Samsung Galaxy A34 vs A52: 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 – a 28-hour advantage – and brighter display outweigh the A52’s slightly older, but still capable, Snapdragon 720G. The A34 offers a more future-proof experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A52 | 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, 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) | |
| 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, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | 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 6GB 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), 1/1.7", 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 | 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 | |
| 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-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS | 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 | C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89 | € 169.99 / $ 175.00 / £ 164.99 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 105h | Endurance rating 133h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.0 LUFS (Good) | -26.1 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 472126 (v9) GeekBench: 2316 (v5.5), 2518 (v6) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A52
- Proven reliability and established user base
- Potentially lower price point due to age
- Solid all-around performance for everyday tasks
- Significantly shorter battery life compared to A34
- Less bright display, impacting outdoor visibility
- Older chipset with less efficient manufacturing process
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Superior battery life with 133-hour endurance
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- More efficient Dimensity 1080 chipset on a 6nm process
- May be slightly more expensive than the A52
- Newer model, potentially fewer long-term reviews
- Chipset performance gains may not be noticeable for all users
Display Comparison
The A34 boasts a notably brighter display, reaching 1009 nits compared to the A52’s 794 nits. This translates to significantly improved visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels, but the A34’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for media consumption and everyday use. While both likely utilize similar AMOLED technology, the A34’s newer panel benefits from refinements in color calibration and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking in the provided data. Assuming similar image processing pipelines, the A34’s potential advantage lies in its newer image signal processor (ISP) integrated within the Dimensity 1080. This could lead to improved noise reduction and dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of specific sensor details makes a definitive camera comparison difficult, but the A34’s newer chipset suggests a slight edge in image quality. It's important to note that both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, indicating a standard feature set without any standout features.
Performance
The A34’s Mediatek Dimensity 1080, fabricated on a 6nm process, represents a step up in efficiency compared to the A52’s 8nm Snapdragon 720G. The Dimensity 1080 features a more modern CPU architecture with 2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 cores versus the A52’s 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold cores, promising faster application loading and smoother multitasking. While both are octa-core CPUs, the A34’s architecture is more performant. The 6nm process also contributes to better thermal management, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. However, real-world performance differences may not be dramatically noticeable for casual users.
Battery Life
The A34 delivers a substantial improvement in battery endurance, achieving 133 hours in our tests versus the A52’s 105 hours. This 28-hour difference is significant and translates to a full day of extra usage. Both phones support 25W wired charging, with the A52 reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes. While charging speeds are identical, the A34’s larger battery capacity and more efficient chipset mean it will spend less time plugged into the wall. The combination of increased capacity and improved efficiency makes the A34 the clear winner in battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 if you prioritize a proven track record and can find it at a significantly discounted price. It’s a solid all-rounder, but its battery life is showing its age. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A34 if you value long-lasting battery performance, a brighter and more modern display, and a chipset built on a more efficient 6nm process, offering better long-term performance and potentially better software support.