Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A54 promises to be a solid mid-range smartphone. It comes with a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, Exynos 1380 processor, and a triple rear camera setup that is headlined by a 50MP shooter. The phone also features Android 13 with OneUI 5.1 and has an impressive update policy.
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
Part of Samsung’s mid-range lineup, the Galaxy A34 5G offers a compelling package with a 6.6-inch 120Hz display, a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging, and Android 13 with OneUI 5.1. Its MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor is also a tried and tested chip.
If you are in the market for thebest budget and mid-range phones, Samsung offers an impressive array of choices with its A-series devices. And with the introduction of theGalaxy A54 5Gand the Galaxy A34 5G, it hopes to build on that success. The A54 and A34 are both capable, well-designed, and supported for years to come — everything you could want in a smartphone. But which one makes the most sense for you?
Pricing, specs, and availability
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is following in the footsteps of its predecessor, theGalaxy A53, and costs $450 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage model in the United States. you’re able to also save up to $250 with an eligible trade-in and get Galaxy Buds Live for $50. However, the US isn’t getting the 8GB RAM model at this point, as Samsung is releasing different configurations in different markets. For example, the UK only seems to be getting the 8GB + 128GB model at GBP 449, whereas Indian buyers can purchase the 8GB + 256GB model for INR 40,999.
Unfortunately, we don’t currently know the US pricing or availability details of the A34 5G. It’s quite possible that it’ll never make its way to the country like its predecessor. But UK buyers can grab it for GBP 349 (6GB RAM, 128GB storage) or GBP 399 (8GB RAM, 256GB storage), and India is getting the 8GB + 128GB model at INR 30,999 and the 8GB + 256GB model at INR 32,999. UK and India orders are already open for the A34.
Because of Samsung’s refreshed design language, the Galaxy A54 and A34 look almost identical. Both phones' rear and sides feature the same design elements that debuted in the company’s Galaxy S23 series. At first glance, the A54 looks similar to theGalaxy S23but with slightly thicker bezels. By comparison, the A34 sports a slightly dated front with a tear drop-style notch housing the front shooter. If bezels are an issue for you, the A34 sports rather prominent ones, so keep that in mind.
The one significant difference between the two phones is the material used for the back panel. While the A54 sports Gorilla Glass 5 front and back, the A34 has a “glastic” rear panel. “Glastic” is Samsung-speak for plastic that looks like glass. Although it will look the part from a distance, you can immediately tell the difference when you pick up the phone.
The color options for the two phones are also the same but with one exception. You can buy the A54 and A34 in Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lime, and Awesome Violet. However, theGalaxy A54 also comes in Awesome White, whereas the fourth color for the A34 is Awesome Silver.
Samsung is known for its excellent displays, and the A54 and A34 are no exceptions. For example, both phones feature absolutely stunning Super AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and full HD+ resolution. If you prefer a larger panel, the A34 sports a slightly larger 6.6-inch display versus the 6.4-inch featured on the A54. This shouldn’t make much of a difference to most people, but if you prefer larger phones, the A34 will be more your speed.
In terms of function, the Galaxy A54’s display has an important battery-saving feature that the A34 lacks: an adaptive refresh rate. While the A54 can fluctuate refresh rate up to 120Hz depending on the task, the A34 is stuck between 60Hz and 120Hz fixed rates. It might not be a huge difference, but the battery savings will add up over the course of a day.
Even though the Galaxy A34 has a larger display, it actually weighs a little less — 3 grams. Because of the plastic used on the back, the A34 is able to save some weight over the heavier Gorilla Glass on the back of the A54.
Performance and battery
Samsung has packed its Exynos 1380 SoC in the Galaxy A54, but the A34 comes with MediaTek’s Dimensity 1080. The two chips are quite similar, as both use ARM’s Cortex A78 and Cortex A55 cores. While the A78 cores on the MediaTek chip are clocked higher at 2.6GHz, the newer 5nm process used to design the Exynos 1380 gives it a slight advantage. As a result, it will be more power efficient than the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 and should deliver slightly better performance.
Regarding battery life, while both phones feature a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging support, the A54 can last long into your day. This is because it has a more power-efficient chip, a smaller display, and support for an adaptive refresh rate.
Another area where the A54 prevails over the A34 is Wi-Fi connectivity. Unlike the A34, which only supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), the A54 can work with Wi-Fi 6 signals. So if you have a Wi-Fi 6 router at home or office (or are planning to get one in the near future), you may expect a faster and better wireless connection. But if you are still stuck at Wi-Fi 5, then it doesn’t matter.
Both the Galaxy A54 and A34 come with Android 13 via Samsung’s OneUI 5.1 skin. The company has also promised four years of OS updates and five years of security updates for both phones. While the device performance may vary between the two, the overall software experience should be consistent.
OneUI 5.1 is a definite advantage for both phones, providing a well-optimized Android experience. While it comes down to preference, I enjoy the aesthetic and the additions Samsung make with OneUI.
If you are a shutterbug, you want a phone that can take that perfect Instagram image. Although Samsung has largely kept the same rear camera systems year over year in the A54 and A34, there is something new to look forward to with the A54. It houses a new 50MP primary shooter with a larger sensor. Unfortunately, while well-lit images absolutely benefit, low-light images still suffer from the softness of the Galaxy A53’s camera.
Otherwise, you get the same 12MP wide-angle and 5MP macro shooters from the A53, which deliver sharp, colorful photos in good conditions, but don’t expect too much in challenging lighting. The macro images, in particular, get soft and grainy once the lighting becomes less than ideal. Another change this year, Samsung has removed the depth camera, which we doubt anyone will miss.
The A34, in comparison, comes with the exact rear camera setup as the A33: a 48MP primary camera, 8MP wide-angle shooter, and a 5MP macro shooter. If their performance in A33 is any indication, these cameras will take good photos in good lighting. Low-light shots will also be decent, but don’t expect magic at this price range from anything short of aPixel 6a.
The front cameras have also stayed the same on the A54 and A34. So you should expect pretty good selfies for a mid-range phone.
Which is right for you?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy A34 are excellent mid-range phones. Samsung has found the sweet spot with capable hardware and many years of software support.
Even though you expect the Galaxy A54 to be better, and it is, the A34 holds its own given the price difference. With the A54, you get a slightly faster and more power-efficient processor, an improved primary camera, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and a display that supports an adaptive refresh rate. The glass back is also a plus for the A54, but if you plan toput a case on it, that won’t matter.
A solid mid-range smartphone
The Galaxy A54 is a decent upgrade over the Galaxy A53. It packs several exciting features, including a new chip, Wi-Fi 6 support, an improved primary camera, and a tweaked design to compete in the 2023 smartphone market.
While not featuring all the A54’s extras, the Galaxy A34 is still absolutely capable of all your daily tasks. It will be supported for years to come with Samsung’s OneUI, and it comes at a discount to the Galaxy A54. Unless you are a hardcore gamer or need to edit video on your phone, the A34 is a fantastic choice if it’s available in your region.
A good option for bargain hunters
The Galaxy A34 keeps several features from its predecessor. But there are some solid upgrades in the form of a 120Hz display and a new processor, making it a good purchase for many budget shoppers.
