Samsung has finally updated the Galaxy A line with some new products. This includes the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy A34 5G which is a continuation model for the previous Galaxy A33 5G. With an all-new design, brighter display, upgraded internal hardware and updated software experience, Samsung seems to be trying to pack a lot of interesting things into their Galaxy A series this year.
The arrival of this device to the Malaysian market is also officially on March 24, 2023, but we had the opportunity to access the device earlier to take a closer look at its offerings, both in terms of design and key specifications. Continue reading this first look article where I'll share what's interesting, changes and also what's missing this time around. Next, I will share the overall performance in the next review article.
SPECIFICATIONS
Samsung Galaxy A34
6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen,
FHD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels), 120Hz
MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor
2 x 2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 chips
6 x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Mali-G68 MC4 Graphics Chip
RAM 6 LPDDR4X
Internal Load 128 UFS 3.1
Micro SD 1TB
Primary Camera 48MP f/1.8, OIS (Wide Angle)
8MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
5MP f/2.4, (Macro)
Selfie Camera 16 Megapixel f/2.2
5000 mAh battery
25W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP67
Scanning System Optical under-screen fingerprint scanner
Selling Price RM 1844* (6/128GB)
RM 2175* (8/256GB)
*= Converted from foreign currency
DESIGN AND SCREEN
There was no unboxing session provided this time as we were only given the device directly without the packaging box. We continue the article with the design of which this matter is very subjective and depends on the interests of each. If you look at the design of the Galaxy A34 5G, it is very similar to a Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially on the back.
In the previous generation the Contour Cut camera bump was used but now the Galaxy A34 5G features a Floating Camera design. This kind of design is very eye-catching because no big camera bump is used anymore. On the other hand, the Galaxy A34 5G has a tri-camera system arranged vertically and protruding from the body, but not so much that it is difficult to place it flat on a table surface.
Next, a boxy polycarbonate body construction and a flat screen are used on the device. This is paired with a metal frame on the rounded side that makes the device feel comfortable and neat in the hand. Furthermore, the matte finish that dominates the back of the device also makes the usage experience much more practical. It not only makes the device not too slippery when held, but also avoids the issue of the back panel of the device being filled with fingerprints and sweat.
However, personally, I prefer the design and finish of the previous Galaxy A52 and A52s which felt more premium. But that doesn't mean this new generation isn't interesting at all. Still attractive and comfortable to hold but slightly thicker and heavier than before.
The 6.6-inch screen used is larger than the 6.4-inch screen on its predecessor, the Galaxy A33 5G. The other most noticeable improvement that can also be found on the screen of the device is that the refresh rate support is increased to 120Hz. Then Samsung also increased the brightness level of the screen up to 1000nits for the performance of the screen is good enough to be used under the scorching sunlight. This is an interesting combination when also matched with the use of panels from the Super AMOLED family with FHD+ technology.
However, questions began to arise when Samsung was found to be using a larger screen on this device compared to the 6.4-inch Galaxy A54. Usually we see any device with a larger model number must have a large screen size, right? But it is different from the concept used by Samsung this time.
Therefore, we as users should be able and wise to choose the best device in line with the needs. If you choose to have a device with a larger screen, then the Galaxy A33 5G has that advantage. But if it's the other way around, the Galaxy A54 5G is definitely something that is very suitable for users who are interested in a standard-sized device.
Another thing that differentiates the two is the hole-punch screen used on the Galaxy A54 5G which houses the single 32MP selfie camera. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A34 5G is a bit retro with a small notch screen and a 13MP selfie camera. The existence of a relatively thick bezel size can also be noticed this time which is not only on the chin, but also on all three sides of the device.
The standard button layout also looks the same as the previous generation. Where, the power button and audio adjustment are placed on the right side. Both of these buttons have a robust build and feel good to use. Meanwhile, the left side does not include any buttons or holes.
Moving to the top, there's a microphone hole and a SIM slot that supports dual nano SIMs and microSD cards up to 1TB. The USB-C charging port and a grille for speakers are placed on the bottom without 3.5mm audio jack support.
It's not surprising that the function has been removed by Samsung from Galaxy A devices since last year. But Samsung gives other added value through a built-in IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, a pair of stereo speakers complete with a Dolby Atmos audio system and a large 5,000mAh battery that supports a 25W system.
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
The device supports a built-in 5G network powered by an eight-core MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor chip. It is a 6nm technology chip with a configuration of two Cortex-78 cores, six Cortex-A55 cores and Arm Mali-G68 GPU GPU. On paper, it's also an improvement over the previous Dimensity 920 chip. The memory is 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage built into the unit received by us.
This is a simple combination but the device also comes with a RAM Plus feature up to a maximum of 6GB which can be accessed through the settings. On the received device, the amount of RAM that can be used is up to 12GB if necessary. In addition, microSD support up to 1TB is also provided for users who need larger storage.
Geekbench 6 – 1032/2254
Antutu 3D – 474,409
Android 13 based OneUI 5.1 interface software is used on the device. It is the latest version and the interface panel looks very user-friendly with a neat, simple and easy to understand layout. Most of the built-in features are also optimized quite well, hence the user experience is also smooth when matched with a 120Hz screen.
Various other user-friendly features can also be found on it such as the feature of automatically changing the color of the interface theme based on the background image used. Then the keyboard screen is also given a more attractive costume, in addition to the feature of separating the subject from the background in the Gallery application, automatically adding a watermark and more. This is even more interesting when Samsung also promises updates of up to 4 years of operating system generations and 5 years of security updates on this.
CAMERA
The device is equipped with a tri-camera with a 48MP (wide-angle) sensor with OIS + 8MP (ultra-wide-angle) + 5MP (macro). This is paired with a single 13MP selfie camera. There were earlier rumors that Samsung would ditch the depth sensor on the new Galaxy A series. That seems to be the case when the sensor is not included on the Galaxy A34 5G nor the Galaxy A54 5G. The device also allows users to record videos up to UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)/30fps with built-in stabilization features, in addition to digital zoom capabilities of up to 10X.
Also included are built-in camera modes consisting of Fun, Portrait, Photo, Video and More. The camera also supports built-in AI and HDR to allow photos to be taken with good light balance. Photo and video capture options can be taken at a ratio of 1:1, 3:4, 9:16 and full. But shots with 48MP mode are only available with a 4:3 ratio.
What's in the Box
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Samsung Galaxy A54.
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin
CONCLUSION
It is still too early to determine the actual performance level of this device. What we can conclude so far, almost all the interesting features of the Galaxy A series are back for this new generation including the support of waterproof rating but reworked into a different design. It's pretty interesting but the main drawback that still exists is the absence of an audio jack and a charging head provided. Not surprising, as it has been happening since the previous generation. No official selling price has been revealed as of this writing, but Samsung confirmed its presence in Malaysia this week.
Pro
The compact body design feels good in the hand.
48MP main camera with OIS.
IP67 waterproof.
Four Android version updates and five years of security.
A large 5000 mAh battery.
Cons
Charging is only 25W.
No charger in the box.
Notched screen design is a bit outdated.