Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35: Solid Midrange Contenders with Long-lasting Battery and Stylish Design

Samsung’s Galaxy A lineup introduces several of the brand’s high-end software capabilities to the mid-tier market, priced somewhat above the Galaxy M and Galaxy F ranges. Earlier this year, Samsung released the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 models in India, with retail prices under Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 30,000, respectively. These smartphones feature the company’s Exynos processors and are set to receive four years of Android updates, extending up to Android 18. So, how do they compare to other smartphones in a similar price range? After spending time with both models, here are my impressions.

Pricing of Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 in India

The Samsung Galaxy A55 is available for Rs. 39,999 for the 8GB+128GB version. It also comes in 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB memory options, costing Rs. 42,999 and Rs. 45,999, respectively.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A35 begins at Rs. 30,999 for the base variant featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, with the 8GB+256GB model priced at Rs. 33,999.

The Samsung Galaxy A55 sports a flat screen, flush edges, and a sleek back panel

 

The Galaxy A55 is available in Ice Blue and Navy colors, while the Galaxy A35 comes in Ice Blue, Lilac, and Navy options. Samsung provided the Ice Blue variant of the Galaxy A55 and the Lilac color of the Galaxy A35 for review purposes.

Both devices come in a compact packaging that includes a charging cable, a SIM ejector tool, and some manuals. However, they do not include a clear TPU case or a charging brick, requiring separate purchases for these items.

Design Review: Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35

The design of the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 is quite alike, encompassing the placements for the SIM tray, USB Type-C port, triple rear camera setup, and bottom audio speaker grille. Both models also feature the new Key Island design for their volume and power controls, situated in the identical location. If observed side by side, they would be difficult to distinguish.

Within Samsung’s mid-budget offerings, the Galaxy A series consistently presents the most visually appealing options, and the Galaxy A55 and A35 follow suit. The back of these devices closely resembles this year’s premium Galaxy S24 (Review). My experience with both models showed their glossy back panels resisted fingerprints well.

Comparison of Samsung Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A35

 

On the front, both smartphones are fitted with Super AMOLED displays featuring up to a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. The bezels are noticeably thick, with the front-facing camera embedded in a centrally positioned hole-punch design.

The Galaxy A55 showcases brushed aluminum edges that are flat, while the Galaxy A35 has similar flat aluminum edges but with a matte finish. Neither of the phones includes a TPU case, which meant I used them without any cover during the review.

Specifications and Software Review: Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35

The Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 both offer a 6.6-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,408 pixels) Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and peak brightness reaching up to 1,000 nits. These screens, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, are flat with slightly thicker bezels when compared to other models in the same price category.

Samsung has guaranteed four major OS upgrades and an additional year of security support for the Galaxy A55 and A35, implying they will be viable until 2028. This commitment is impressive by today’s standards, especially for mid-range devices.

The devices come with several pre-installed applications, such as Spotify, which can be uninstalled. The Galaxy A35 additionally installed Candy Crush Saga via a built-in AppCloud service, which lacks an opt-out feature. After each software update, both phones frequently prompt users to enable the built-in Glance lock screen features, requiring several taps to bypass this, which can be tedious.

Samsung’s One UI 6.1 interface (click to view)

 

Nonetheless, the software experience remains largely streamlined, which aligns with Samsung’s matured One UI interface, refined since its inception in 2018. The Galaxy A series additionally features options such as Samsung Wallet for contactless transactions and secure document storage, Link to Windows for enhanced connectivity, and Good Lock for additional customization possibilities.

Another handy tool is Samsung’s Object Eraser, which utilizes AI to eliminate unwanted elements from photos. Both models support connectivity options such as 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C connector for charging and audio, although they lack a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Performance Review: Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35

The Galaxy A55 is powered by a 4nm Exynos 1480 chip with up to 12GB of RAM, while the Galaxy A35 runs a 5nm Exynos 1380 processor with 8GB of RAM. These specifications suggest that they should maintain efficient performance for a few years down the line. They handle daily tasks competently, including web browsing, social media applications, casual gaming, and photography.

Most games can be played on both models; titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Asphalt 9 perform well without any throttling after about half an hour of playtime. However, heavier titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile exhibit noticeable lag, and even the Galaxy A55 shows difficulty with the graphics-demanding Genshin Impact.

One UI 6, based on Android 14, delivers an enhanced software experience with just a few exceptions. RAM management is impressive, as applications like Instagram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Outlook, X (previously Twitter), and Threads—my frequently used apps—stayed in memory when switching between them.

Samsung could take inspiration from Motorola or Nothing to prevent its Galaxy A series phones from inundating users with prompts for features like Glance after software updates—especially for users who have already opted out. An update was available for both models post-setup, and Samsung has incorporated system A/B updates support (available only for the Galaxy A55), reducing downtime after an update.

Samsung Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A35 screens provide acceptable visibility outdoors

 

Synthetic benchmark tests reveal that both the Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 still lag behind some competitors. The Galaxy A55 achieved scores of 1,132 and 3,346 in single-core and multi-core tests on Geekbench 6, respectively, whereas the Galaxy A35 scored 1,013 in single-core and 2,805 in multi-core tests.

