Nothing Phone (3a) Lite vs Samsung Galaxy A34: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite emerges as the stronger contender. Its significantly superior battery endurance (53:56h vs 133h) and more efficient 4nm Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset offer a smoother, longer-lasting experience, despite the A34's brighter display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nothing Phone (3a) Lite | Samsung Galaxy A34 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 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 | 2025, October 29 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 29 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back (Panda Glass) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164 x 78 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 3.07 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 |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G615 MC2 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.5 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 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 |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | 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/6, 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 |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 20 min 5W reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
| Models | A001T | 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 250 EUR | € 169.99 / $ 175.00 / £ 164.99 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 1.28 W/kg (body) | 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) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 53:56h endurance, 1400 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class A | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite
- Exceptional battery life (53:56h endurance)
- More efficient Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset (4nm)
- Faster 33W charging with 50% in 20 min
- Display brightness is unknown and likely lower than A34
- Camera specifications are currently unavailable
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Bright display (1009 nits peak)
- Established Samsung software ecosystem
- Wide availability of accessories
- Significantly shorter battery life (133h endurance)
- Less efficient Dimensity 1080 chipset (6nm)
- Slower 25W charging
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A34 boasts a notably brighter display, peaking at 1009 nits, which will be advantageous in direct sunlight. However, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s display specifications are currently unknown, so we can only assume it will be less bright. The A34’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks. Without knowing the panel type or refresh rate of the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, it’s difficult to assess its color accuracy or viewing angles, but the A34 holds an advantage in raw brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for both. Without knowing megapixel counts, sensor sizes, or aperture values, a direct comparison is impossible. However, the presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device would be a significant advantage for video recording and low-light photography. We can assume the A34 benefits from Samsung’s well-regarded image processing algorithms, but the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite could offer a unique aesthetic. The usefulness of a 2MP macro camera on either device is questionable, as image quality is typically limited.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Galaxy A34’s Dimensity 1080 (6nm). The 4nm process node translates to improved power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling, meaning the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite should maintain higher sustained performance during demanding tasks. While the A34’s CPU has a slightly higher peak clock speed (2x2.6 GHz vs 4x2.5 GHz), the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s newer Cortex-A78 cores and overall chipset architecture provide a more modern and efficient experience. The A34's 6x Cortex-A55 cores are also less efficient than the 4x Cortex-A55 cores in the 3a Lite.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s battery endurance of 53:56h is a standout feature, dwarfing the Samsung Galaxy A34’s 133h. This massive difference suggests a combination of a more efficient chipset (Dimensity 7300 Pro vs 1080) and optimized software. The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite also supports 33W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in 20 minutes, while the A34 is limited to 25W. The 5W reverse wired charging on the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite adds a convenient feature for topping up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite if you prioritize long battery life, sustained performance under load, and a modern chipset. It’s ideal for users who stream videos, game frequently, or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A34 if a brighter display is paramount, and you prefer Samsung’s established software ecosystem and potentially wider availability of accessories.