The Samsung Galaxy A series has always been the go-to option for a mid-range device for quite some time, and I would always recommend the A series for those looking for a “second best” option other than Samsung’s flagships. 99% of the time, I recommended the correct choice for my friends. And with the new Galaxy A35, the lower tier mid-ranger from Samsung just got a whole lot better. In my opinion, it could be better than the A55 this year.
I would gladly call the Galaxy A35 and A55 as siblings. As of late, the A5x series has always been the bigger brother and supposedly a more powerful device than the A3x series. This time around with the launch of A35 and A55, the former is the perfect choice for anyone seeking for a good “entry” mid-range level device in 2024.
Read on to find out why I think the new Samsung Galaxy A35 is a better choice.
First Look and Design
Design wise, the A35 and the A55 are identical. But the Galaxy A35 comes with a hard plastic material for the body while the A55 has a brushed aluminium body. Nevertheless, the hard plastic body on the Galaxy A35 feels solid and more comfortable to handle while holding in one hand. It is slightly heavier than last year’s plastic body of the Galaxy A34, but you won’t be able to tell the difference.
The Galaxy A35 comes in a squared up edge, where it can stand on its own while placing it on a flat surface. This design is making a comeback as opposed to a more rounded edge from last years’ A34. But honestly, I prefer the straighter, squared up edge of this device. However, one may notice the rounded edge that houses the volume rocker and the power button on the right side. It’s an odd feature to have, but I like the uniqueness of this design.
As for the display, it is totally flat, similar to the Galaxy S24 flagship series. This is another feature design that I very much prefer. I no longer enjoy the “2D” rounded edge from the recent past on any of the devices that I use. This flat design feels better and more premium to look at. The same flatness can also be found around the back, except for the triple camera bump setup. If only the cameras are flushed with the back panel, it will look so much better.
The front Super AMOLED display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ while the back panel is also made of glass, although I am unsure of the material it uses. It is probably using an older Gorilla Glass, I think. Speaking of the display, the Super AMOLED display goes up to 1000 nits of brightness at its peak with up to 120Hz refresh rate for a smoother screen animation but at the same time, it drops to 60Hz to save power when in idle mode. The 6.6” display comes with 2340×1080 resolution at 390 ppi density. As always, Samsung’s AMOLED display is the best there is, so the colours are vibrant and sharp.
The back panel is made of glass. But I am unsure of what type of glass it is. I can only assume that it is based on Gorilla Glass because it does feel like it. The triple camera setup is similar to the A55 and one can hardly tell whether I am using an A35 or A55. Similarly, it is also hard to tell whether I’m using the flagship S24 or not. Design is quite similar across the A series and the S series, other than the S24 Ultra, of course. But the Galaxy A35 has a new main camera that shoots better quality photos and videos this time around.
Performance and Daily Use
The new Samsung Galaxy A35 is an upgrade to the A34. To me, it is a massive upgrade. The Galaxy A35 is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 1380 chipset, the same chipset that is powering last year’s Galaxy A54 but with some upgrades included. I feel that the chipset on the new Galaxy A35 is snappier, more responsive and feels more fluid. Also, it comes with future proof 5G connectivity.
You will have an option to use the 128GB of storage or opt for a larger 256GB of storage. My review unit comes with a 256GB of storage with 8GB of RAM, with an ability to have up to 8GB of virtual memory, thanks to the RAM Plus feature. This feature is becoming a norm for some of the latest mobile devices as it can help to keep up with multitasking and handling power-hungry apps. If 256GB of storage is not enough for you, you can slip in a MicroSD card for additional storage on the A35. It can support up to 1TB of MicroSD storage here.
On the software side, the Galaxy A35 comes with OneUI 6.1, which is based on Android 14 right out-of-the-box. However, it does not come with the full AI feature such as real-time translation and “circle to search” function. Those are exclusive to their S series flagships only. Nevertheless, the Galaxy A35 has some usable “AI” feature that can come in handy when needed.
One feature that I want to bring up is the availability of Samsung Knox on the A series. Samsung Knox has been around for many years, but it is absent on the A series. Finally, Samsung has added the security powertool on this year’s A series, and I welcome it with open arms.
So what is Samsung Knox?
For most users, “Secured by Knox” is the familiar face of Knox security built into your Samsung device. This branding signifies that your device is actively protected by a multi-layered defence system. Unlike antivirus software that focuses on malware, Knox goes beyond by safeguarding your device against various threats through a combination of advanced software and hardware security features. This comprehensive approach ensures your data and privacy remain protected.
