Review of the Samsung Galaxy A34
Our Verdict
Samsung’s incredible track record with software updates backs up the Galaxy A34, while you also get a brilliant 120Hz AMOLED and a large battery for the price. However, the middling internal hardware might not live up to the promise of four Android updates and may disappoint in time.
- Impress visuals for the price
- IP67 dust and water resistance
- Optical image stabilization (OIS)
- Four years of promised Android updates
- Outdated display notch design
- No 8GB RAM variant in the UK, Europe
- Sub-par cameras
Samsung often combines fundamental hardware components with standardised software features across its whole range with its Galaxy A series. This attitude is carried out by the Galaxy A34, which receives four Android upgrades in addition to the newest Samsung user interface—something that many other Android manufacturers still hesitate to do.
Samsung does not support the extensive software features of the Galaxy A34 with ostentatious hardware. The maker instead stays true to the fundamentals, including features like water and dust resistance, NFC for contactless payments, a sizable battery with reasonably quick charging, and an eye-catching display. Although it's a phone with all the features you need, if you're a serious mobile gamer, you could find it wanting.
The Galaxy A34 may not be able to distinguish itself from the competition or top our list of the best Samsung phones due to its many alternatives in the sub-$400 smartphone market, but is it still a good option given Samsung's amazing software features? Check it out in our detailed review below.
Cost and Availability
Although the Samsung Galaxy A34 5G is not yet officially available in the US, unauthorised listings for it can be seen on Amazon, with the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option beginning at around $250. Since this is probably an imported model, it could not be compatible with all US carriers, thus before making a purchase, make sure you carefully read the title and description.
The 128GB storage model of the Galaxy A34 costs £349 in the UK, while the 256GB model costs £399 from Samsung's official online shop. Depending on whether you want to buy the phone outright or via a contract, the prices at different vendors differ.
Specifications
Features
The Galaxy A34 has a same design to other Samsung phones, however its rear panel has a slightly different finish. Under the matte plastic back, there is an iridescent gradient on all colour versions (except from Black). The A34 is more aesthetically pleasing and attractive because to its prismatic light moving at various angles, particularly on the Silver model. When it comes to waterproofing, an IP67 certification gives you a level of assurance that phones in this price range sometimes lack.
The underlying circuitry is capable of doing common tasks like messaging, viewing movies, and accessing social media, all while making use of the fluid 120Hz display. For the price range, the chipset's ability to continuously capture 4K video at 30 frames per second is amazing. However, anticipating that it would be your gaming workhorse will not make for a satisfying experience.
Software is Samsung's forte, and its One UI combines the finest features of iOS and Android to provide an experience that is similar to using an iPhone or a Google Pixel smartphone. Those who are not interested in flashy specs may find it tempting to get upgrades up to Android 16, in addition to a plethora of helpful features.
Camera
Samsung includes three cameras on the rear of the Galaxy A34, the main one being 48MP. The main camera takes pictures in 12MP by fusing four pixels into one for greater illumination and has optical stabilisation, which allows its lenses to move to rectify physical jerks or dislocation. However, in comparison to other smartphones in this price range with 108MP or even 200MP cameras, it could seem inadequate. A 5MP fixed-focus macro camera and an 8MP ultrawide camera with a 123° wide field of view are also included.
Under strong lighting conditions, the primary camera focuses fast and produces crisp photos. Images taken in low light don't have as much information, however the Night Mode function may save some, if not most, of the shot.
Although edge detection is inconsistent, portraits are passable. It's also important to note that the main camera sometimes produces pictures with a little greenish tinge, which is especially noticeable in Portrait and Night Mode.
Photographs captured with the ultrawide lens tend to be less crisp, particularly when the subject and the phone are close together. This is particularly annoying when you want to shoot pictures of big gatherings of people. The fish-eye effect of the lens causes some bending of straight objects as well, and the photos don't have the same saturation as the main camera.
Similar to this, the 5MP macro camera seems superfluous and unimportant since it can only focus a certain distance away from the subject. It is normally preferable to use the main camera and then zoom in on the picture since even when you are able to concentrate on a little item, the photographs are usually not crisp.
There's a 13MP selfie camera on the front, and photos shot in strong light come out looking crisp. However, noise often seeps in if there is inadequate illumination. Additionally, Samsung has integrated Snapchat's AR effects inside the Camera app, enabling you to snap amusing photos without having to download or register for the service.
The Galaxy A34 has a 4K resolution and a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second for video recording. The video quality limits at 1080p if you want to employ optical image stabilisation because of the chipset's processing power.
In terms of quality, the films and pictures are generally suitable for personal journaling or social networking. Though there are better smartphone camera alternatives available for a comparable price range, you may need to adjust the green tint in certain images until Samsung resolves this in a future update.
Design
The Galaxy A34 doesn't deviate much from the designs of the remainder of Samsung's 2023 smartphone range, which all have similar silhouettes. Its upper left side has a linear camera bay, and its rear is flat. Key buttons and connectors, such as a USB-C port at the bottom and a dual hybrid SIM tray at the top, are housed behind a plastic frame that encircles the sides. Since the Galaxy A34 doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone socket, you can only listen to music on the move via Bluetooth or a USB-C headset.
Compared to the Galaxy A54, which has a glass back, this phone may seem less high-end due to its plastic back. However, it also ensures improved resilience to dents and knocks as well as more dependable durability.
The Galaxy A34 has an IP67 certification that protects it from dust and water, unlike several other phones in this price range. This indicates that the phone may be used for thirty minutes when immersed in freshwater up to a depth of one metre. Notably, the claim is not valid for seawater or swimming pools that contain chlorine, so if you want to use it while travelling, you still need to exercise caution.
