Three weeks ago, Samsung revealed the Galaxy A34 together with the Galaxy A54. Although the Samsung Galaxy A34 5G appears to be an appealing choice on paper, how does it perform in real life? The article aims to provide our initial thoughts on the Galaxy A34 upon unboxing it.
The Design. The 2023 Galaxy A lineup bears a striking resemblance to its pricier Galaxy S23 counterparts. The Galaxy A34’s triple camera arrangement makes it nearly identical to the Galaxy S23+. This includes vertically arranged circular cameras resembling islands on the back, and a front punch-hole camera centered at the top.
The front panel is glass while the edges and back frame consist of plastic-based materials. Holding the device provides a sense of durability due to its sturdy build. The silver variant has a visually pleasing appearance with its reflective patterns under sunlight. Additionally, the device has an IP67 rating, which means it can endure water immersion up to 1 meter for roughly 30 minutes. The in-display fingerprint sensor functions flawlessly without any hitches.
The most straightforward way to distinguish the Galaxy A34 from its slightly pricier sibling, the A54, is by their displays. The Galaxy A34 features a larger 6.6-inch screen and an ‘Infinity U’ display design, according to Samsung.
The Display. Equipped with a 6.6-inch full HD+ super AMOLED display featuring a pixel density of 390 ppi, the Galaxy A34 is the first of the A30 series to offer a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone includes Vision Booster, which can automatically adjust the display’s brightness. This feature proves beneficial when utilizing the device outdoors, ensuring that the screen remains bright enough to comfortably read e-books or watch TV series under direct sunlight, without straining one’s eyes.
The Camera. The Samsung Galaxy A34’s rear camera configuration comprises a triple-camera module, including a 48MP primary camera (f/1.8, autofocus, OIS), an 8MP (f/2.2, fixed focus), and a 5MP macro sensor (f/2.4, fixed focus) accompanied by an LED flash. For selfies and video calls, the device incorporates a 13MP (f/2.2) fixed-focus front camera.
Moreover, the device includes a range of value-added photography tools like AI image enhancer, object eraser, GIF Remaster, Photo Remaster, and other features commonly found in the high-end Galaxy S23 series.
The Software. Samsung’s Galaxy A34 raises the bar for RAM and storage configurations in upper mid-range smartphones, as it boasts 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Moreover, the device features RAM Extension, which enables users to increase physical memory by an additional 8GB, up to 16GB RAM, if there is available storage space.
The device operates on Android 13-based One UI 5.1, providing a sleek user interface. Notably, the phone guarantees four years of Android OS support, up to Android 17, and five years of security software support until 2028.
Equipped with a 6nm class Mediatek MT6877V Dimensity 1080 octa-core processor, the phone can reach a peak CPU speed of 2.26Ghz, facilitating smooth day-to-day activities such as operating the camera and loading apps. Nevertheless, further testing is necessary to evaluate the phone’s performance regarding graphics-heavy games and thermal management. Keep an eye out for our complete review next week.
The Battery. The Galaxy A34 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery and 25W charging, the device is expected to provide a battery life of more than a day under normal usage. The combination of a large battery size and the Dimensity 1080 chip, which prioritises power savings and battery efficiency, makes us eager to see how long the A34 can last on a single charge.
What’s in The Box? Like its predecessor, the Galaxy A34 comes with minimal accessories. In the box, you will find a Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, Regional Lock Guide, an Ejection Pin, and a Charging Cable.
Our Early Thoughts. The Galaxy A34 series is an attractive mid-range option, boasting several premium features from the Galaxy S series, such as Vision Booster, Photo Remaster, GIF Remaster, and an impressive RAM+Storage configuration. What’s even better is that it’s available at less than half the price of the Galaxy S23’s base variant.
Samsung is currently offering the Galaxy A34 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage for RM 1,599, along with a free pair of Galaxy Buds Live. Additionally, the device comes with five years of security updates, four years of OS updates, and a two-year warranty (valid from 23 March to 6 April 2023).
You can pre-order the Galaxy A34 on Samsung’s official website at https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-a/galaxy-a34-5g-silver-256gb-sm-a346ezsexme/buy/. Stay tuned for our comprehensive review of the device next week.
