Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone? The Lava Z3 and Samsung Galaxy A54 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 A54 is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a superior display, and a more refined camera system. While the Lava Z3 is incredibly affordable, the A54's overall quality and features justify its higher price point for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 26 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Cyan | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | LZG403 25 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 90 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lava Z3
- Extremely Affordable
- Decent Battery Life
- Basic Smartphone Functionality
- Low Performance
- Basic Display
- Limited Camera Capabilities
- Outdated Chipset
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent Performance
- Vibrant Super AMOLED Display
- Capable Camera System
- Long Battery Life
- Premium Build Quality
- Higher Price
- Charging Speed Could Be Faster (25W)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a vibrant Super AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 980 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, providing excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Lava Z3 likely features a standard IPS LCD display with lower brightness and contrast, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. The A54's display is a significant upgrade.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54's camera system is a major advantage. While specific details are missing, Samsung's reputation for camera quality suggests superior image processing, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The Lava Z3's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots but won't compete with the A54's capabilities.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is a powerhouse compared to the Helio G35 in the Lava Z3. The A54's 5nm architecture and Cortex-A78 cores deliver significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking. The Z3 will struggle with demanding apps and games, while the A54 handles them with ease.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A54 achieving an endurance rating of 119 hours. The Lava Z3, while not explicitly stated, is expected to provide a solid battery life due to its less demanding hardware. However, the A54's efficient chipset and optimized software likely give it the edge.
Buying Guide
The Lava Z3 is ideal for users on a very tight budget who prioritize affordability above all else and need basic smartphone functionality. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone experience with a great display, capable camera, and long battery life, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Lava Z3 good for gaming?
The Lava Z3's Helio G35 chipset is not ideal for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and potential lag.
❓ What is the difference in build quality between the two phones?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 generally offers a more premium build quality with materials like glass and aluminum. The Lava Z3 is likely made of plastic, which is common in budget phones.
