A highly competent midrange Galaxy phone
Samsung’s Galaxy line is part of an ever-expanding universe, from the $199.99 Galaxy A15 5G to the $1,299.99 Galaxy S24 Ultra. At $399.99, the Galaxy A35 5G falls somewhere in between. We like its vibrant display, dependable cameras, long-term software support, and expandable storage, while its elegant glass panels and waterproof build set it apart from other phones in this price range. That said, the lack of mmWave 5G and a relatively low amount of RAM hold it slightly back. It’s still a strong buy for the price, though if you’re willing to spend $100 more, the Google Pixel 7a is our Editors’ Choice winner for midrange Android phones thanks to its superior cameras, better 5G support, and longer battery life.Design: Sleek and Familiar
With flat sides and rounded corners, the Galaxy A35 strongly resembles other Galaxy phones. It measures 6.37 by 3.07 by 0.32 inches (HWD) and weighs 7.37 ounces, making it bigger and heavier than the $299.99 Galaxy A25 (6.34 by 3.01 by 0.33 inches, 7.05 ounces) and Pixel 7a (5.98 by 2.87 by 0.35 inches, 6.8 ounces).
Slightly inset Gorilla Glass Victus+ panels cover the front and back, while the phone’s plastic frame is devoid of antenna lines. The volume rocker and power button are part of a raised area on the right side that Samsung calls the Key Island. The buttons feel sturdy and have a satisfying click. A down-firing speaker and a USB-C 2.0 port are on the bottom, while a combined microSD/SIM card tray is on the top. Unlike the Galaxy A25, the phone doesn’t have a headphone jack.
The Galaxy A35 sports an IP67 rating, which means it’s fully dustproof and can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. The Pixel 7a matches this rating, while the Galaxy A25 lacks one entirely.
On the rear, a trio of camera lenses protrude from the upper left. The front-facing camera sits within a cutout at the top of the screen; it makes for a more premium look than the U-shaped notch on the Galaxy A25. An under-display fingerprint sensor is available for biometric security. A less-secure face scanner is also available via the front-facing camera.
The Galaxy A35 is available in two colors, Awesome Lilac and Awesome Navy. The dark blue glass on the back of my Navy review unit is a fingerprint and dust magnet (as you can see in the image above). The Awesome Lilac version has an iridescent appearance, which should hide dust and fingerprints better. In a nice touch, the device’s matte plastic frame closely matches the color of the rear panel.Display: Big and Bright
The Galaxy A35’s 6.6-inch screen is larger than that of the Galaxy A25 (6.5 inches) and the Pixel 7a (6.1 inches). The Super AMOLED panel has a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. Animations look smooth and the display is easy to see indoors. Glare from direct sunlight can be an issue outdoors, but many lower-cost phones struggle under the sun.
For comparison, the Galaxy A25’s screen has the same resolution, refresh rate, and brightness. The smaller Pixel 7a has a slightly higher resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels, the same 1,000-nit peak brightness, and a lower refresh rate of 90Hz. Performance: In Line With the Price
msung Exynos 1380 system on a chip (SoC) powers the Galaxy A35 and is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (the microSD slot works with cards up to 1TB). At this price, I would have liked more RAM. Both the Moto G Power ($299.99) and the OnePlus Nord N30 ($299.99) have 8GB of RAM, as does the Pixel 7a.
Regular tasks like browsing Amazon and Reddit or using Gmail and Google Calendar were smooth in testing. Switching between apps didn’t pose issues either. I never felt the need to close apps to improve performance.
On Geekbench 6, a suite of tools that measures raw computing power, the Galaxy A35 reached a score of 1,010 on the single-core test and 2,790 on the multi-core test.
