Samsung Galaxy A34 vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Samsung's A34 offers remarkable value with a 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display, 5000 mAh battery, and solid 48 MP main camera at $349.99. However, the Galaxy S23+ justifies its $999 premium through a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, superior 50 MP dual pixel camera system with 3x optical zoom, 8K video recording, brighter 1750-nit Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, and 45W fast charging with wireless capabilities. Build quality also favors the S23+ with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum versus the A34's polycarbonate back. Performance gaps are significant: the S23+ handles demanding games and multitasking effortlessly while the Dimensity 1080 in the A34 manages everyday tasks competently but lacks flagship speed. Camera quality shows the most dramatic difference, particularly in telephoto and video capabilities. Choose the A34 for budget-conscious users prioritizing battery life and daily performance. Select the S23+ if you demand premium cameras, processing power, and wireless charging.
Who Should Buy
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
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy A34 | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 195 g |
| Material | Polycarbonate back, aluminum-look frame | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 5 MP macro | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.6 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MC4 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 1080 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
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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