Samsung Galaxy A34 5G review

Flagship telephones are costly, even on contract, however the excellent news is that there are cheaper choices that are completely good.

Samsung’s Galaxy A34 is a good instance of this. It seems to be very like the flagship S23 – particularly within the Superior Lime color on evaluate right here – however prices lower than half the worth at simply £349.

For lots of people, the A34 is all of the telephone they want: it has a fantastic display screen, lengthy battery life, good efficiency and takes completely first rate pictures.

And since it’s a Samsung, the telephone might be nicely supported with software program and safety updates for years to come back.

Design & construct

• Is available in lime, purple, silver and black
• Plastic rear and body
• Stereo audio system

The A34 is a big telephone, one thing that appears to be the norm for many mid-range telephones now. It’s a bit larger than the Galaxy A54 measuring 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2mm, however weighing a number of grams much less at a whisker underneath 200g.

It feels nice within the hand regardless of all of the plastic, and appears way more costly than it truly is. A lot of the attraction comes from its similarity to the S23 and, at a look, most individuals will assume you have got Samsung’s newest and best mannequin. Which is sweet if that type of factor appeals to you.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Pleasingly, the black bezel across the display screen is (nearly) the identical thickness on all sides and the selfie digital camera sits symmetrically within the centre.

Though the body has a curved profile, its edges really feel somewhat sharp. The principle criticism, nevertheless, is that the again panel may be depressed somewhat and subsequently feels flimsy reasonably than strong.

It’s additionally a disgrace that, in contrast to most rival mid-range telephones, you don’t get a transparent case within the field. In truth, you get nearly nothing: only a USB-C to USB-C cable and a instrument to take away the SIM tray.

A case, then, is one thing you need to in all probability order similtaneously the telephone.

Impressively, Samsung has put high-quality haptics into the A34. This actually helps to make it really feel like a way more premium telephone. The default depth for system vibrations is ready very low, so it’s possible you’ll assume they’re disabled nevertheless it’s easy to regulate it.

Display screen & audio system

• 6.6in AMOLED show
• 120Hz refresh price
• Stereo audio system

Though turning into extra frequent now, a number of years in the past you’d have had no proper to count on a display screen this good on a mid-range telephone.

Jim Martin / Foundry

It’s a 6.6in AMOLED show with a 120Hz refresh price. This implies scrolling is tremendous clean and colors are vibrant.

However that’s not all: it’s additionally very vibrant. Samsung claims it might probably go as much as 1000 nits, and it’s actually simpler to see outdoor than loads of telephones, particularly at this value.

It might not have the very best decision round, however Full HD+ is excessive sufficient that all the pieces seems to be sharp and detailed.

There’s a fingerprint sensor constructed into the display screen. The optical tech didn’t work reliably throughout my testing, telling me the finger I had solely simply registered didn’t match. It labored more often than not after that, however not each time. You don’t have to make use of it, after all, however the face recognition isn’t as safe, and a PIN, password or sample is much less handy.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The Galaxy A34 additionally has stereo audio system, with the one on the prime of the telephone being nearly invisible. However they’re nicely balanced and loud at full quantity and nice for watching movies or listening to podcasts, although not a lot for music with little or no bass.

Specs & efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 1080
• 6/8GB RAM
• Largely clean efficiency

Unusually, Samsung has opted for a MediTek processor reasonably than one in all its personal Exynos chipsets for the Galaxy A34.

That is no dangerous factor, although, because the Dimensity 1080 has loads of energy and makes the A34 really feel quick and responsive on the whole use. There’s no stuttering as you swipe between residence screens or whereas navigating menus. And is has 5G assist just like the A54.

It’s no gaming powerhouse, however there’s sufficient grunt for many video games, even when you need to flip down the element ranges a bit to get clean body charges.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The high-refresh-rate show provides to the sensation of slick efficiency when scrolling via social media feeds. Little question the bottom 6GB of RAM helps, too, and it’s potential to search out 8GB variations of the A34 relying upon the place it the world you reside.

On the highest edge you’ll discover a dual-SIM tray. One of many slots can alternatively be used to broaden the 128GB (or 256GB) of storage by as much as 1TB. If you wish to use two SIMs, each assist 5G.

Cameras

• 48Mp predominant with OIS
• 8Mp ultra-wide
• 5Mp macro
• 13Mp selfie

They could seem like the cameras on the Galaxy S23, however the A34’s triple lenses cowl a extra mediocre number of sensors than Samsung’s flagship.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Nevertheless, this isn’t to say this telephone can’t take good pictures: it completely can. And as Samsung homeowners are already used to, the default settings produce extremely saturated, handsome photos which can be able to share.

The principle digital camera takes, unsurprisingly, the very best pictures. Outdoor in vibrant gentle, pictures are detailed and sharp. Indoors, that sharpness goes away and topics – youngsters and pets, say – want to remain nonetheless in case you don’t need them to be a blurry mess.

At evening or when there’s dim lighting, the A34’s cameras do battle in comparison with the very best telephones on the market and also you shouldn’t count on nice outcomes until you relaxation the telephone on one thing strong and – once more – nothing within the scene is shifting.

Jim Martin / Foundry

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The ultra-wide digital camera does a good job contemplating its restricted decision and the software program performs its half in guaranteeing colors look the identical as pictures from the principle digital camera. It’s actually helpful when you possibly can’t in any other case match everybody or all the pieces into the shot.

The digital camera app cheekily reveals a 2x button alongside 1x and 0.5x. This simply crops pictures taken with the principle digital camera however, to be truthful, they nonetheless look moderately good.

