Samsung Galaxy A35: Comprehensive Review

Samsung continues its tradition of releasing feature-rich mid-range smartphones with the Samsung Galaxy A35. Announced on March 11, 2024, and released on March 15, 2024, the Galaxy A35 is designed to offer a premium experience without breaking the bank. This comprehensive review covers all the critical aspects of the Galaxy A35, from its design and display to performance and camera capabilities.

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung Galaxy A35  supports a broad range of network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G, ensuring fast and reliable connectivity across various regions and network conditions. This makes it an excellent choice for users who need robust network performance.

Design and Build

The Galaxy A35 boasts a sleek design with dimensions of 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm and a weight of 209 grams. The build quality is impressive, featuring a Gorilla Glass Victus+ front, a plastic frame, and a glass back. The device is available in four attractive colors: Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon. Additionally, it offers IP67 dust and water resistance, which can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.

Display

The 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display is one of the standout features of the Galaxy A35. With a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and a pixel density of approximately 390 ppi, the display delivers vibrant and sharp visuals. It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach up to 1000 nits in high brightness mode (HBM), ensuring smooth and clear viewing even under direct sunlight. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, and it features an always-on display functionality.

Performance

Powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset built on a 5nm process, the Galaxy A35 offers robust performance for everyday tasks and more demanding applications. The octa-core CPU comprises four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz, coupled with a Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. The device runs on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1, providing a smooth and intuitive user experience.

Memory and Storage

The Galaxy A35 comes in several memory configurations:
– 128GB storage with 6GB or 8GB of RAM
– 256GB storage with 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB of RAM

Additionally, it features a microSDXC card slot that uses the shared SIM slot, allowing users to expand storage further.

Camera System

Main Camera

The triple-camera setup on the back includes:
– A 50 MP wide sensor with f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, and OIS
– An 8 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 aperture and a 123-degree field of view
– A 5 MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture

The main camera supports 4K video recording at 30fps and 1080p video recording at 30/60fps with gyro-EIS for stabilized footage. Features like LED flash, panorama, and HDR enhance the photography experience.

Selfie Camera

The front-facing camera is a 13 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. It also supports 4K and 1080p video recording at 30fps, making it suitable for high-quality selfies and video calls.

Audio and Connectivity

The Galaxy A35 comes with stereo speakers, providing a good audio experience, but it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack. Connectivity options include:
– Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 with dual-band and Wi-Fi Direct support
– Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP and LE
– GPS with GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, and QZSS support
– NFC (region-dependent)
– USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG support

Sensors and Battery

The device features an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, and virtual proximity sensing. It is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 5000 mAh battery, supporting 25W wired charging.

Pricing and Models

The Samsung Galaxy A35 is priced competitively at approximately $285, €242.15, £210, or ₹26,850. The available models include SM-A356E, SM-A356E/DS, SM-A356B, SM-A356B/DS, SM-A356U, and SM-A356U1.

Performance Benchmarks

– AnTuTu:522829 (v9), 603441 (v10)
– GeekBench:2740 (v5), 2931 (v6)
– 3DMark Wild Life:2751 (offscreen 1440p)
– Display Contrast Ratio: Infinite (nominal)
– Loudspeaker: -26.1 LUFS (Good)
–  Battery Life:  Active use score of 12:26h