Samsung Galaxy A54 (Review), recently launched by the South Korean smartphone giant, is now on sale in India with a starting price of Rs 38,999. One of the things worth noting is the phone’s camera hardware which consists of a triple-lens setup on the back and a 32MP selfie camera on the front. Redmi Note 12 Pro + (Review) is a device that can be considered as a file A viable alternative to the Samsung Galaxy A54, offering similar camera capabilities but at a lower price. In this camera comparison, let’s see if the high cost of the A54 is justified by its optical capabilities.
Daylight HDR
Looking at this daylight shot of Anjuna beach in Goa, there are some visible differences. With the Galaxy A54, there’s clearly more detail in the sand, and the texture is more defined. However, with the Note 12 Pro+, some overprocessing is visible. The color of the sky and sand looks a little saturated on the Samsung phone, but a little extra vibrancy can attract users. On the horizon, a little fringing is noticeable on both phones but only if you zoom in for fine detail. Boats in the water are sharper on the Galaxy A54 but Redmi does a decent job as well. Finally, both images have a wide dynamic range and exposure is well managed as well. As an overall picture, I’m going to have to use the Galaxy A54 image here, just because of the higher level of detail in the shot.
Winner: Galaxy A54
super wide
Coming to the Ultra Wide image, both phones are quite adept at showing a wider scene than their primary sensor can output. The difference is that the Galaxy A54’s focus is largely sharp across the frame, while the Redmi’s has it mostly around the centre. In the image above, it can clearly be seen that the ferns on the far left have sharper details with the Samsung shot. I also noticed that the Redmi photo provides a bit more exposure to objects in the shadows. In contrast, the A54 image gives these areas a more natural look while also rendering realistic colors. However, the Note 12 Pro+’s slightly boosted exposure allows it to capture more information in the frame. There is no distortion on the edges of either phone, which is always nice to see. However, the Galaxy A54 takes this round for uniform tones across the image and a more natural look.
Winner: Galaxy A54
macro image
The macro sensors on either device are nothing to brag about. On the Galaxy A54, the resolution is 5MP while the Note 12 Pro+ should handle less than half that. Neither can take a close-up macro photo that can be viewed on screens larger than a smartphone. However, if I had to choose, the Galaxy A54 is the way to go thanks to a higher level of detail in the shot. With colors and focus distance remaining roughly the same with both devices, Samsung’s offering takes this round.
Winner: Galaxy A54
low light
Speaking a bit about the low-light capabilities on offer, the photos from both phones can be considered very good. Taking a look at the pool area, the railings and wood panels are captured in better detail with the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. In fact, everything in the frame closest to the camera is a bit clearer than the A54’s photo. Aside from that, the building has an equal amount of detail in its texture and color, with either shot. The lights are a bit better exposed with the Redmi though the shadows are a bit underexposed. Noise in the night sky can be spotted in both images but there’s more to the processing tab on the Galaxy A54. This roundup will go to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro +
night mode
A dedicated night mode will usually turn on automatically on either device in low light condition. You can turn it on manually to get more detail and clarity even with moderate ambient light. In this first case from a beach hut in Goa Calangute I think the Galaxy A54 does a tremendous job of getting just the right amount of detail and overexposure control. If you see the Note 12 Pro+’s output, it scatters the bright yellow glow of huts across the frame and gives it a very unnatural look. Even the sky looks a bit light blue which could be thought to be early evening when in fact the photo was taken somewhere near midnight. The A54 gets the colors just right while at the same time preserving highlights defined by palm trees.
Even with this second shot, the Note 12 Pro+ brightens the wall lights, and while there’s more detail in the wall and shadows, I again prefer the quieter look of the Galaxy A54 shot. It is also interesting that the latter has better noise reduction than the former, which adds more depth to the night shot. Overall, I think this is a victory for the Galaxy A54.
Winner: Galaxy A54
Portrait shot
Getting good portrait shots requires two main things, ie. Separate subject and clean blur background. Suffice it to say, these two qualities are on display with shots of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Galaxy A54. Apart from that, you can also control the amount of bokeh you need with any phone. However, when it comes to color and subtle details, Redmi’s offerings have a more natural look. Edge detection is accurate on both, but overall this is a round-up that can be given to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro +
Selfie
The selfies generated from both devices are very subtle in the pouring sunlight. You can see a lot of facial features in shots from both phones, but the Note 12 Pro+ appears to have a shade of extra detail. Skin tones also look a bit more realistic than the Galaxy A54 and the background behind my face is a bit more blurred. While little separates the two, Redmi wins this round.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro +
to rule
Samsung Galaxy A54 wins in four rounds while Redmi Note 12 Pro+ wins in three. However, not all categories are equally important, and the A54 beats Redmi’s offerings in some key areas such as daylight photography, ultra-wide photography, and night mode. It is also important to know that the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is priced significantly lower at Rs 29,999. However, if you are looking for a better photo taking experience and don’t mind paying the extra premium, then the Galaxy A54 is the phone for you.