Comparing the Galaxy A34 vs A54 vs A14

Whether you want a high-end smartphone to take you seamlessly from the street to the studio, or a more budget-friendly model to just cover off the basics, the Samsung Galaxy A Series has a phone for you. Available to Optus customers at the end of March 2023, the Galaxy A Series consists of Galaxy A14, Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54.

Here, we take a look at what makes the Samsung Galaxy A34 a great choice, specifically looking at the difference between the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A14 and A54. You can also read how the A34 compares to the Galaxy A33, or if you’re more interested in the Galaxy A54, you might want to check out how the Galaxy A54 compares with Galaxy A53.

If you’re looking for something really budget friendly, check out the Galaxy A14 phone which also comes in the 5G variant. Read how the A14 is different from A13.

The latest Samsung A Series comes at a time when many households are looking for savings. But that doesn’t mean compromising on the smartphone experience we have come to know and love. The Samsung Galaxy A34 boasts an awesome camera, oh-so smooth scrolling and outstanding performance – as well as built-in protection to defend against the elements.

Comparing Samsung Galaxy A34 with Samsung Galaxy A54, it looks like a very close battle. While the A54 offers better camera specs including the selfie camera in a compact size, the A34 offers the same storage, expandable memory, refresh rate and display specs as the A54, giving the latter a tough fight. 

Another point to add is even though the A34 has a 6.6-inch display size, it still weighs slightly less at 199g than the A54’s 202g. 

The camera specs and processor are essentially the only points of differences between the two and which one you go for depends then on your personal needs. 

Here’s a snapshot of the phones side by side for quick comparison.

Now let’s look at each of these key features in more detail below.

Equipped with an improved optical image stabiliser², both the A34 and A54 capture smooth photos and videos, according to Samsung.

Looking at the Galaxy A34, on the rear side you’ll find a floating triple lens camera system with a:

• 48MP wide angle camera lens
• 8MP ultrawide lens
• 5MP macro lens

While on the front side of the phone, the A34 has a 13MP lens capable of capturing studio quality selfies – even in low light.

Comparing this to the A54, it’s clear the A54 has a higher calibre camera, considering its rear camera is made up of a:

• 50MP wide angle lens
• 12MP Ultrawide lens
• 5MP Macro lens

And there’s a 32MP front camera. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is also blessed with Nightography – the Samsung night mode found on the higher-end S Series phones, further edging it ahead of the A34.

Both the Galaxy A34 and A54 offer a 120Hertz refresh rate. For the A34 this is a significant improvement when compared to the A33’s 90Hertz refresh rate, and should result in enhanced phone performance.

But there are differences between the Samsung A34 and Samsung Galaxy A54 displays, with the A54 having a slightly smaller screen at 6.4” compared to the 6.6” of the A34. For those not comfortable with bigger phones, the A54 could be the right option. The A54 also uses the latest and greatest Infinity-O display, while the A34 uses the Infinity-U. This means the A34 screen has a small, circular cutout in the top centre that houses the front camera while the A54’s screen has a u-shaped cutout to house the front camera lens.

As both phone displays use Super AMOLED technology and the 120Hertz refresh rate, the A34 and A54 seem to be fairly well matched in terms of display quality.

The design of the devices is also really quite well matched, with a seamless design and vibrant large screens – though we note the slight differences in screen size already discussed. The A54 and A34 are also similar in that they both provide protection from dust and splashes of fresh water, to the globally accepted IP67 standard³.

There is also some variation in the available colour options of the devices. Optus offers the Samsung A54 in graphite and violet while the A34 is available in graphite and lime.

Both A34 and A54 offer the octa core chipset. When it comes to internal memory options, both the A34 and A54 again offer a single option – 128GB with 6GB of RAM which should be good enough with keeping multiple applications running smoothly⁷.

Where the Galaxy A34 differs from the A54 is in terms of processor, with the Galaxy A34 using Dimensity 1080 and the A54 equipped with the faster Exynos 1380. It is this difference in system-on-a-chip (SoC) hardware that really sets the A54 apart from the A34.

As just noted, there is a difference between the SoCs powering applications and connectivity within the two phones – the A34’s Dimensity 1080 going up against the A54’s Exynos 1380. But because both phones have similar chipsets, the performance on both devices is excellent. They also both benefit from a range of built-in protection measures and access to 5G speeds to keep performance levels high. Both the A34 and A54 also enjoy a 120Hz refresh rate that promises a smoother scrolling experience.

