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In an era where flagship devices dazzle with “innovative” technology and premium price tags, they can sometimes overshadow the low-ranged phones on the market. But with phone prices soaring through the roof, sometimes you’d just want a phone that doesn’t have all the frills but all the necessary functionality.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 emerges to challenge the title of security, functionality, and price tag all in one. How did it fare? Well, not too shabbily.
Samsung Galaxy A35 Specifications
- Processor: Exynos 1380
- OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1
- Display: 6.6-inch, Super AMOLED, 1080 x 2340, FHD+, 120Hz
- Rear Camera: 50 MP (Main), 8 MP (Ultrawide), 5 MP (Macro)
- Front Camera: 13 MP
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Weight: 209g
Design & Display
Let’s start with the basics: the design. Although the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G’s glass back is sleek and has a premium look, it’s also a magnet for fingerprints. The phone also tends to get warm, which makes it uncomfortable to hold for long periods. Of course, all these should be easily solved by using a phone case.
There’s also the addition of what Samsung calls “Key Island”, which sees a raised part of the frame around the volume buttons. While it does add a distinctive element of design that sets it apart from the other models, it doesn’t offer much else in terms of practicality.
As for the display, it holds its own ground with decent brightness in bright daylight. During gaming, there are smooth graphics without any noticeable tearing, which is pretty good for its price point.
Performance
The Samsung Exynos 1380 chip powers the Galaxy A35 and is quite capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly. This is further complemented by the well-optimized One UI 6.1. Overall, I had quite the expected experience coming from a phone like this on the current market.
As for gaming performance, I would say it’s decently commendable, as the phone only got slightly warm, which is thanks to the effective cooling mechanisms taking place. However, I would still recommend going for a lower graphic setting to ensure a consistent gaming experience.
Of course, this time there’s the added security of Samsung Knox. I found that the pin-protected Secure Folder gave me more peace of mind, and I’m sure that the same applies to users concerned about data safety.
Lastly, the battery — the Galaxy A35 can keep up with intensive usage for about a day and a half. It caters well to regular smartphone users, and its longevity makes it a practical choice for those seeking reliability without breaking the bank.
Camera
Camera layout-wise, the Galaxy A35 retains the same layout as its predecessor. The setup has a minor upgrade — the previous 48MP main camera is now a 50MP main camera. As expected, it performs well in well-lit or daylight environments. In fact, it performed decently well when compared to other mid-range phones available now.
With that said, you shouldn’t expect too much from the ultra-wide and macro lenses. While they performed more or less as a phone of this price range, it only managed to do so when used in brightly lit settings.
But speaking of the bright side, the selfie camera consistently produces good results regardless of lighting, so hey, at least that’s one more solid phone for the market.
