Samsung’s Galaxy A series has long been a popular choice for a mid-range phone, providing an excellent balance of performance, features, and price. With the recent introduction of the Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35, there are two more intriguing alternatives to consider.
However, which is the best option? Although we have yet to test both of these phones, their features and costs are sufficient to determine an early winner.
Differences between the Galaxy A55 and the Galaxy A35
Both phones have similar designs, with sleek and contemporary aesthetics that are undeniably Samsung. However, there are a few major variances.
The Galaxy A55 features an aluminum frame and a Gorilla Glass Victus+ back, giving it a premium appearance. On the other hand, the Galaxy A35 has a plastic frame, which isn’t as nice – or robust – but adds to a smaller total weight and is one of the reasons it’s less expensive.
It also lacks the same degree of screen protection as the A55.
Both phones include revised power and volume buttons on the ‘Key Island,’ which is a raised portion on the phone’s side that allows for better access.
Their body features rounded sides and flat front and back surfaces, with a projecting rear camera module including three lenses and an LED flash.
While both devices are well-built and aesthetically beautiful, individuals who want superior and more durable materials should choose for the Galaxy A55.
If you choose the A35, you won’t have to sacrifice on screen quality, as both phones boast a 6.6-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,000 nits in high brightness mode.
Furthermore, the display is identical to that of last year’s Galaxy A54. So, whether you’re streaming videos, gaming, or surfing the web, you can expect great color and contrast on both devices.
The Galaxy A55 has the Exynos 1480, a 4nm octa-core chipset that offers considerable increases in GPU and CPU performance over its predecessor.
To save money, the Galaxy A35 is powered by the Exynos 1380, a 5nm octa-core chipset that will also power the Galaxy A54 in 2023. It performs well for everyday chores, but the Galaxy A55 should feel quicker and provide a somewhat better gaming experience, while neither phone can be regarded a true gaming device.
The Galaxy A55 has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but there’s also the option of 256GB of storage for buyers in the UK. There’s even a 12/256GB option available in some countries.
The cheaper Galaxy A35 features 6- or 8GB of RAM and 128- or 256GB of storage. In the UK, there is no 6GB variant, so RAM is the same as the A55.
Both phones also support microSD cards up to 1TB for additional storage.
The Galaxy A55 features a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. This is the same combination we tested on the Galaxy A54, so anticipate superb image quality and low-light performance.
Similarly, the Galaxy A35 has a 50MP primary camera with OIS, but only an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 5MP macro camera, along with a 13MP front-facing camera.
Because the A35 has the same primary and macro lenses as the A55, the photo quality should be consistent. The difference will be obvious between these phones’ ultra-wide cameras.
They are both useful when you can’t otherwise fit everyone or everything in the frame, but at a noticeable loss of quality when compared to the main camera.
However, due to its greater resolution, the Galaxy A55 is more likely to produce superior overall results. The Galaxy A55’s higher-resolution front-facing camera will undoubtedly appeal to selfie fans.
Video recording, particularly with OIS, is remarkable, producing brilliant colors and smooth footage even at 1080p quality on both primary lenses.
Both smartphones contain a 5,000mAh battery (which is common for most smartphones nowadays) and enable 25W rapid charging. Also, this is the same cell that appeared in the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 last year.
Based on our testing with those phones, you should anticipate the A55 and A35 to charge at the same rate—roughly 15% in 15 minutes, 30% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in approximately two hours.
However, keep in mind that Samsung does not provide a wall adapter, and the tests were conducted with a 67W fast charger from another manufacturer.
Furthermore, both smartphones run One UI 6.1, which is based on Android 14, and provides a seamless and intuitive user experience with several features and customization possibilities.
There’s also good news in terms of long-term support, as Samsung promises up to four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security patches for both devices.
Price & availability
Both phones are directly available from Samsung, where the Galaxy A55 costs £439 for the 8GB/128GB and £89 for the 8GB/256GB variant. You can get it from other online retailers, including John Lewis, Very, and Currys, as well.
Samsung’s US division told CNET that the Galaxy A55 would not be offered “at this time.” Instead, Samsung is reportedly positioning the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 FE as more affordable alternatives to the Galaxy S24.
The A54 is currently priced at just £324 in the UK and at $340 in the US.
