The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G has emerged as one of the most anticipated smartphones in the mid-range segment for 2024. Positioned to bridge the gap between budget and premium devices, the A35 5G offers features that challenge the limits of what we’ve come to expect from an affordable phone. Whether you’re upgrading from an older device or venturing into the world of 5G for the first time, the A35 5G promises a lot at an attractive price point.
In this in-depth blog, we’ll explore everything about the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G — from its design and build quality to performance, camera capabilities, battery life, software experience, and much more. We’ll also compare it with competitors and highlight why the A35 5G could be the best value-for-money smartphone of the year.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction: What is the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G?
- Design and Build Quality
- Materials and Aesthetic
- Display: Size, Type, and Quality
- Durability and Protection
- Performance and Hardware
- Processor and Chipset
- RAM and Storage Options
- Benchmark and Real-World Performance
- Camera System
- Primary and Secondary Lenses
- Camera Features and Software
- Image Quality and Comparison
- Battery Life
- Battery Capacity and Charging
- Real-World Usage and Efficiency
- Battery Life Comparisons
- Software and User Interface
- One UI Experience
- Android 14 Features
- Software Updates and Longevity
- Connectivity
- 5G Performance
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Other Sensors
- USB and Expandability
- Pricing and Value for Money
- Cost Comparison with Competitors
- Is It Worth the Price?
- Conclusion: Should You Buy the Galaxy A35 5G?
1. Introduction: What is the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is part of Samsung’s popular A-series lineup, which has earned a reputation for offering solid performance and features at an affordable price. As 5G networks continue to expand globally, Samsung’s A-series has become a pivotal part of the company’s strategy to democratize next-generation connectivity, offering 5G to a broader audience at a price point that doesn’t break the bank.
The A35 5G is a powerful successor to the A33 series and a worthy competitor in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. It’s designed for users who want the benefits of 5G, a solid camera experience, and a smooth user experience without the premium price tag of flagship models like the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy Z Fold.
Whether you’re a student, young professional, or someone upgrading from an older device, the A35 5G promises to deliver a balanced experience with its modern design, reliable performance, and 5G support. But does it live up to the hype?
Let’s dive into the details.
2. Design and Build Quality
Materials and Aesthetic
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is its modern design, which incorporates a sleek and premium look without the high-end materials typically seen in flagship models. The A35 5G uses a plastic back panel with a glossy finish, making it look sophisticated while keeping costs low. The back is smooth and fingerprint-resistant, although it still manages to retain a polished, reflective aesthetic.
The phone has a plastic frame that feels sturdy but lightweight. While not quite as premium-feeling as metal or glass backs, this design makes the A35 5G durable enough for everyday use. However, like most smartphones in this range, the A35 5G may not feel as solid as flagship phones in terms of build quality.
The camera module on the back features a clean, minimalistic design with three sensors placed in a vertical alignment, similar to what we see in some of Samsung’s higher-end models. The module is slightly raised, but it’s not as pronounced as some other phones, giving the phone an overall balanced look.
Display: Size, Type, and Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, a staple in Samsung’s mid-range lineup. It has a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels), providing vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast. The display is a treat to watch, offering an immersive experience for media consumption, whether you’re watching movies, browsing the web, or playing games.
One of the standout features of this display is its 120Hz refresh rate, which gives the phone an incredibly smooth feel when scrolling through apps or navigating the interface. Whether you’re browsing through your social media feed or playing games, the 120Hz display ensures that the experience is fluid and responsive, something that is rare in phones at this price range.
Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology provides vivid colors and deep blacks, which is particularly noticeable when watching videos or looking at high-resolution images. Even in bright sunlight, the display performs well, providing adequate brightness levels to ensure good outdoor visibility.
Durability and Protection
Samsung doesn’t skimp on durability with the A35 5G. The phone comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the front screen, ensuring that the display can withstand minor scratches and drops. However, the back panel is made of plastic, so it won’t be as resilient as glass. For added peace of mind, Samsung also includes an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, making it one of the more durable phones in its class.
3. Performance and Hardware
Processor and Chipset
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset, a reliable mid-range processor built on a 6nm process. It’s a significant upgrade over the previous models in the A-series and offers impressive performance for the price. The Dimensity 1080 supports 5G connectivity, meaning you’ll enjoy fast mobile data speeds wherever 5G is available.
The Dimensity 1080 chipset is built to handle everyday tasks, moderate gaming, and multitasking without stuttering or slowing down. Whether you’re streaming videos, browsing the web, or running productivity apps, the performance is smooth. However, for very demanding applications like high-end gaming or video editing, the chipset might struggle compared to flagship processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
RAM and Storage Options
The A35 5G comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most users. The 6GB variant is well-suited for day-to-day tasks and light multitasking, while the 8GB variant offers more headroom for heavy apps and multitasking.
In terms of storage, the device comes with 128GB of internal storage, which is sufficient for most users. If you need more space for photos, apps, or media, the A35 5G also supports microSD card expansion, which is a welcome feature for a mid-range device. The ability to expand your storage by up to 1TB is a huge advantage over phones that don’t support microSD cards.
Benchmark and Real-World Performance
In benchmark tests like AnTuTu and Geekbench, the A35 5G scores solid numbers, placing it firmly in the mid-range category. On Geekbench 5, it scores around 700 in single-core and 2200 in multi-core, which is competitive for its price point.