I use Knox all the time on my Galaxy Z Flip 5. I use its secure folder feature and also to safeguard my photos in the photo album. Even my passwords are saved with Knox automatically. I am highly confident that my device is kept safe and virus free with Samsung Knox, and it is probably one of the best defences anyone can have on their mobile device. And now, we have it on the new Galaxy A35 as well.
As for normal tasks and multitasking, the Galaxy A35 can handle multiple opened apps at the same time. I don’t usually close apps when I use my phone, and the Galaxy A35 can still power through each app seamlessly without any hiccups. My only wish is to have Samsung DeX available on the A series too. But I guess that is reserved only for their flagship devices.
The battery can last longer this time around. From my test experience, I can go close to 48 hours from full charge while still using the apps as usual. The 5000mAh battery can be fully charged just over an hour from 10%, but Samsung have yet to include super fast charging feature here. It only supports up to 25W charging power for now, but it can prolong the battery life a lot longer, in my opinion.
If you’re into entertainment and gaming, the Galaxy A35 is capable of keeping you entertained. It comes with a stereo speaker setup for an immersive audio experience. The audio quality is surprisingly good. Even better than the predecessor. If you love watching movies on your phone, the A35 can and will keep you on your toes with the vibrant colours of the AMOLED display.
For gaming, the Exynos 1380 is a capable chipset for light gaming. I went further to play my usual go-to game on the Galaxy A35. For PUBG Mobile, I am quite surprised that it can handle the graphic demands from the game and is able to pull a stunt with its gaming capabilities. The game feels responsive and smooth. It may not be the best, but I’m still able to use the high graphic settings.
In a benchmarking test, I ran the Galaxy A35 on 3DMark Wild Life and it scored a total of 2810 points with an average of 16.8 fps. Not bad at all in my opinion. It is a vast improvement from last year’s device in terms of gaming, with a notable increase of performance on the A35. In the end, I am happy with the Galaxy A35’s overall performance here.
Camera
As I said before, the Galaxy A35 comes with a new 50MP sensor on its main camera. This is obviously an upgrade from the previous A34, and I am pleased with its overall performance. So let’s recap on the Galaxy A35’s camera hardware.
Rear Camera
50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96″, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0″
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Front camera
13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06″
Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
The 50MP main camera is so much fun to use. However, if you want to take the full advantage of the 50MP, you have to toggle the 50MP feature on. In standard mode, it only captures photos in 12MP resolution. But this isn’t bad at all. At 12MP, the photo quality is so much better when compared to some other mid-range devices that I’ve tried. I only switch to 50MP when I’m shooting outdoor landscape photos so that I don’t lose any details. And at the same time, I want to save the storage space.
The Galaxy A35 is able to capture 4K video at 30fps and up to 60fps on 1080p. The front camera can also capture 4K videos, which is a good thing if you’re into content creations for social media. Video quality from the main camera is above average, with good colour contrast and smooth rendering.
For ultrawide angle shots, you can depend on its 8MP ultrawide camera too. The post processing software does a good job in minimising warped images around the corners. This is great for group photographs. There is also a 5MP macro camera that is capable of shooting an object from up close. In good lighting conditions, the photos turned out great.
Feel free to browse my photo gallery below to see the photos and the results.
Conclusion
The new Samsung Galaxy A35 is quickly becoming my favourite mid-range smartphone of 2024. The overall construction feels solid and premium, without breaking the bank. I love the simplistic design of the phone itself, sort of minimalistic too. It feels great while handling in one hand and it does not slip off my hand easily. The grip feels just right.
Being an entry mid-range device in the A series, the Galaxy A35 surprises many users for its capabilities in handling day to day tasks. From simple chats to photo editing, from watching movies to gaming, it can handle everything you throw at it without any problem. Photography is great too, with some of the flagship features available on the A35 as well.
The new Galaxy A35 comes in a few colours such as the Awesome Iceblue, Awesome Lilac and the Awesome Navy. The test unit I’m using is called the Awesome Iceblue, although it does look like white. Since the back panel is made of glass, it hides any fingerprint marks or smudges on the Iceblue colourway.
So if you’re thinking of getting a brand new mid-range smartphone, I would highly recommend the new Samsung Galaxy A35 5G. The performance is good, the camera is great, and it is protected by Samsung Knox to give you the extra security from prying eyes and malwares.
The new Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is going for RM1,399.00 for the 128GB + 6GB RAM variant and RM1,699.00 for the 256GB + 8GB RAM variant. You can click the following link for further details on how to purchase a brand new Galaxy A35.
Buy Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | Samsung Malaysia