In the AnTuTu v10 benchmark, the scores for the Galaxy A55 and A35 were 678,167 and 606,767, respectively. The Galaxy A55’s PCMark Work 3.0 score was 13,315, only slightly above the Galaxy A35’s 13,176 points.

For further context, the iQoo Z9, which I recently reviewed, had a single-core score of 1,151 and a multi-core score of 2,669, plus an AnTuTu v10 score of 687,545. The Dimensity 7200 chip in the iQoo device offers superior raw performance compared to the Exynos chips found in these models. The AnTuTu and Geekbench single-core scores for the iQoo Z9 exceed both the Galaxy A55 and A35, while that device is priced starting at Rs. 19,999.

The performance of the Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 on key graphics benchmark tests is listed below:

The Galaxy A55 and A35 feature a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness around 1,000 nits. These panels are bright enough for use in daylight, provided auto-brightness is activated. The One UI includes an Extra Dim mode that reduces screen brightness further to alleviate eye strain.

Both devices are equipped with 5,000mAh batteries and are well-optimized; the Galaxy A55 managed 28 hours and 14 minutes, while the Galaxy A35 lasted 26 hours and 34 minutes during our HD video loop battery test. In practical use, neither device required charging more frequently than once every 30-35 hours during moderate use.

Samsung does not provide a 25W charging brick with these models, so you must buy one separately. When tested with my Belkin USB PD 3.0 charging brick, both phones charged to 50 percent in approximately 45 minutes, with full charges taking around 1 hour and 25 minutes. Both devices hold an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, offering some peace of mind against accidental spills.

Camera Review: Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35

Both the Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 incorporate a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 5-megapixel macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture. They also feature 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel ultra-wide cameras, respectively, both equipped with an f/2.2 aperture. The front camera is 32 megapixels on the Galaxy A55 and 13 megapixels on the Galaxy A35 for selfies and video calls.

The Galaxy A55 uses auto (left) and portrait modes to capture images with vivid, striking colors

 

The camera interfaces on the Galaxy A55 and A35 mirror the design found in Samsung’s more premium Galaxy S series, featuring a Pro mode that enables fine adjustments in settings such as white balance, focus, and exposure. This feature is also available for video recording with a Pro Video mode, which is fantastic. Both devices support various video recording features including Samsung’s Super Steady stabilization, Slow Mo, and Super Slow Mo modes.

The main cameras on both models produce detailed shots, supporting 2x in-sensor zoom to enhance images of distant subjects. These cameras perform excellently outdoors in sufficient light, providing slightly enhanced color vibrancy in the resulting images. Both phones can produce impressive portrait photography, yielding best results in natural light.

Images from the Galaxy A35 appear crisp, though close-up views reveal some smoothing (click to see)

 

The ultra-wide camera on the Galaxy A55 performs slightly better than that on the Galaxy A35, but both fall short compared to the primary camera, particularly under low-light conditions. While suitable for capturing nearby buildings and scenery, images from these sensors display some edge distortion and less reliable color accuracy than the primary 50-megapixel camera.

The camera app defaults to long exposure shots (Night Shot) in dim lighting, though you can quickly disable this feature for clearer images of moving subjects. Additionally, both the Galaxy A55 and A35 have a Night Mode that captures bright images in challenging low-light environments, though some noise reduction may occur in the process.

The Galaxy A35’s primary camera excels in low-light photography (click to view)

 

The 5-megapixel macro camera on both the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 takes acceptable photos, provided there is ample natural light. I found that tapping to focus on the subject and taking multiple shots was helpful for ensuring clarity. The front-facing cameras on both devices deliver clear selfies, though those from the Galaxy A55, equipped with a 32-megapixel lens, exhibit more detail.

Macro shots from the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 are nearly indistinguishable

 

Both devices can record videos in either 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 30fps and 60fps. The rear camera benefits from gyroscope-enabled Super Steady mode for excellent stabilization in various lighting situations. The front cameras offer 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps, with the Galaxy A55 also supporting 1080p at 60fps for selfie videos.

Final Verdict: Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 Review

The Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 come with respectable camera systems and processors, but do they rank as the best mid-range smartphones currently available? It largely depends on your specific needs. From a subjective standpoint, these smartphones are visually appealing and backed by a four-year Android OS upgrade promise, along with an additional year of security updates.

Having an IP67 rating is a welcome feature, and they both exhibit excellent battery longevity, although Samsung has chosen to maintain 25W charging speeds and omits a charging adapter from the package.

If raw performance is your main concern, alternatives like the Nothing Phone 2 (Review), OnePlus 12R (Review), or the iQoo Neo 9 Pro (Review) might be better options than the Galaxy A55. Likewise, if you are in the market for the Galaxy A35, contenders such as the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G (Review), Redmi Note 13 Pro, Infinix GT 20 Pro, or the iQoo Neo 7 Pro (Review) offer better CPU performance at a similar price.

If you’re seeking a smartphone with outstanding camera capabilities priced under Rs. 40,000, consider Samsung’s own Galaxy S23 FE (Review), which features more versatile camera options including a capable telephoto lens and a more powerful Exynos processor. Alternatively, the Google Pixel 7a (Review) could be a worthy competitor to the Galaxy A55. For the Galaxy A35, options range from the Galaxy M55 (Review), Vivo V30e, and Oppo Reno 11 5G.

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