Samsung Galaxy A35 Review

Samsung Galaxy A35 sports a 6.6‑inch 120Hz AMOLED, Exynos 1380, 50MP triple camera, 5,000mAh battery with 25‑W fast charging for just $119.

Introduction

Released in March 2024, the Samsung Galaxy A35 delivers a solid mid‑range experience at under $120. It pairs an elegant design with respectable performance and a good camera set‑up, making it a smart choice for budget‑conscious buyers.

Design & Display

The device boasts a 6.6‑inch Super AMOLED panel featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. Its resolution is 1080×2,340 pixels, offering a pixel density of about 390 ppi and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. With Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both front and back, a plastic frame, and IP67 dust/water resistance, the phone feels sturdy while staying light at 209 g.

Display Specs

• 1080×2,340 Full‑HD+ resolution
• 120Hz refresh (One UI 7 optimises the experience)
• 1000 nits peak brightness
• 390 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio
• 40 Hz minimum refresh, typically 120 Hz under normal use

Performance & Hardware

Under the hood sits the Exynos 1380, a 5‑nm octa‑core processor with four 2.4 GHz Cortex‑A78 cores and four 2.0 GHz Cortex‑A55 cores, coupled with a Mali‑G68 MP5 GPU. Scoring around 522,000 in AnTuTu, it comfortably handles everyday multitasking and casual gaming.

Chipset & RAM

• Exynos 1380
• RAM options: 4 GB, 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB
• Storage: 128 GB (UFS 3.0) or 256 GB, expandable via microSDXC (shared with one SIM slot)

Camera

The rear camera module is a triple setup: a 50‑MP wide sensor with OIS, an 8‑MP ultra‑wide 123° sensor, and a 5‑MP macro lens. Video recording supports 4K@30fps and 1080p at 30/60fps with gyro‑EIS. The 13‑MP front camera also records 4K at 30fps. The camera app includes HDR+, panorama, and scene‑aware AI processing for everyday shooting.

Battery & Charging

Equipped with a 5,000‑mAh Li‑Ion battery, the A35 supports 25‑W wired fast charging. The battery life reaches roughly 12¾ hours of active use under typical mixed‑mode workloads. There is no wireless charging support.

Software & Features

Running Android 14 with One UI 7 out of the box, Samsung guarantees up to four major Android upgrades. Key software features include an under‑display optical fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock, Bixby voice assistant, dual‑SIM (Nano + eSIM or dual Nano), and NFC in selected markets. Connectivity includes Wi‑Fi 6 (dual band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS + GLONASS + GalileO + BDS, USB‑C 2.0 OTG, and a 3.5mm headphone jack is absent.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- 120Hz AMOLED display with high brightness
- Generous 5,000 mAh battery and fast charging
- Decent camera trio with OIS and macro option
- Under‑display fingerprint sensor and Face Unlock
- Android 14 with up to four major updates
Cons:
- No wireless charging support
- Plastic frame may feel less premium
- Only 12‑month typical warranty plus optional extended coverage
- Limited build-time memory options for the 12 GB variant as it is only available in certain markets

Tags: Samsung, Galaxy A35, Android, mid-range, camera, battery