Samsung Galaxy A34

Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy A34, launched on March 24, 2023, presents a fairly standard design with dimensions of 161.3mm in height, 78.1mm in width, and 8.2mm in depth. It weighs 199 grams. The device uses a plastic build, which is typical for its price range. The phone is available in four colors: Silver, Violet, Graphite, and Lime. It has a dual SIM slot that supports two Nano SIM cards with Dual Standby.

Screen Quality

The Galaxy A34 boasts a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, translating to a pixel density of approximately 390 ppi. The screen supports a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals and has a high brightness mode (HBM) of 1000 nits. It uses an aspect ratio of 20:9. Other screen features include a water drop notch, always-on display, HDR support, DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, scratch resistance, a 3D curved glass screen, capacitive multi-touch functionality, and a frameless design. The panel utilizes AMOLED technology, but does not feature LTPO, HDR10, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision support.

Camera Performance

The rear camera setup comprises a 48MP primary sensor (Sony IMX582 Exmor RS, 1/2", 0.80µm pixels, f/1.8, with OIS), a 5MP wide-angle lens (Samsung S5K4HA, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixels), and a 5MP depth sensor (GalaxyCore GC5035, 1/5", 1.12µm pixels, f/2.4). The main sensor utilizes 4-in-1 pixel binning. The front-facing camera is a 13MP sensor (Sony IMX258, 1/3.06", 1.12µm pixels, f/2.2). Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30/60fps, and 720p at 480fps slow motion. The camera features Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and digital image stabilization, autofocus, digital zoom, and various shooting modes, including a night mode, panorama, and HDR. DxOMark scores for the device are 92 overall, with a photo score of 99 and a video score of 78.

Software Experience

The Samsung Galaxy A34 ships with Android 13 and is slated to receive updates up to Android 17. The device includes essential sensors like an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. It also features Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers. It uses a cooling system, but lacks gaming buttons and a notification LED.

Battery Performance

Powering the device is a 5000mAh Li-Polymer battery. It supports 25W fast charging but lacks wireless charging capabilities. The battery is non-removable. The device uses a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support for data transfer and charging.

Value for Money

The Samsung Galaxy A34 is positioned in the medium-price category. It offers multiple configurations, including 6GB/128GB, 6GB/256GB, 8GB/128GB, and 8GB/256GB, with regional variations. The 8GB/256GB version is priced in the range of $237.25 to $262.79, while the 8GB/128GB variant ranges from $206.86 to $245.00. The phone includes NFC, and offers a range of connectivity features like Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, and GPS with various satellite systems. Network band support is extensive, including 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G bands.