The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) was a solid mid-range contender in its time. Now, the Galaxy A34 arrives, boasting modern features and significant upgrades. But is the A34 worth the investment, or does the older A3 still hold some appeal for budget-conscious users?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is the clear winner. Its vastly superior display, performance, camera, and battery life make it a compelling upgrade. While the A3 (2016) remains functional, it's significantly outdated and struggles to compete with modern smartphones.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps or LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 14 | 2015, December. Released 2015, December |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 24 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm (6.35 x 3.07 x 0.32 in) | 134.5 x 65.2 x 7.3 mm (5.30 x 2.57 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 132 g (4.66 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~312 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~69.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) | Exynos 7578Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MC4 | Mali-T720MP2Adreno 306 |
| OS | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 16GB 1.5GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/1.9, 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/1.9 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 58 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 2300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver | Black, White, Gold, Pink |
| 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 | SM-A310F, SM-A310M, SM-A310Y, SM-A310N0 |
| Price | € 169.99 / $ 175.00 / £ 164.99 / ₹ 23,999 | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.31 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) | 0.49 W/kg (head) 0.62 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) | - |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 133h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | 1009 nits max brightness (measured) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.1 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 472126 (v9)
GeekBench: 2316 (v5.5), 2518 (v6)
GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Vibrant Super AMOLED Display
- Powerful Processor
- Excellent Battery Life
- Improved Camera System
- Modern Features (5G, NFC)
- Can be pricier than older models
- Larger size may not suit everyone
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
- Affordable (used)
- Compact Size
- Outdated Processor
- Low-Resolution Display
- Poor Camera Quality
- Short Battery Life
- Limited Storage
Display Comparison
The A34's 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1009 nits peak brightness is a world apart from the A3 (2016)'s smaller, less vibrant screen. The A34 offers sharper visuals, better outdoor visibility, and a more immersive viewing experience. The A3 (2016) has a decent contrast ratio, but lacks the color accuracy and brightness of the A34.
Camera Comparison
The A34's camera system is significantly more advanced, offering higher resolution photos and videos, improved low-light performance, and more features. The A3 (2016)'s camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but lacks the detail and versatility of the A34.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 1080 in the A34 provides a substantial performance boost over the A3 (2016)'s aging Exynos 7578/Snapdragon 410. The A34 handles multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps with ease, while the A3 (2016) often feels sluggish and struggles with modern software.
Battery Life
The A34's endurance rating of 133h is exceptional, providing multiple days of use on a single charge. The A3 (2016) offered decent battery life for its time, but falls far short of the A34's longevity.
Buying Guide
The Galaxy A34 is ideal for users seeking a modern Android experience with a vibrant display, capable camera, and long battery life. The Galaxy A3 (2016) might suit someone needing a basic, ultra-budget phone for calls and simple tasks, but its limitations are considerable.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A34 worth upgrading from the Galaxy A3 (2016)?
Absolutely! The A34 offers a massive upgrade in almost every aspect, making it a worthwhile investment for a modern smartphone experience.
❓ Can the Galaxy A3 (2016) still be used as a daily driver?
While technically possible, the A3 (2016) is significantly outdated and will struggle with modern apps and software. It's best suited for very basic tasks.
