SMARTPHONE TIER: MID
Battery Capacity mAh: 5000
The Samsung Galaxy A34 - A Big Display and Better Battery Performance
Smartphone Battery Performance Overall
Score: 40//100
Ranking #93
All you need to know about the Samsung A34 smartphone.
Overview
As a Mid Tier smartphone priced between €200-€499, the Samsung Galaxy A34 does not offer everything that a Flagship/Pro Tier smartphone has but offers good value for money for end users with a tight budget.
Samsung has improved the design, taking some inspiration from the Galaxy S23 series of smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy A34 is well-built, solid to grasp and has the look and feel of a more premium device. It is available in fashionable colours, including Awesome Lime, Silver, Violet and Graphite. Also, this device has a bigger screen - a 6.6-inch AMOLED bright and vibrant display, than the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G, which came out 12 months before, and a welcomed higher 120Hz refresh rate.
What's it like to Use?
An in-house Exynos chipset powered the Galaxy A33 from last year. This year Samsung has used a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chip and claims that the new chipset brings a 17% boost to CPU performance and 14% to GPU performance. Interestingly, Samsung also gave the newly released Samsung Galaxy A54 a new Samsung Exynos 1380 chip. ViserMark looks forward to welcoming the Samsung Galaxy A54 into our labs soon. How will the battery smartphone compare with the smaller sibling, the Samsung Galaxy A34?
The Samsung Galaxy A34 has a triple camera setup comprising a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide and a 5MP macro camera, which remains the same as the Samsung Galaxy A33 from last year. There are some appealing camera features, like OIS, Night Mode, Photo Remaster, and Object Eraser, sufficient tools for basic photography and selfies,
The IP67 rating (which means 'Ingress Protection Code’, the smartphone's resistance to water and dust) and the Gorilla Glass 5 protective display remain intact from Samsung Galaxy A33. Also included in the specifications is a stereo speaker setup.
How does it perform?
The Samsung Galaxy A34 has the latest One UI 5.1 and is shipped with Android 13. Samsung has announced 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates on this device. It has 5G connectivity with 6/8GB memory and 128/256GB storage options, plus support for a microSD card up to 1TB. This smartphone can cope with any day-to-day tasks, provides an all-around performance, and offers the end user a smooth and responsive experience.
With a regular 5,000mAh battery capacity, the Samsung Galaxy A34 performed well in our smartphone battery performance testing. The battery lasts up to 2 days or up to 49 hours, adequate for handling many of the expected daily tasks. However, with a charging speed of just 25W, the Samsung Galaxy A34 is not really fast charging.
What's in the box?
Mobile Phone
USB-Type-C (compatible with Samsung's 25W fast charging)
No charger included
A Quick Summary
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is a tempting smartphone for those end users with a tight budget, although it faces some tough competition in the Mid Tier from other impressive smartphones.
From its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy A33, there are some slight improvements, being a large screen, faster refresh rate, and greater power efficiency for excellent battery life. Overall the Samsung Galaxy A34 delivers good performance in all key areas and good value for money in the Mid Tier.
Product - Good Points
The Samsung Galaxy A34 has the following features:
Good 120Hz refresh display
Excellent camera set-up
IP67 rated for water resistance
Four years of guaranteed OS updates
Five years of security updates
Offers good value for money
Product - Be Aware of Points
The Samsung Galaxy A34 lacks in performance in the following ways:
Not a good fingerprint reader
Shipped with no charger
Charging is slow
Smartphone Battery Performance Score
and Battery Performance Results
ViserMark brings you a Smartphone Performance Score based on different criteria and benchmarks for evaluating a smartphone's performance. Our tests are performed with the strictest protocol in a controlled environment to ensure repetition and consistency powered by SmartViser's test automation solution viSer.
Using various testing criteria, including different user actions, from calls to social media and periods of standby times, ViserMark measures using real-life scenarios and live networks. All results are obtained and evaluated with calculations for smartphone Battery Life, Power Efficiency, Charging Time, Power Efficiency and Annual Energy Consumption.
ViserMark wants to help you find and compare the right smartphone, ensuring it fits your requirements and budget. Our smartphone battery performance reviews and helpful ratings have all the necessary battery information. Smartphone Performance Scores can also provide a reference point for performance benchmarks and smartphone comparisons.
