Apple iPhone XR vs Samsung Galaxy A34
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone XR costs more than double the Samsung Galaxy A34, yet the Galaxy delivers superior specs in nearly every measurable way. Samsung's 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits brightness significantly outpaces the iPhone's 6.1-inch 60Hz LCD panel at 625 nits. The Galaxy's 48MP main camera with macro lens, 13MP front shooter, and 5000 mAh battery dwarf the iPhone's 12MP setup and 2942 mAh capacity. Performance differs notably: iPhone's A12 Bionic handles daily tasks smoothly, but Galaxy's MediaTek Dimensity 1080 with 6GB RAM versus iPhone's 3GB delivers better multitasking. Samsung includes 5G connectivity, USB-C, and 25W charging versus iPhone's Lightning port and 18W charging (adapter sold separately). Both share IP67 ratings and NFC. The Galaxy A34 represents exceptional value at $349.99, offering flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and 5G that iPhone buyers won't access under $800. iPhone XR appeals only to iOS loyalists willing to accept aging specs and pay a premium for ecosystem integration.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XR if…
- →Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- →Great battery life for the era
- →Six vibrant color options
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A34 if…
- →IP67 water and dust resistance at an affordable price
- →Vivid 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides solid endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XR
Pros
- Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- Great battery life for the era
- Six vibrant color options
- Same A12 Bionic as the XS models
- More affordable entry into Face ID iPhones
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution
- Single rear camera only
- Thicker bezels than XS
- Only 3 GB RAM
Samsung Galaxy A34
Pros
- IP67 water and dust resistance at an affordable price
- Vivid 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides solid endurance
- Four years of OS updates promised
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
Cons
- Only 6 GB RAM in base configuration
- No OIS on the 48 MP main camera
- Wi-Fi 5 limits wireless speeds
- Macro lens instead of a proper telephoto
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XR | Samsung Galaxy A34 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 199 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Polycarbonate back, aluminum-look frame |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 48 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | — | 5 MP macro |
| Ultrawide | — | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2942 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | — |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 1080 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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