Samsung Galaxy A14 vs A34 vs A54: Midrange mania

Samsung has revealed that its 2023 A series will launch in Australia in April. Locally, we'll be getting the Galaxy A54 5G, the Galaxy A34 5G and both the 4G and 5G variants of the Galaxy A14. It's only a little less confusing than last year's smorgasbord of Galaxy A handsets. 

If you're thinking of saving a bit of dosh this year (like the rest of us,) the new Galaxy A series has probably piqued your interest. No doubt the free Galaxy Watch has also caught your eye. But with so many affordable Galaxy smartphones, which do you pick? Let's break down the differences between your midrange Galaxy options in 2023. 

To reiterate, there are only four Galaxy A Series phones releasing in Australia in 2023 (that we know of); the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A34 5G, Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A14 4G. There hasn't been a Galaxy A74 announced yet to follow up the popular Galaxy A73 but it could just be a matter of time. 

If you're in the market for an upgrade and you're on a bit of a budget, you're probably wondering which Galaxy A phone is right for you in 2023. It's a good question to consider because the biggest gap between each handset is probably the price tag. 

Starting with the cheapest of the bunch, the Galaxy A14 4G costs $329 and features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Its camera is no slouch, delivering 50MP (and an F1.8 aperture) on the main lens, as well as a 5MP Ultra-wide lens, a 2MP Macro lens and a 13MP front-facing camera. It'll also come with a downgraded Mediatek Helio G80 processor.

If it was just a matter of connectivity, the Galaxy A14 4G variant might've been a compelling value proposition. But the A14 5G has more than just advanced network capabilities in its corner. 

Spending an extra $50 will get you the  Samsung Galaxy A14 5G at $379. Besides the benefits of a growing 5G network, opting for the Galaxy A14 5G also nets you a better processor (the Exynos 1330) and instead of the Ultra-wide lens, you get a 2MP Depth lens in for better Bokeh. 

Next up we've got the Samsung Galaxy A34; the veritable middle child of the A Series. The A34 offers a sizeable leap in specs but at the tune of an extra $220. For $599, the Samsung A34 will upgrade you to a stunning AMOLED display (still 6.6-inch) that's capable of delivering 120Hz refresh rates. That's on par with the latest flagships which, if you hadn't noticed, are selling 120Hz refresh rates as a big, fancy premium feature. Camera upgrades to the A34 are less impressive but still noticeable; the 48MP main shooter has OIS (Optic Image Stabilisation) and AF (Auto-focus), while the Ultra-wide lens (8MP) and Macro lens (5MP) get a spec bump too. Perhaps the most useful upgrades at this tier are to durability and biometrics. The A34 has an in-screen fingerprint scanner and is IP67 water and dust resistant (and can be submerged up to one metre for 30 minutes at a time). Both are semi-premium features at a reasonable cost. 

At the top end of the 2023 Galaxy A series, we've got the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. There isn't a lot you'll get for the extra $100 ($699 compared to the A34's $599 price tag,) but it will get you a few different features. Most notably, the Galaxy A54 is sporting the more advanced Exynos 1380 processor, which will go a long way for mobile gamers and frequent photographers. Speaking of photographers, the Galaxy A54 has the best camera specs of the bunch but only marginally (compared to the A34.) In the main shooter, you'll get a 50MP lens with OIS and AF, and the upgrades to the Ultra-wide lens (12MP) and Front camera (32MP) will appeal to some. Otherwise, the A54's battery, water resistance, display and storage are a direct match for the A34's. 

Lastly, the most important point of difference, to some, will be the range of colours available. Here in Australia, there are only two truly "Awesome" colours available": Awesome Purple with the A54 and Awesome Lime with the A34. Both the A54 and A34 also come in Awesome Graphite but that's almost indistinguishable from the standard, not-so-awesome Black that the Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A14 4G are available in. 

To recap, here are the colour options for each 2023 Galaxy A Series variant in Australia:

• Galaxy A54: Awesome Violet and Awesome Graphite
• Galaxy A34: Awesome Lime and Awesome Graphite
• Galaxy A14 (5G/4G): Black