Samsung Galaxy A34 vs A52 5G: Which Mid-Range Samsung Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A34 is the better buy. Its significantly improved battery life – boasting a 133-hour endurance rating versus the A52 5G’s 111 hours – and brighter 1009-nit display outweigh the A52 5G’s slightly older, but still capable, Snapdragon 750G chipset.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Samsung Galaxy A34 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 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 | 2021, March 17 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 19 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 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 | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB 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 |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) | 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, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
| Models | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 | 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 | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 | € 169.99 / $ 175.00 / £ 164.99 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 111h | Endurance rating 133h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.5 LUFS (Good) | -26.1 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9) GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 472126 (v9) GeekBench: 2316 (v5.5), 2518 (v6) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Proven performance with Snapdragon 750G
- Potentially lower price due to age
- Solid all-around capabilities
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Dimmer display compared to A34
- Older chipset architecture
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Superior battery life (133h endurance)
- Brighter and more modern display (1009 nits)
- More efficient Dimensity 1080 chipset
- Slightly less refined software optimization (compared to Qualcomm)
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A34 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1009 nits compared to the A52 5G’s 787 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both phones share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels, but the A34’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage. While both likely use similar AMOLED technology, the A34’s newer panel benefits from manufacturing improvements, potentially offering slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles. The A52 5G’s display, while still good, feels dated in comparison.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking in the provided data. Assuming similar primary sensor resolutions, the image processing algorithms will be the key differentiator. Samsung’s image processing tends towards vibrant colors and strong contrast. The A34’s newer ISP (Image Signal Processor) within the Dimensity 1080 likely offers improved noise reduction and dynamic range. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on both devices is crucial for stable video recording and sharper low-light photos. The 2MP macro cameras on both phones are likely to deliver limited practical benefit due to their small sensor size and fixed focus.
Performance
The A34 utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 1080, fabricated on a 6nm process, while the A52 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8nm). The Dimensity 1080’s Cortex-A78 cores, clocked at 2.6 GHz, offer a performance edge over the A52 5G’s Kryo 570 cores (2.2 GHz). However, the Snapdragon 750G benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized software and modem integration. In real-world usage, the difference will be noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing or graphically intensive games, favoring the A34. The 6nm process of the Dimensity 1080 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A34 clearly wins in battery endurance, achieving a 133-hour rating versus the A52 5G’s 111 hours. This 22-hour difference represents a significant improvement in real-world usage. Both phones support 25W wired charging, with the A52 5G claiming a 50% charge in 30 minutes. The A34’s more efficient Dimensity 1080 chipset contributes to this extended battery life, allowing users to go longer between charges. While charging speeds are identical, the A34’s larger battery capacity means it will take slightly longer to fully charge from 0-100%.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you prioritize a proven track record and can find it at a substantial discount. It’s a solid all-rounder, but its battery life is a clear weakness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A34 if you value extended battery life, a brighter and more modern display, and a more efficient processor, even if it means sacrificing a small amount of raw CPU performance.