Galaxy A34 vs Galaxy A54: Here’s how Samsung set them apart

Samsung announced the Galaxy A34 5G and the Galaxy A54 5G side-by-side last week. And they are two of the most intriguing mid-range Samsung phones in recent memory because they boast a range of unexpected upgrades that strictly concern the user experience instead of raw hardware specs.

Even though these two phones benefit from the usual yearly hardware bumps, they're more about improving things like mobile photography, build quality, and the overall user experience and less about big numbers to look good on paper.

The Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A54 5G are like two peas in a pod. They are very similar but not identical. The Galaxy A54 5G is superior, as it should be, given its higher price tag, but the Galaxy A34 is no slouch. And it, too, brings unexpected upgrades in a few areas. Nevertheless, if you're wondering how exactly these two devices compare, here's what you need to know.

They look alike, but the Galaxy A54 uses more expensive materials

Two things set the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 apart in terms of how they look and feel. Firstly, the Galaxy A34 has an Infinity-U display notch for the selfie camera, whereas the Galaxy A54 has a more modern Infinity-U display cutout for the same purpose.

Secondly, although both phones look very similar and share the same design language, the Galaxy A34 has a plastic back, while Samsung upgraded the Galaxy A54 with a Gorilla Glass rear panel.

On one hand, because the Galaxy A34 uses a plastic material for the back panel, it might be more resistant or at least cheaper to repair if its back panel cracks. But on the other, the Galaxy A54 looks and feels more exquisite, with its design and build punching above its price range, unlike any other Galaxy A device to date.

The Galaxy A54 has some exclusive features

Although both mid-range phones boast impressive new upgrades, the Galaxy A54 has more tricks up its sleeve. For example, both phones have an Auto Night Camera mode, but the Galaxy A54 also benefits from 56% larger pixels.

Likewise, both phones have Auto Framing and enhanced imaging with a wider OIS angle, but in terms of VDIS, the Galaxy A34 5G has 500Hz while the Galaxy A54 has 833Hz. And the Galaxy A54 has all-pixel Auto Focus, whereas the A34 does not.

There are some differences in audio quality too. The Galaxy A54 boasts enriched stereo sound with improved loudness and deep bass presentation thanks to Dolby Atmos. But the Galaxy A34 does not.

X-axis haptic feedback for the pricier model

Although Samsung didn't mention this bit of detail when it announced the Galaxy A54 and A34, the former device appears to have improved haptic feedback.

According to haptic feedback motor manufacturer AAC Technologies, the Galaxy A54 is equipped with an X-Axis haptic feedback engine. And it looks like the Galaxy A34 might be missing out on this upgrade.

Samsung first introduced X-axis haptics with the Galaxy S22 flagship series last year. And even though the Galaxy A54 might not use the same high-end solution as the Galaxy S22, its haptic should still feel better and more immersive than it does on the Galaxy A34. At least, that's the theory.

Galaxy A34 vs Galaxy A54 – MediaTek vs Exynos SoC

Finally, it's time to address raw hardware specs, and you can learn more about how the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 are similar and different from our device comparison widget below.

But one of the most important things setting these phones apart is that the Galaxy A34 features the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, while the Galaxy A54 is powered by Samsung's new Exynos 1380 SoC.

Whether you're for MediaTek or a fan of Exynos is up to you. The chipsets are similar on paper, but the Exynos 1380 seems to have the edge. It has four high-performance Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4GHz instead of two A78 cores running at 2.6GHz, and the Samsung-made chipset also boasts an additional Mali-G68 MP5 graphics chip core for a total of five instead of four. This could potentially give it quite a noticeable advantage in more demanding mobile games.

Check out our price and release date story for more information about costs, and check out our side-by-side comparison below for a closer look at the hardware Samsung employed for this year's A-series models. Don't forget to stay tuned for our upcoming Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 reviews.

Samsung
Galaxy A34 5G

Select model SM-A346B SM-A346E Buy Full specs

Samsung
Galaxy A54 5G

Select model SM-A546E SM-A546B Buy Full specs