| 6.6-inch AMOLED | 120Hz | Exynos 1480 (A55) | Exynos 1380 (A35) |
| 5,000mAh battery | 25W charging | GG Victus+ | IP67 |
The Galaxy A-series includes some of Samsung’s best-selling smartphones worldwide, and the new A55 and A35 aim to continue that streak.
At first glance, it is quite difficult to set them apart, and that is because they share a bunch of features, from their screens to their batteries and charging capabilities.
However, the A55 is about ₹9,000 dearer than the A35 since it comes with slightly superior hardware.
So, if you are in the market for a Samsung midrange phone and wondering which one out of these two you should pick, then keep reading!
Inside each retail box, you get the phone, a SIM ejector pin, and a USB Type-C to C cable.
This is a typical Samsung affair, so do not expect any bundled charger.
While the design of every new Samsung smartphone looks more or less the same nowadays, these two smartphones bring something new to the table.
What you’d see on the right side of both these models is what Samsung calls a 'key island'. While the frame is flat, the area around the keys is raised and rounded.
Everyone will not like it, but I find it pretty cool. Plus, it makes locating buttons a tad bit easier when you’re not looking at the device.
The frame on the A55 is constructed out of aluminium, while that on the A35 is made of plastic.
But, in terms of the overall footprint and weight, these two smartphones are incredibly close with negligible differences.
If you prefer some visual flair, then the A35’s 'awesome lilac' colour should interest you. It forms these cool iridescent patterns when exposed to light.
Both models feature a glossy glass back, and get Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protection on the front. Also standard on both is an IP67 rating, which should make them quite resistant to heavy splashes of water.
For audio, there are dual speakers on both models, which sound crisp and deliver decent bass.
But, there is one obvious issue with the design. The relatively thick display bezels of this size do make these smartphones look outdated from the front.
Anyway, the optical fingerprint sensors on the A55 and A35 also work decently in terms of accuracy and speed.
The Galaxy A55 and A35 are built around the same 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of FHD+ and a refresh rate of 120Hz.
The local high brightness on both models is 1000 nits, which is fine and makes them pretty usable outdoors.
As far as the display quality is concerned, it is really good with punchy colours and no colour shifts with different viewing angles.
You get HDR10+ and Widevine L1 certifications as well, so watching content on OTT platforms should not be a problem.
On the software front, both the A55 and A35 run on One UI 6.1 based on Android 14.
It is a familiar software that’s feature-packed and fast at the same time.
However, this is not the same One UI you find on Samsung’s flagship smartphones, because it comes with pre-installed apps and Glance lock screen. So yes, you will have to put in some work to declutter the software.
On the flipside, you get 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates with these phones.
It is a big deal, especially when it comes to the A35, since no other brand gives such a long update promise in the ₹30,000 segment.
Now let’s shift focus on the Exynos silicon that powers these two smartphones.
The A35 runs on the same Exynos 1380 that powered the A54 last year. It is a middle-of-the-road chipset which focuses on efficiency.
It handles everyday tasks effortlessly and can handle games like BGMI at medium graphic settings, though it's best not to push it beyond that.
What’s more interesting is the new Exynos 1480 that debuts on the A55. This 4nm chipset is approximately 20% more powerful than the Exynos 1380.
An Antutu score of around 7,20,000 puts this chipset somewhere around the Dimensity 7200 in terms of raw performance.
Like its sibling, the A55 is designed with everyday usability in mind, making it a good choice for those who value a phone that balances efficiency and performance.
Please watch the video to see camera samples.
The A55 and A35 have triple rear cameras. Both have a 50MP primary camera and a 5MP macro camera. However, the ultrawide sensor specs differ: it is 8MP on the A35 and 12MP on the A55.
The selfie cameras are also different: it is 32MP on the A55 and 13MP on the A35.
Both smartphones deliver pretty decent camera performance for their respective price segment.
Weirdly enough, the A35 in some scenarios clicked better photos than the A55.
Both smartphones can also shoot 4K 30fps videos with their primary cameras, and the footage is quite comparable on both actually with good stability and detail.
Both smartphones come with a 5,000mAh battery and support 25W wired charging. Now, 25W is not fast enough by current standards, and not getting a bundled charger does not help either.
However, both smartphones deliver impressive battery life. With mixed usage, I could get around 7.5 hours of screen time with the A35.
The A55 was even better thanks to a newer and more efficient processor, stretching the screen time to around 8.5 hours.
Ok, so the A35 starts at ₹30,999 in India, while the A55 starts at ₹39,999.
If I had to buy one of these smartphones, I’d gravitate towards the A35. It does miss out on a few features compared to the A55, but still offers a mostly comparable performance while being more affordable.
Ultimately, choosing these A-series phones boils down to your priorities.
If a premium build and extended software support are paramount, both A35 and A55 are worth considering.
However, if you're open to exploring other brands, the ₹40,000 segment offers a wider range of specialised smartphones.
So, take your time, research your options, and choose the phone that best aligns with your needs.
Also watch: iQOO Neo 9 Pro review