The third digital camera is not a telephoto one, however a macro. It’s there to make up the numbers and it’s uncertain you’ll use it a lot after taking part in with it once you first get the telephone, particularly as you don’t even want to change to it to get some good closeups from the principle digital camera, as demonstrated by the picture of the beetles within the slideshow above.

The selfie digital camera produces a noticeable beautifying impact as commonplace however you possibly can flip this off in case you favor a pure look. The 13Mp digital camera doesn’t produce lots of element, however that actually helps if you wish to conceal some wrinkles. It’s enjoyable that Snapchat filters are constructed into the selfie mode, too.

Though completed in software program, you possibly can regulate the sector of view for the entrance digital camera, and it’ll ask you which ones view to make use of because the default. Software program can be used for pseudo-bokeh once you use the Portrait mode: it isn’t nice at figuring out the topic and background, so the impact seems to be faux when wisps of hair are unintentionally blurred out.

Video defaults to 1080p at 30fps, and movies shot utilizing this mode are high quality and have good stabilisation and cheap audio high quality.

Straying from these settings is unwise: 1080p at 60fps footage lacks stabilisation, and it will get worse in case you change to 4K.

Battery life & charging

• 5000mAh battery 
• 25W charging 
• No adapter included 

The Galaxy A34 has a 5000mAh battery, which is commonplace for many Samsung telephones. For the reason that Dimensity chipset doesn’t use a great deal of energy, this can be a telephone which might final two days in case you don’t use it closely.

Even in case you do, you need to nonetheless get via a full day while not having to recharge. Solely utilizing battery-draining apps that use GPS equivalent to Google Maps for hours, or taking part in intensive video games will trigger the A34 to expire of juice a lot sooner.

PCMark for Android reported nearly an identical battery life to the Galaxy A54 at 10 hours 59 minutes.

Jim Martin / Foundry

In case you have a 25W charger, the telephone will “quick cost” utilizing the provided cable. Even then, it’s nowhere close to as fast because the quickest charging telephones. Count on round 15-20% cost in quarter-hour, roughly a 3rd in half-hour and a full cost in about two hours.

Usefully, it is going to present an estimate of how lengthy it is going to take for a full cost once you plug it in, so a minimum of you’ll know. There is no such thing as a wi-fi charging in any respect as you’ll count on at this value.

For those who’re used to charging your telephone in a single day, none of this is a matter in any respect, and the trade-offs are greater than cheap contemplating the worth.

Software program & apps

• Android 13 
• One UI 5.1 
• 4 years of OS upgrades

Out of the field, the Galaxy A34 runs Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 excessive. It’s straightforward on the eyes and intuitive sufficient to make use of.

Notifications are neat, and the fast settings tray consists of shortcuts to manage Media Output (i.e. to which gadgets sound and video are despatched) and Gadget Management, which incorporates shortcuts to Samsung SmartThings.

Jim Martin / Foundry

There isn’t an excessive amount of bloatware, however it’s irritating that – throughout setup – you’re instructed that TikTok, Disney+ and Nextdoor are “important” apps and might be downloaded once you connect with Wi-Fi.

There’s no choice to stop this from occurring, however you possibly can uninstall them later.

Because the A34 has an AMOLED display screen, you possibly can allow and customise the always-on show. By default it is on, however set to solely present the clock and notifications once you faucet the display screen. For those who don’t thoughts the hit on battery life, you possibly can select for this to stay actually at all times on, or to solely change off in a single day between the hours you set.

The excellent news is that this telephone is handled the identical as Samsung’s flagships so far as software program updates are involved. The corporate guarantees 4 years of OS updates (which ought to take you to Android 16) and 5 years of safety updates.

It is a huge benefit over loads of different telephones, whose makers usually present two or three Android updates at most.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Value & availability

The Galaxy A34 prices £349 direct from Samsung in addition to different locations equivalent to Amazon, Argos and Currys. You may also pay an additional £50 and get the mannequin with 256GB as an alternative, though solely Samsung seems to supply the higher-capacity mannequin in all colors.

The A34 isn’t but obtainable within the US, however its larger brother, the Galaxy A54 is. It prices $449.99 from Samsung, or carriers together with AT&T, Verizon, T Cell and US Mobile.

At this value, you may also contemplate the Redmi Observe 12 Professional, Poco X5 and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.

Verdict

The Galaxy A34 is an excellent mid-range telephone, particularly in case you particularly need a Samsung at a extra inexpensive value than an S-series mannequin.

You possibly can at all times contemplate a refurbished telephone to get final yr’s flagship at an enormous low cost, or check out our roundup of the very best mid-range telephones to see what the Chinese language producers supply for the same value.

It’s potential, for instance, to get a telephone with a quicker processor or with a charger (additionally quicker) and case for related or much less cash. However trade-offs elsewhere are inevitable.

In the end, the Galaxy A34 is sweet worth and ticks the precise packing containers for most individuals and, until you need barely higher cameras and efficiency, higher worth than the Galaxy A54.

Specs

• Android 13 with One UI 5.1
• 6.6in AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 facet ratio
• Mediatek MT6877V Dimensity 1080 chipset
• 6/8GB RAM
• 128/256GB of storage (expandable by way of microSDXC)
• Cameras:
  • 48Mp f/1.8 OIS predominant digital camera
• Twin-SIM (microSDXC shares second slot)
• Stereo audio system
• NFC
• GPS
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Wi-Fi 6
• Beneath-display fingerprint sensor
• 5000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• USB-C charging port
• 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2mm
• 199g