I use the A54 and haven’t got an issue with the performance. If you’re in the US, there were killer deals on the S23 FE, Pixel 7, etc. Photos are your thing, so I’d definitely recommend the Pixel 7 or something like the S23+ with a better processor. Buy them second hand on Swappa if you want to save a few bucks.

I have the A54, but I’d recommend the A34 for your mom. The Mediatek SoC on the A34 is as good as the A54, if not better. The displays are almost comparable. The only minor difference between the devices is the cameras but very insignificant.

If you live in the US, I’d say wait. My sole reason is the updated cellular modem from Qualcomm. The Qualcomm X75 cellular modem will offer better connectivity on 5G.