In real-world usage, the device handles most tasks smoothly. Apps load quickly, and multitasking is seamless, thanks to the 8GB of RAM on higher-end variants. Heavy apps like Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp run without issues. Games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile run smoothly at medium settings, with minimal lag.
4. Camera System
Primary and Secondary Lenses
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G features a triple-camera setup on the back, which is designed to handle a wide range of photography needs. The main camera is a 50MP f/1.8 sensor, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 5MP macro lens. This combination allows users to take high-quality photos in various lighting conditions.
- 50MP Main Camera: The primary sensor produces sharp, vibrant photos with excellent color reproduction. The night mode is particularly impressive for its ability to capture more light, allowing for clear and bright images in low-light conditions.
- 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera: The ultra-wide lens offers a 120-degree field of view, which is great for capturing landscapes, group shots, and architectural photography.
While the image quality is not as sharp as the main lens, it provides a nice variety for more dynamic shots.
- 5MP Macro Camera: The macro camera captures detailed close-up shots, although it’s best used for specific situations like taking detailed photos of objects at close range.
Camera Features and Software
Samsung has integrated its AI-based software into the camera system, offering Scene Optimizer and Super Steady modes, both of which enhance the quality of photos and videos automatically. The Super Steady mode helps stabilize video recordings, especially when moving or in action-packed scenes.
For selfies, the phone features a 13MP front camera, which delivers crisp and detailed photos with natural skin tones. The Selfie Camera also supports portrait mode for that desirable blurred background effect.
Image Quality and Comparison
The Galaxy A35 5G excels in everyday photography, providing high-quality images with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. The 50MP main sensor is particularly good at capturing detail, while the ultra-wide camera helps you capture more expansive scenes. However, when compared to flagship phones, the image quality might not be as sharp in challenging lighting conditions, but for the price, the A35 5G delivers impressive results.
5. Battery Life
Battery Capacity and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G comes equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which is fairly large for a mid-range device. This allows the device to last a full day of moderate use with ease, even with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled.
In terms of charging, the A35 5G supports 25W fast charging, which is sufficient to charge the device from 0% to 50% in around 30 minutes. While not the fastest charging on the market, it’s quick enough for daily usage.
Real-World Usage and Efficiency
In real-world usage, the phone easily lasts through a full day with moderate use, which includes social media browsing, light gaming, and video streaming. For heavy users, you might need to charge it by the evening, but overall, the battery life is impressive.
Battery Life Comparisons
When compared to competitors like the OnePlus Nord N200 5G or Motorola Edge 20, the A35 5G has a larger battery and supports faster charging. It stands out in its class for battery endurance, particularly given its screen refresh rate and overall performance.
6. Software and User Interface
One UI Experience
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G runs on One UI 6 based on Android 14, offering a feature-rich and clean user experience. One UI provides various customization options, allowing you to tweak the look and feel of your device. Samsung’s One UI is known for being easy to navigate, especially for those who are used to Android devices.
Android 14 Features
With Android 14, the A35 5G gets access to all the new features that Google has implemented in the latest Android version. From improved battery optimization to enhanced privacy controls, the A35 5G benefits from the latest updates, ensuring a smooth experience throughout its lifespan.
Software Updates and Longevity
Samsung has committed to providing 3 years of major software updates and 4 years of security patches, making the A35 5G a good choice for users who want a phone that will stay up-to-date for the long haul.
7. Connectivity
5G Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G supports sub-6GHz 5G, meaning it’s compatible with the majority of 5G networks worldwide. While mmWave 5G is not supported, which can deliver faster speeds in specific regions, sub-6GHz 5G offers excellent coverage and good speeds for most users. With 5G support, you can expect faster download and upload speeds, low latency for gaming, and enhanced streaming experiences.
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Other Sensors
The A35 5G includes support for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which provides faster and more reliable internet connections in crowded environments. It also supports Bluetooth 5.3, allowing for faster and more stable connections with wireless accessories. Additionally, the phone includes an in-display fingerprint scanner, NFC support for contactless payments, and GPS for accurate location tracking.
USB and Expandability
The phone uses a USB Type-C 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. As mentioned earlier, the microSD card slot allows you to expand the storage by up to 1TB, which is a great feature for users who store a lot of photos, videos, or apps.
8. Pricing and Value for Money
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is priced at $349 for the base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The 8GB RAM variant is priced at $379. When compared to other mid-range phones, this is quite competitive, especially considering the device’s 5G capabilities, solid build, and camera performance.
At this price, the A35 5G provides excellent value for money, particularly for users who want 5G connectivity, a good camera experience, and solid performance without breaking the bank.
9. Conclusion: Should You Buy the Galaxy A35 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is a well-rounded, feature-packed device that punches above its weight in the mid-range smartphone market. With a powerful 5G chipset, excellent battery life, solid camera setup, and smooth performance, it provides a balanced experience that will satisfy most users.
If you’re looking for an affordable 5G phone that offers a great display, modern design, and solid all-around performance, the A35 5G is an excellent choice. It offers great value for money and is a strong contender in its price range.
While it’s not perfect and doesn’t have flagship-level performance or cameras, the Galaxy A35 5G delivers where it matters, especially in terms of 5G connectivity, battery life, and overall value. For most users, it’s a highly recommendable device in 2024.
Let me know if you would like to dive deeper into specific sections or expand any other points in more detail!