The battery performance of the Samsung Galaxy A34 is focused on critical areas and precise criteria. These results have been translated into various ViserMark Labels, and an overall Smartphone Performance Score is awarded.
Samsung Galaxy A34 Battery Performance is translated into ViserMark Labels detailed here.
Our experts are asked to test more than 100 Smartphones every year. As an independent mobile phone testing environment, SmartViser measures key areas of user experience.
More details can be found on how we perform our smartphone testing here.
The Samsung Galaxy A34 Battery Performance review by ViserMark is based on the smartphone battery performance results obtained during testing.
Reading this review, you can find a full breakdown of our battery performance results.
Smartphone Battery Performance Overall Score:
Using repeatable and rigorous testing criteria, ViserMark measures battery performance using real-life scenarios and live networks.
The test results are collated with calculations from smartphone Battery Life and Power Efficiency results that total a score between 0 and 100. This is the number displayed on the Battery Performance ViserMark Label shown below.
After testing, the Samsung Galaxy A34 scored 40 out of 100 as a smartphone Battery Performance score. Being classified as a ViserMark Mid Tier (€200-€499) smartphone, we can see other comparable devices with similar Battery Performance Scores within this tier, as shown below.
Compared to other smartphones within the Mid Tier, the Samsung Galaxy A34 competed well against the Nothing Phone 1 and Sony Xperia 10 IV for smartphone Battery Performance.
When looking at the smartphone Battery Performance scores in the Mid Tier, all three recently tested and comparative 2023 smartphones are currently positioned towards the bottom of the ranking table.
The Samsung Galaxy M51, released in 2020, still holds the top spot for the highest-performing smartphone, in the Mid Tier, with a smartphone Battery Performance Score of an impressive 62/100. Although very closely following is the OPPO A76, released in February 2022 with a smartphone Battery Performance Score of 61/100.
Let us discover if our battery performance testing results can show more key improvements. Other smartphone Battery Performance Scores can be viewed as ViserMark Labels in the Smartphone Ranking Table.
Battery Life
Smartphone battery life performance can vary significantly depending on several factors, including device hardware, software optimisation, battery capacity, usage patterns, and individual settings.
When contemplating smartphone battery life, focus on these areas:
The battery capacity, usually measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), determines how much charge a battery can store.
The Battery Life ViserMark Label displays the "Days-of-Use" in both actual days and provides accurate information in hours. It reflects the usage of a smartphone from a full charge.
How long will the Samsung Galaxy A34 battery last?
ViserMark understands that this is a key factor when considering any smartphone, and we are pleased to announce that the Samsung Galaxy A34 delivered well on battery performance -with a spectacular 2 days of use, translating into 49 hours between charges.
The Samsung Galaxy A34 has a battery capacity to 5000mAh. Offering a great performance, it provides 2 days of daily usage and matches similar smartphones in the Mid Tier, as displayed in the chart below.
As you can see, all three comparable smartphones last up to 2 days, just like most other smartphones in the Mid Tier providing adequate daily usage. However, once again, the Samsung Galaxy M51, released in 2020, still holds the top spot for having one of the longest-lasting smartphone batteries, in the Mid Tier, with a smartphone Battery Life of an impressive 3.5 days of use or translated into hours an amazing 82 hours.
With the introduction of hours added to the ViserMark Battery Life Label, it is even easier to see just how competitive the smartphones are regarding battery life performance. All comparative smartphones achieve 2 days of use.
As displayed in the chart above, the Nothing Phone 1 matches the Battery Life ratings of the Samsung Galaxy A34 in days and hours, despite having a smaller battery capacity of 4500mAh. Also, the Sony Xperia 10 IV slips ahead by only an hour, showing 50 hours of Battery Life.
Other smartphone Battery Life results can be viewed as ViserMark Labels in the Smartphone Ranking Table.
Power Efficiency
Smartphone Power Efficiency is crucial for smartphone users as it directly impacts battery life and overall device usage. It refers to the ability of a smartphone to maximise its performance while minimising power consumption.
Calculated using Battery Life and Battery Capacity and expressed in "Leaves", it reflects a rating between 1 being the least and 5 being the most power efficient.
How power efficient is the Samsung Galaxy A34?
