The Samsung Galaxy A34 and LG K51S represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The K51S, an older model, focuses on affordability, while the A34 aims to deliver a more modern experience with a newer chipset and improved display. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A34 is the superior choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset offers significantly better performance and future-proofing than the LG K51S’s Helio P35. While the K51S is cheaper, the A34’s brighter display and faster charging justify the price difference.
| 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 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38 | 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 (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 18. Released 2020, April 27 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 3.02 x 0.33 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194.5 g (6.88 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| | MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 93.6 cm2 (~73.8% 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 | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 32 MP, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| 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 | 13 MP, 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| 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 | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | 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, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAorWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium, Pink, Blue, Red | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
| Models | LMK510EMW, LM-K510EMW, LM-K510 | 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 200 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) |
LG K51S
- Significantly more affordable
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks
- Decent battery endurance (133h)
- Outdated Helio P35 chipset
- Poor performance for gaming and multitasking
- Likely inferior display quality
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset
- Bright and vibrant display (1009 nits)
- Fast 25W wired charging
- Higher price point
- May not offer significantly longer battery life than K51S
- Potential for software bloat (Samsung)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A34 boasts a significantly more advanced display experience. While both phones lack detailed display specifications beyond the A34’s measured 1009 nits peak brightness, this figure alone indicates a far more visible screen in outdoor conditions compared to the K51S. The A34’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a VA panel, offering deeper blacks, while the K51S likely uses an IPS panel with lower contrast. This difference impacts media viewing and overall visual clarity. The A34’s display is a clear upgrade for users who consume a lot of video content.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. The A34 likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger sensor, though this is speculative without further data. The K51S, being an older and more budget-focused device, will likely struggle in low-light conditions and offer less detail in its images. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the A34, a common feature in this price range, would further enhance image quality and video stability, a feature likely absent on the K51S. The usefulness of a 2MP macro camera, often found on budget phones, is questionable on both devices.
Performance
The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy A34’s Mediatek Dimensity 1080, built on a 6nm process, is a modern, efficient chipset featuring a combination of 2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This contrasts sharply with the LG K51S’s Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm), which utilizes 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. The Dimensity 1080’s newer architecture and higher clock speeds translate to significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more enjoyable gaming experience. The 6nm process also contributes to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both the LG K51S and Samsung Galaxy A34 share an endurance rating of 133 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the A34’s 25W wired charging capability provides a significant advantage over the K51S, which likely supports slower charging speeds. This means the A34 can be topped up much faster, minimizing downtime. While the mAh capacity isn’t specified for either device, the Dimensity 1080’s 6nm efficiency could offset a potentially smaller battery size in the A34, maintaining similar real-world battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG K51S if you need a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media, and your budget is extremely limited. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A34 if you prioritize smoother performance for gaming and multitasking, a brighter and more vibrant display for media consumption, and faster charging capabilities for all-day use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 1080 in the Galaxy A34 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 1080 is built on a 6nm process, which is more efficient than the 12nm Helio P35 in the K51S. This means it generates less heat under load. While some warming is expected during prolonged gaming, the A34 is less likely to experience significant performance throttling due to overheating compared to the K51S.
❓ Is the camera on the Samsung Galaxy A34 a significant upgrade over the LG K51S, even without detailed specs?
Yes, the A34 likely offers a substantial camera improvement. Modern chipsets like the Dimensity 1080 include advanced image signal processors (ISPs) that enhance image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The A34 also likely features a larger sensor and potentially OIS, further improving image and video capture.
❓ How much faster is the charging on the Samsung Galaxy A34 compared to the LG K51S?
The Galaxy A34 supports 25W wired charging, while the K51S likely supports a much slower charging speed (likely 10W or less). This means the A34 can charge from 0-100% significantly faster, potentially in under 90 minutes, while the K51S could take several hours.