Show
Samsung's Galaxy A34 has a 6.6-inch AMOLED screen. With its Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling is fluid and viewing is clear. Watching videos on its AMOLED screen is enjoyable because to its deep blacks and high level of vibrancy. Additionally, a wide variety of brightness levels on the display provide equally remarkable visibility in low-light conditions or outdoor illumination.
Similar to Apple's True Tone, Samsung's Eye Comfort Shield filter, which adjusts its temperature to suit the environment and relieve eye strain, is also supported by the A34. To help with nighttime viewing, you may also use the Extra Dim option, which lowers the brightness of the display. Regarding features that improve visibility, the Galaxy A34's display does not support HDR. Even so, the quality is good enough to appreciate the majority of smartphone-viewable entertainment.
The notch is the one display-related drawback that I really find difficult to deal with. The U-shaped notch seems out of style since the majority of Samsung's competitors have switched to hole-punch cutouts for selfie cameras. When you take into account Samsung's suggested life cycle for the phone, the sentiment becomes stronger.
Additionally, the display has an in-display fingerprint scanner, which seems like a high-end feature but is much slower than the real fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy A14 5G, which is a more cheap model. Although it seems precise and dependable, this in-display scanner might be annoying if you're pressed for time.
Power Source
The 5,000mAh battery that powers the Galaxy A34 provides sufficient power for a full day of use. If you use the battery moderately and spend the most of the day inside on a Wi-Fi network, you should be able to get around 30 hours of usage out of it. When you go outside, 5G causes the battery to drain significantly more quickly, an issue that affects the majority of other 5G phones. Likewise, you can anticipate an even quicker battery drain if you utilise two 5G SIM cards at the same time.
The USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) open charging standard is supported by the Galaxy A34 when it comes to rapid wired charging at a power of 25W. This implies that, if you're not using the phone, you can use any USB-PD-compliant charging brick to completely charge the Galaxy A34, which should take approximately 90 minutes. However, as Samsung does not provide a charger in the package, you will need to purchase one separately.
Finally, although the Galaxy A34 lacks wireless charging, most users shouldn't be concerned with it. There aren't many products with wireless charging available for this price range. You may need to increase your budget if that is a need.
Performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 1080 CPU and 6GB of RAM power the Galaxy A34. A mid-range processor with enough power to power necessary phone features without any lag or stuttering is the Dimensity 1080. The choice of MediaTek silicon is justified since Samsung's own Exynos range of chipsets—particularly the Exynos 1280 on the Galaxy A33 from last year—delivers greater power but also has a higher heat output.
Although I wish Samsung had also offered 8GB Galaxy A34 models in the UK and Europe, as it does in several regions of Asia, the 6GB RAM is plenty to run at least 10 apps in the background.
Due to the limits of the technology, the Galaxy A34 does not provide a competitive advantage if you wish to play games. It can barely run Asphalt 9 at medium settings with 30 frames per second rendering or Genshin Impact at low graphics settings at a manageable frame rate but with frequent frame drops. The phone can play 60 frames per second games at maximum frame rate (max frame rate) with poor graphics quality, such as first-person shooter games like Call of Duty Mobile. For medium or high resolution settings, Samsung sets the frame rate at 40 frames per second, therefore this device isn't the best for avid mobile games.
Based on Android 13, Samsung's One UI 5.1 Android skin is installed on the Galaxy A34. Many features not seen in other Android skins are added by this proprietary UI, including comprehensive automatic processes, stacking widgets, and various modes for work, sleep, exercise, driving, and other circumstances.
Simultaneously, a tonne of pre-installed programmes from Microsoft, Samsung, and other third-party developers like Netflix and Meta may be there. What's more is that Samsung often pushes users to install applications covertly as a possible way to get developer commissions, and it actively promotes its own services—including the Galaxy Store for apps—over the Google Play Store. Fortunately, you can ignore those alerts and delete undesirable applications if you're diligent, but some people may find the first encounter too much to handle.
We are relieved that Samsung consistently provides software upgrades for all of their devices, regardless of price. By using this method, the Galaxy A34 will get security updates and platform upgrades for Android for four years instead of five.
Is the Samsung Galaxy A34 a good buy?
The Samsung Galaxy A34 readily pleases individuals who don't play games on their phones and is well-equipped for basic phone operations. The user experience is seamless and satisfying due to the 120Hz refresh rate, and the 5,000mAh battery provides enough dependability for everyday use. Furthermore, an IP67 certification guarantees that the internal components of your phone are protected against unintentional contact with dust and water.
In addition to a compelling feature set, Samsung's One UI and its dedication to regular upgrades give users confidence in the Galaxy A34's durability. But, you may want to exercise caution when it comes to Samsung's cunning methods of sneaking third-party software onto the device.
However, there are some concessions, particularly in terms of the way the camera handles colour. The main camera of the Galaxy A34 is good in some situations, but the odd green tint in photos detracts from the experience. If Samsung doesn't recognise or resolve the problem, you may have to put up with the camera's lacklustre performance in low light.
Replacements
In the event that the Galaxy A34 isn't your cup of tea, have a look at some of the alternatives listed below.
Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus by Xiaomi
Xiaomi's flagship model for the mid-range is the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus. It has an opulent glass sandwich design, a 200MP camera, compatibility for Dolby Vision on its 120Hz AMOLED, and lightning-quick 120W fast charging, among its incredible specifications. With older handsets, Xiaomi, however, skimps on Android upgrades, which may swiftly depreciate the phone's worth.