Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone? The Alcatel Tetra and Samsung Galaxy A34 offer compelling options, but cater to different needs. This comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and value to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is the clear winner. While the Tetra offers affordability, the A34's superior chipset, display, camera, and battery life provide a significantly better overall user experience, justifying its higher price point.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 14 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, September. Released 2018, September | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 142.5 x 71.9 x 9.4 mm (5.61 x 2.83 x 0.37 in) | 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm (6.35 x 3.07 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 150 g (5.29 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Asahi Dragontrail Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~196 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6739WM (28 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8100 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 2050 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Stealth Black | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
| Models | - | SM-A346E, SM-A346B, SM-A346B/DS, SM-A346B/DSN, SM-A346E/DS, SM-A346E/DSN, SM-A346M, SM-A346M/N, SM-A346M/DSN, SM-A3460 |
| Price | About 40 EUR | € 169.99 / $ 175.00 / £ 164.99 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 133h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.1 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 472126 (v9)
GeekBench: 2316 (v5.5), 2518 (v6)
GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
alcatel Tetra
- Extremely affordable
- Compact size (likely)
- Basic functionality
- Low performance
- Basic display
- Limited camera capabilities
- Outdated chipset
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Excellent performance
- Bright and vibrant display
- Good camera system
- Long battery life
- Modern design
- Higher price than Tetra
- Charging speed could be faster (25W)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A34 boasts a significantly brighter display (1009 nits) with an impressive contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Tetra's display is likely more basic, with lower brightness and contrast, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. The A34 also likely has a higher resolution.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A34's camera system is expected to be significantly better than the Tetra's, offering higher resolution images, improved low-light performance, and more advanced features. While specific camera specs are missing for the Tetra, it's unlikely to compete with the A34's capabilities.
Performance
The Galaxy A34's Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset and octa-core CPU provide a substantial performance advantage over the Tetra's MT6739WM and quad-core CPU. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A34. The Tetra will likely struggle with demanding apps.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 133h, suggesting comparable battery life. However, the A34's more efficient chipset and optimized software likely contribute to better real-world battery performance despite similar numbers.
Buying Guide
The Alcatel Tetra is ideal for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and affordability above all else. The Samsung Galaxy A34 is perfect for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a good camera, long battery life, and smooth performance without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Alcatel Tetra worth buying?
The Tetra is only worth considering if you have a very limited budget and only need basic smartphone functionality. Otherwise, the Galaxy A34 offers significantly better value.
❓ What is the biggest difference between these two phones?
The biggest difference is performance. The Galaxy A34's more powerful chipset and optimized software provide a much smoother and more responsive user experience.