The battery performance of these devices is fairly equal, with both enjoying super-fast 25W charging speeds⁵ and an identical battery capacity of 5,000mAh ¹. According to Samsung, this means you can get up to two days’ worth of use on a single charge (depending on how you’re using the phone of course).

Considering all of the above information, it seems clear that the A54 is a great choice for those people wanting a mid-range phone with enough power to run many different applications at once. The enhanced octa core chipset and better camera with Nightography mode help make the Galaxy A54 seem more premium than it is.

Meanwhile, the many great features of the A34 coupled with the lower price point seem to suggest the Samsung Galaxy A34 will make a great option for students.

Now let’s turn our attention to the other model in this release, and map out a comparison between the Samsung Galaxy A34 and Samsung Galaxy A14 4G and 5G models.

Quick reference table as below:

Both the Galaxy A34 and A14 have a triple lens camera design. Where the Samsung Galaxy A14 camera falls short of the A34 is in the megapixels of its supporting rear-facing macro lenses.

The Galaxy A34 comes with the following lenses:

• 48MP wide angle camera lens
• 8MP ultrawide lens
• 5MP macro lens
• 13MP front camera

While the A14 4G/5G comes with a:

• 50MP wide angle lens
• 2MP depth lens
• 2MP macro lens
• 13MP front camera

As you can see, the cameras on these devices are fairly well matched in terms of megapixels, with the A14 falling slightly behind in terms of the megapixels and absence of an ultrawide lens. The Galaxy A14 camera also lacks the enhanced optical image stabiliser technology that the A34 has, which can make all the difference to your shots out and about.

As just mentioned, the A34 enjoys a superior refresh rate (120Hz) on graphics than the A14 models (90Hz)– with both Samsung phones significantly higher than the 60Hz which used to be something of a benchmark in this tier of smartphone. The A34 also impresses with the Super AMOLED display where the A14 relies on an LCD panel, similar to older Samsung A Series models. So if having a crisp and bright display is important to you, this could mean the A34 is a good choice for you.

The design of these phones is exceptionally pleasing to the eye, with a little flourish here and there to give a more premium feel in the hand. Where the Galaxy A14 does not match up to the A34 is that it does not qualify for the IP67 rating for dust/water that the A34 does – which could be something to think about when considering the longevity of the devices³.

As you would expect from the higher priced phone in this comparison, the Galaxy A34 boasts a higher quality chipset and a greater amount of RAM to keep your applications running smoothly. It’s also worth noting that the A34 will let you shoot videos in 4K while the A14 relies on FHD recording technology.

It seems reasonable to say the Galaxy A34 outperforms the A14, when considering all the items above. The enhanced chipset, superior display technology and smart security controls are a winning combination.

The battery of the Galaxy A34 also represents a step up from that of the A14, with a faster charging capability⁵ (25W vs 15W). However both devices can run for up to 2 days on a single charge, so if you are someone who religiously charges their phone overnight while they sleep this may not be an issue for you.

As you would probably expect from the differing price points of the devices, the specs on the Galaxy A34 are generally of a higher standard than the A14. Notably, the A34 benefits from more RAM, a higher refresh rate on graphics and better quality camera lenses. Where the A14 might win you over though is in its side location of the fingerprint sensor rather than the in-display sensor of the A34. As a huge fan of the rear fingerprint sensor this is something I’m certainly considering.

Mobile innovation never stops, with the latest Galaxy S25 Series finally landing in Australia. The new Galaxy S25 Series features new Galaxy AI tools, as well as upgraded processors and camera lenses. Check out the Galaxy S25 Ultra for a look at Samsung’s newest flagship phone.

Samantha Shilton works for Optus. A dog mother and nature lover, she gets down to the beach most mornings for walkies and a quick dip. On the weekend, you might spot her whizzing past you on her Kawasaki.

^{[1] Rated (i.e. minimum) battery capacity is 4,860mAh. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by Strategy Analytics. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2023.01.19-01.30 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A346 under default setting using 5G Sub6 networks.
[2] Compared against Galaxy A33
[3] The Galaxy A34 5G provides ingress protection (IP67) against dust and fresh water to a maximum of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Please refer to user manual for further information including care/use instructions
[4] 5G available in selected areas (excl. NT) and on selected plans.  For full coverage details see optus.com.au/5Gcoverage
[5] Charger sold separately
[6] Rated (i.e. minimum) battery capacity is 4,860mAh. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by Strategy Analytics. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2023.01.19-01.30 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A145 under default setting using LTE networks.
[7] Rated (i.e. minimum) battery capacity is 4,860mAh. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by Strategy Analytics. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2023.01.19-01.30 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A145 under default setting using LTE networks.}