Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Which should you buy?

Samsung has two new entries in its mid-range lineup of Galaxy A series phones releasing this spring: The Galaxy A34 5G and the Galaxy A54 5G. Both phones offer some notable flagship features for an affordable price, but how do they differ? Find out which mid-tier phone is the better buy in our Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G showdown.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: At a glance

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Specs

One of the biggest differences between each phone is the beating hearts inside them. The Galaxy A54 5G houses Samsungs Exynos 1380 processor, while the Galaxy A34 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset. Both processors are an improvement over their respective predecessors, and while we haven’t thoroughly tested them yet, the Exynos appears to have the edge. It has a smaller transistor (5 versus 6nm), which should improve CPU performance, and early benchmark results suggest higher download and upload speeds.

Another notable difference between both phones is the cameras, which we’ll get into more in the next section. But aside from the 5MP rear macro camera, across the board, the cameras on the A34 5G have a lower megapixel count than those on the A54 5G.

Both phones have 128GB and 256GB variants for storage. However, the Galaxy A54 5G gives 8GB of RAM to both, while the Galaxy A34 5G has 6GB of RAM for the 128GB model and 8GB of RAM for the 256GB model. Both devices have an expandable storage capacity of up to 1TB with a microSD card.

Regarding durability, the Galaxy A54 5G is the tougher of the two, sporting Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and back. The Galaxy A34 5G only has Gorilla Glass 5 on the front with a plastic backside. Both phones have an IP67 rating to withstand one meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Both phones will run Android 13 out of the box with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 skin over it, with Samsung promising at least four Android OS updates and five years of security patches. This is the same update commitment we typically see for its flagship devices, which is a delight to see for these mid-range offerings. Although, the Galaxy A54 5G also supports Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, which makes it a bit more future-proof.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Size comparison

The Galaxy A34 5G is the bigger of the two phones, offering slightly more screen space at 6.6 inches across compared to the 6.4 inches of the Galaxy A54 5G. Because both phones have the same size bezels, the Galaxy A34 5G has a better screen-to-body ratio (~85% vs ~83%).

Although smaller, because the Galaxy A54 5G has double the Gorilla Glass 5, it does with a little more at 202 g (7.13 oz) compared to the Galaxy A34 5G, which weighs 199 g (7.02 oz).

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Cameras

The camera arrays on each phone are quite different. On the back, the Galaxy A54 5G has a 50MP primary shooter, 12MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens. The Galaxy A34 5 G’s backside trio comprises a 48MP primary shooter, 8MP ultrawide, and the same 5MP macro lens.

On the front, the difference in selfie cameras is a little more drastic. The Galaxy A54 features a 32MP, f/2.2 selfie shooter housed in a punch hole cutout in the display. On the other hand, the Galaxy A34 5G has a 13MP, f/2.2 front-facing camera tucked away in a teardrop notch.

As for the video, both phones are capable of recording 4K at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. Samsung also says both phones will feature a 1.6x wider OIS, offering four times better video stabilization. Technically speaking, the Galaxy A54 5G should be able to capture sharper images.

Samsungs’ Nightography’ feature, previously reserved for its flagship series, is making its mid-range debut on Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G. This feature helps to capture brighter and sharper photos and videos in low-light conditions.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Battery and charging

Both phones have the same size battery at 5,000mAh with 25W wired charging, which should fully charge the device in roughly 80 minutes. Neither phone supports wireless charging.

We will have to wait to see whether or not the Exynos 1380 processor provides more efficient battery life consumption when we test the phones, but even so, both phones should be able to last two days on a single charge, even when on 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Price

In the United States, we only have confirmation of the Galaxy A54 5G release and only in its 128GB configuration. You will have the choice of two colors: Awesome Violet and Awesome Graphite. Either way, the phone will set you back $449.

We expect the Galaxy A34 5G to come to North America at some point but are waiting for further details from Samsung as to when. The Galaxy A34 will be available across the pond in the UK starting at £349 (~$425) for the 128GB version and £399 (~$485) for the 256GB model.

Both the Galaxy A54 5G and the A34 5G are available for pre-order directly from Samsung in select regions starting March 30th and will be available in-store from various retailers on April 6th. In the US, Samsung offers a $250 credit with an eligible trade-in towards the Galaxy A54 5G and the option to pick up a pair of Galaxy Buds Live for only $49.99.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G vs Galaxy A54 5G: Which should you buy?

Both the Galaxy A54 5G and the Galaxy A34 5G are well-rounded mid-range smartphones that show you don’t need to spend a thousand dollars to get all of the sought-after flagship specs. Both phones feature crisp AMOLED panels with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits for an extra bump in brightness. They also feature big batteries for multi-day use and fast charging to keep your device juiced, and generously long software support.

Samsung has given both phones’ camera bumps a redesign that fits more in line with the design philosophy of the Galaxy S23 series. However, the Galaxy A54 5G has better cameras, with more megapixels in its wide, ultrawide, and selfie shooter. So if you value image quality, the A54 is the way to go. Plus, for only not that much more money, you get a more efficient processor with extra RAM and a more durable backside in case you drop your phone. Not to mention the support for Wi-Fi 6 connections.

On the other hand, the Galaxy A34 5G will appeal to bargain hunters, as it is cheaper and more than capable of powering through simple, everyday use. Of course, if you live in the US, your options are currently limited to one version of the Galaxy A54 5G. However, that may change as the Galaxy A series is Samsung’s mass-adoption range.

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