Choosing a new Samsung phone can be overwhelming. The Galaxy M21 2021 offered great value at its release, while the A34 brings more modern features. This comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your budget and needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is the clear winner. While the M21 2021 remains a decent budget option, the A34’s superior display, faster processor, improved camera, and faster charging make it a worthwhile upgrade, despite the higher price.
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 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, July 21 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 26 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159 x 75.1 x 9 mm (6.26 x 2.96 x 0.35 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 | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 11, One UI 3.1 Core | 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 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB 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 | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | 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@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) | 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 (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Arctic Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, Silver |
| Models | SM-M215G, SM-M215G/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 | About 130 EUR | € 169.99 / $ 175.00 / £ 164.99 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 0.47 W/kg (head) | - |
| 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) |
Samsung Galaxy M21 2021
- Large display
- Long battery life
- Affordable price
- Older chipset
- Slower charging
- Less vibrant display
- Potentially outdated software
Samsung Galaxy A34
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster processor
- Improved camera
- Faster charging
- Modern design
- Higher price
- Potentially larger size
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A34 boasts a significantly brighter display (1009 nits vs. likely around 400-500 nits on the M21 2021) with a potentially infinite contrast ratio, offering richer colors and better visibility in sunlight. The M21 2021's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and brightness of the A34. Both feature Super AMOLED technology.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable cameras, the A34 is expected to have a more advanced camera system with improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Specific camera specs are missing for the M21 2021, but the A34's newer hardware and software should provide a noticeable advantage.
Performance
The A34's Dimensity 1080 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the M21 2021's Exynos 9611. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A34. The A34's 6nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 133h. However, the A34 benefits from 25W fast charging compared to the M21 2021's 15W, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy M21 2021? Those on a very tight budget who prioritize a large screen and long battery life. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A34? Anyone looking for a modern Samsung experience with a vibrant display, good performance, and a capable camera, willing to spend a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy A34 worth the extra money compared to the M21 2021?
Yes, the A34 offers significant improvements in display quality, performance, and camera capabilities, making it a worthwhile upgrade if your budget allows.
❓ How does the battery life of the A34 compare to the M21 2021?
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with a similar endurance rating. The A34 charges faster, however.
