There are two new phones that can put up a good fight in the middleweight category — Samsung’s Galaxy A34 and A54. We have been using both phones for a few weeks now and there are some differences that make them unique for different users. In case you are a mobile photography enthusiast, we would recommend the A54 while the A34 can play the best of the best in the mid-segment.
Design differences
Both the phones mirror the design refresh Samsung has given its Galaxy A series — there is a touch of flagship, Galaxy S category. I love the design and the vibrant colours, the only difference being the matte finish on the A34 while the A54 has a glossy finish (the latter has a glass back). Ultimately, users will slap on a back case on both phones. Both machines have polycarbonate frames, which is expected in the Galaxy A series and both devices have an IP67 water and dust-resistant rating. It’s a feature that distinguishes Samsung from rivals, many of whom don’t offer any official IP rating, even on flagship phones.
When it comes to differences, the A34 has a slightly larger display at 6.6-inch while the A54 has a 6.4-inch display. But when it comes to tech chops for the display, it’s the same — FHD+ SuperAMOLED (ensures colours are vibrant) and 120Hz screen refresh rate. The other difference is that on the A34 there is a teardrop notch, which is a slightly outdated design element while the A54 has a modern punch-out design. Some more differences in the display category? The A54 has an adaptive refresh rate; on the A34 the options are standard and high refresh rate.
Camera differences
Early morning shot taken on Galaxy A54, which has a 50MP main camera, so a slightly larger sensor size
Photograph taken on Galaxy A34, which has a 48MP main camera
The two have different camera systems but the output is good on both. The A34 comes with a 48MP primary snapper (with OIS), 8MP ultra and 5MP macro (selfie is 13MP) while on the A54, you get 50MP main (with OIS), 12MP ultra-wide and 5MP macro (selfie is 32MP). It’s obvious that the A54 has a higher-resolution and it has a slightly larger sensor size, so it’s going to help in low-light situations. In terms of image stablisation, it’s roughly the same but the A54 has the upper hand. Also, the A54 has a better selife shooter. What I like most about the camera system on both is the integration with Snapchat filters.
Processor difference
The Galaxy A34 (right) has a teardrop notch while the A54 has a punch-out design
The reason behind the pricing difference becomes obvious. The A34 is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1080 (6nm) while the A54 has the Exynos 1380 (5nm) chipset, which is more efficient. In case you like gaming, we would suggest the A54 but both devices handle day-to-day activities equally well.
Make your choice
Both have a large 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W charging and the boxes don’t come with charging bricks; neither of them has wireless charging. The audio quality is the same because of stereo speakers. Another big similarity is software support. Both come with One UI 5.1 based on Android 13. The icing on the cake is that Samsung is offering five years of security updates and four years of OS updates. That’s massive. The A34 begins at Rs 30,999 while the A54 begins at Rs 38,999 (if you take offers into consideration, the pricing is quite low). If it comes down to making a simple choice, here’s how you can go about it. If you prefer photography and gaming, go for the A54, otherwise, the A34 does a brilliant job.