,999.

And then there is the OnePlus Nord CE4, which not only comes with OnePlus’ clean OxygenOS interface but also has a very good main 50-megapixel camera from Sony with OIS, a massive 5500 mAh battery, and support for 100W charging (with a 100W charger), all at a lower starting price of Rs 24,999.

Also in the mix is the Nothing Phone (2a), which brings a different design and innovative UI to the table at Rs 23,999, although it is a little erratic in the camera department and, like the Gaalxy M55, supports 45W charging, but lacks a charger in the box.

Samsung Galaxy M55 Review Verdict: A Galaxy worth investing in?

The Galaxy M55 is the perfect mid-segment monster for those who love Samsung phones and/or want the assurance that comes from investing in a very established brand. You can get devices with better processors and cameras, faster-charging batteries, and chargers in the box for good measure, but what makes the Galaxy M55 is its ability to tick most mid-segment boxes brilliantly. It might not set benchmark records, but it seldom misses a step.

In cricket terms, we would say it is more Rahul Dravid than Brian Lara – all quiet, reassured, consistent without fuss. And for many of us, that is more than enough.

Buy Samsung Galaxy M55