The Samsung Galaxy A34 was awarded 1 out of 5 as a smartphone battery efficiency score. This matches the Sony Xperia 10 IV, although the Nothing Phone 1 achieved a slightly higher rating of 1.5, contributed by a smaller battery capacity of 4500mAh, as shown in the chart below.
All smartphone chipsets are designed to deliver high performance while consuming minimal power to optimise system resources for improved efficiency. Manufacturers are continuously making minor improvements to balance smartphone performance and energy efficiency. These include the management of background processes and improved app organisation, which enhance resource allocation so power consumption can be minimised.
Other smartphone Battery Efficiency results can be viewed as ViserMark Labels in the Smartphone Ranking Table.
Annual Energy Consumption
ViserMark is pleased to offer a new label providing a smartphone's Annual Energy Consumption. The calculation is typically based on several factors, including the smartphone model, battery capacity, usage patterns, and charging habits. Although challenging, specific testing criteria are measured using real-life scenarios and live networks to reflect usage accurately.
How much energy does the Samsung Galaxy A34 use?
The ViserMark calculations show the Samsung Galaxy A34 would use 3.3 kWh per Annum.
Once again, the chart shows that when compared to smartphone Annual Energy Consumption, the Nothing Phone 1, as expected, uses the least amount of energy. Samsung has adopted the standard 5000mAh to power the Samsung Galaxy A34 as used by the Sony Xperia 10 IV,
Daily activities greatly influence energy consumption. For instance, frequent use of power-intensive apps, heavy gaming, or prolonged video streaming can drain the battery faster, resulting in higher energy consumption. Conversely, conservative usage and enabling power-saving features can reduce energy consumption. ViserMark's battery performance testing protocol ensures end-users can see an objective benchmark across all smartphones' expected annual electricity consumption.
Other smartphones' Annual Energy Consumption results can be viewed as ViserMark Labels in the Smartphone Ranking Table.
Should I buy it?
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is not a smartphone Flagship/Pro, although it looks impressive and is available at half the price, around £349. It has a great 120Hz refresh rate and a 5000mAh battery capacity, delivering more than adequate battery life. From a user's perspective, it delivers reliable and smooth performance, and the camera set-up is good so that you can expect good image quality.
This smartphone competes well in the Mid Tier and is affordable. The Samsung Galaxy A34 is a good all-around smartphone and offers better value for money than the newly released Galaxy A54. Also, as you would expect from Samsung, software and security updates are guaranteed for years.
Product Features and Specification
Release Date March 2023
Display | 6.35 inches, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels |
Processor | Android 13, One UI 5.1 Mediatek MT6877V Dimensity 1080 |
Memory | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 with IP67 rating, dust and splash resistant |
Main Camera | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 5 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro) Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@480fps |
Front Camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), and Video 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
Battery | 5000 mAh, non-removable 25W wired |
Communications/Audio | Stereo Speakers: Yes. Headphone jack: No. NFC: Yes. Radio: No |
Dimensions and Weight | 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm and 199g |
Colours Available | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
Extra Insights
Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A34 support 5G?
A: Yes, it does
Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A34 have a headphone jack?
Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A34 support wireless charging?
Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A34 have dual-SIM capabilities?
Q: What storage and RAM variants is the Samsung Galaxy A34 available?
Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A34 have stereo speakers?
Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy A34 have a microSD card slot?
Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy A34 VoLTE enabled?
ViserMark tests are performed with the strictest protocol in a controlled environment to ensure repetition and consistency powered and automated by SmartViser's test automation solution viSer. The automation on devices includes a variety of user actions, from calls to social media and periods of standby times.
VCX (Valued Camera eXperience)
The VCX Forum has been working with its members on the system and infrastructure as a non-profit organisation. We strive to im"rove our technology to develop and exchange accurate and objective quality and performance indicators that are our ultimate goal. We will also s" ve as a compass for the smartphone camera industry. We appreciate yan amazingPixel'sur interest in VCX-Forum.
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Background
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most united under the Samsung brand. Samsung Electronics has assembly plants and sales networks in 74 countries and employs around 290,000 people. Samsung is a major manufacturer of electronic components such as lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, image sensors, camera modules and displays for clients such as Apple, Sony, HTC and Nokia.
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