The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Honor X9a and Samsung Galaxy A34 are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A34 takes the crown thanks to its brighter display, more versatile camera system, and longer software support. While the Honor X9a offers a slightly faster chipset and quicker charging, the A34's overall package is more polished and future-proof.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, January 04 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, January 06 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.31 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MagicOS 7 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | - |
| 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 | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 40W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5100 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
| Models | RMO-NX1 | 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 | $ 212.08 | € 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) |
Honor X9a
- Faster Charging (40W)
- Potentially slightly faster chipset
- Curved Display (aesthetic preference)
- Less bright display
- Potentially less versatile camera
- Shorter software support likely
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Brighter Display (1009 nits)
- More versatile camera system
- Longer software support
- Excellent battery life (133h endurance)
- Slower charging (25W)
- Potentially slightly slower performance
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A34 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1009 nits peak brightness, making it much easier to see outdoors. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent blacks and vibrant colors. The Honor X9a's display is decent, but lacks the A34's outdoor visibility and potentially color accuracy. The A34's Super AMOLED technology also provides richer colors and deeper blacks.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A34 likely has a more versatile camera system, offering better image processing and potentially improved low-light performance. While specific camera specs are missing, Samsung's reputation for camera quality is well-established. The Honor X9a's camera is likely adequate, but may not match the A34's overall capabilities.
Performance
The Honor X9a's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, while slightly faster on paper, might not translate to a dramatically different real-world experience. The Samsung Galaxy A34's Dimensity 1080 offers a balanced performance, handling everyday tasks and moderate gaming with ease. Both phones are 6nm, suggesting efficient power usage, but the A34's CPU architecture is generally considered more efficient.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A34 boasting an endurance rating of 133 hours. The Honor X9a's 40W charging is faster than the A34's 25W, but the A34's larger battery capacity might offset this difference in real-world usage.
Buying Guide
The Honor X9a is a good choice for users prioritizing gaming performance and fast charging. The Samsung Galaxy A34 is ideal for those who value a vibrant display, a reliable camera, and the peace of mind of Samsung's software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Honor X9a's Snapdragon 695 5G might offer a slight edge in raw gaming performance, but the Samsung Galaxy A34's Dimensity 1080 is still capable of handling most games smoothly.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A34 with software updates?
Samsung typically provides 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates for its A-series phones, offering longer support than Honor.
