Motorola and Samsung continue to compete fiercely in the mid-range phone market with their latest offerings.
The Edge 50 Neo and Galaxy A55 5G are among the newer models, both with features aimed at providing value for money. However, which one will prove to be a better buy?
While we haven’t fully tested the Edge 50 Neo yet, our hands-on impressions have given us some initial thoughts. Here’s a comparison of these two devices to help you decide which one offers the better deal.
Design and build
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo focuses on style, with vegan leather and suede finishes, helping it stand out in a crowded mid-range field.
Available in four unique Pantone colors like Poinciana and Nautical Blue, it adds a touch of premium appeal at an affordable price.
The phone is also IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, ensuring its durability while weighing a relatively light 171g.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G adopts a more premium construction with an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front. Its flat edges resemble the flagship Galaxy S24, but it feels bulkier at 213g.
The Galaxy A55 also includes IP67 protection which, while slightly less robust than the Edge 50 Neo’s IP68, still offers decent protection against water and dust. It comes in stylish options like Awesome Navy and Awesome Iceblue.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The Edge 50 Neo wins for its lighter and unique design, although the Galaxy A55 5G offers more durability with Gorilla Glass Victus+
Screen
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo features a 6.4-inch pOLED display with “Super HD” (1220p) resolution.
The panel supports HDR10+ and offers an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth scrolling and vibrant colors.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Galaxy A55 5G is equipped with a larger 6.6-inch AMOLED screen, offering Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The screen is bright, with up to 1,000 nits, but may struggle in extreme outdoor conditions.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The Galaxy A55 5G wins for its larger screen, although both offer excellent color accuracy and refresh rates.
Performance
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is powered by the MediaTek 7300 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM.
It handles daily tasks and multitasking smoothly, but may face slight limitations when handling intensive games.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
On the other hand, the Galaxy A55 5G features the more powerful Exynos 1480 chipset, built using a more efficient 4nm process.
Backed by 8GB of RAM, it provides a smoother overall experience, especially in gaming and heavier workloads.
Martyn Casserly
Cameras
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo comes with a versatile camera system, including a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a macro lens.
The Sony Lytia sensor and AI optimization deliver high-quality photos, but they can struggle in dimly lit environments.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The Galaxy A55 5G has a similar 50MP main sensor with OIS, along with a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 5MP macro lens.
However, there’s no dedicated telephoto lens, and while the camera performs well in good light, it falters in low-light conditions, like the Edge 50 Neo.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Edge 50 Neo wins for the inclusion of a telephoto lens, adding versatility to the camera system.
Battery and charging
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo packs a 4,310mAh battery, which supports 68W TurboPower fast charging and 15W wireless charging.
Although the capacity is slightly lower than the Galaxy A55 5G, Motorola claims that it will last all day with efficient use. Fast charging makes up for the slightly smaller battery size.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Galaxy A55 5G offers a larger 5,000mAh battery but only supports 25W wired charging, with no wireless charging.
Battery life is impressive, easily lasting two days of moderate use, but the slower charging speeds may frustrate users who need quick recharges.
Martyn Casserly
The Edge 50 Neo narrowly wins for its faster charging and wireless charging options.
Software
Both phones run Android 14, but the Motorola Edge 50 Neo stands out with a promise of 5 years of OS updates and security patches.
Motorola also offers a near-stock Android experience with some useful additions, making it one of the longest supported mid-range phones.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Galaxy A55 5G, running Samsung’s One UI 6.1, offers a more feature-rich experience but can feel cluttered compared to Motorola’s cleaner interface.
However, Samsung guarantees four years of operating system updates and five years of security patches, which is still impressive for a mid-range device.
Martyn Casserly
The Edge 50 Neo wins for its expanded software support and cleaner Android interface.
Pricing and availability
The Motorola Edge 50 Neo starts at £329.99, positioning it as one of the most affordable phones with premium features and long-term software support.
The Galaxy A55 5G is priced slightly higher, starting at £439 for the 128GB model.
While it’s still competitive, it’s more expensive than the Motorola Edge 50 Neo and doesn’t offer as much in terms of software longevity.
You can also check out our roundup of the best budget phones and best mid-range phones for more options.
Should you buy the Edge 50 Neo or the Galaxy A55?
Both the Edge 50 Neo and Galaxy A55 5G offer great features for their price, but they are aimed at slightly different users.
Motorola’s offering is a better choice for those looking for a sleek design, faster charging, and extensive software support at a more affordable price.
The Samsung model, however, shines with its larger screen, its better performance and its high-end manufacturing quality.
If you value long-term updates and faster charging, go for the Edge 50 Neo. If performance and screen size are your main priorities, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G is the best choice.
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