What you should know about the newest, reasonably priced Samsung phones
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| (Image credit: Samsung) |
With the release of Samsung's Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35, two affordable phones that once again dazzle with flagship-caliber hardware, a significant upheaval in the low-cost phone market is about to occur. Hardware that in several respects even surpasses the Galaxy S24.
Our first impression is that these are a pair of phones that might easily rank among the finest inexpensive phones of the year; we'll dive into the cost, features, and other details below. The OnePlus 12R is one of the strong competitors that we now have, and in a few months, the Google Pixel 8a will be another. However, we have great expectations for these new Galaxy A devices when we get our hands on them for testing, considering how much we like the Galaxy A54 last year.
Let's take a look at the phones' internal components first, then come back soon for our assessment of them.
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs. A35: Specs Comparison
| Specification | Galaxy A55 | Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £439 / AU$699 | £339 / AU$549 |
| Display | 6.6-inch FHD AMOLED | 6.6-inch FHD AMOLED |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro | 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro |
| Front camera | 32MP selfie | 13MP selfie |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB | 6GB, 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Software | Android 14 with One UI 6.1 | Android 14 with One UI 6.1 |
| Colors | Awesome Ice Blue, Awesome Yellow, Awesome Lilac, Awesome Navy | Awesome Ice Blue, Awesome Yellow, Awesome Lilac, Awesome Navy |
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs A35: Price & Availability
On March 20 in the United Kingdom and March 25 in Australia, Samsung will begin selling the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35. With 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, the two phones cost £439 / AU$699 or £339 / AU$549, respectively. If you want 256GB instead, the phones cost £489 and £389 (U.K. only).
In fact, these prices are a whole £10 less than those of the Galaxy A54 or A34 from the previous year—a rare find in the current smartphone market that prospective customers will undoubtedly value.
A cheaper Galaxy A35 variant with 6GB RAM and a higher-spec Galaxy A55 model with an astounding 12GB RAM—more than certain Galaxy S24 models—are also available in select locations. Prices for them are not yet available, though.
Keeping with the U.K. prices for the basic versions, we find that it is comparable to the Google Pixel 7a (starting at £449) and, due to limited model availability, substantially less expensive than the £649 OnePlus 12R. However, the recently released Nothing Phone 2a is much less expensive at £319.
For US price and further comparisons with competing phones, return later.
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs A35: Design & Display
The Galaxy A phones from this year and the Galaxy A54 from last year have a lot of similarities. The power and volume controls are located on the Key Island, an elevated section of the side rail, which is one noticeable cosmetic alteration. For the first time, the side rail of the Galaxy A55's casing is made of metal.
The material of the display and back panel has changed covertly. Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, a somewhat quality material for phones at this price point, is used to cover the A55 and A35.
The same color options—Awesome Ice Blue, Awesome Lemon, Awesome Lilac, and Awesome Navy—are available for both phones.
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| (Image credit: Samsung) |
Utilizing the same 6.6-inch OLED display as the Galaxy A35, the Galaxy A55 is somewhat larger than the 6.4-inch Galaxy A54, placing both phones comfortably above the 6.1-inch Galaxy S24 and marginally below the 6.7-inch Galaxy S24 Plus. The punch-hole camera cutouts on each of the new phones are a noteworthy improvement over the A30 series, which was previously limited to the antiquated water-drop notch. Both displays have an FHD resolution and can achieve refresh rates of up to 120 Hz; however, the Galaxy A55, like the Galaxy S24 series, has an adjustable refresh rate for increased efficiency.
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs A35: Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A55 and the less expensive A35 diverge most in this area. The 50MP primary and 5MP macro cameras on both phones are divided from one another. The Galaxy A35 has an 8MP ultrawide/13MP selfie camera in place of the Galaxy A55's 12MP ultrawide and 32MP front selfie cameras.
Samsung also revealed that the Galaxy A55 supports 12-bit HDR video and offers better low-light photography, including portraiture owing to a Night Portrait mode.
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs A35: Performance Comparison
Although it was revealed before to introduction that the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 will be powered by mid-range Exynos 1480 and Exynos 1380 CPUs, respectively, we are unsure of the chipset that drives either device. We're not sure how it will affect benchmark results or actual performance, but it's likely that, similar to earlier Galaxy A-series phones, they'll offer respectable power, if not nearly as much as devices like the Pixel 7a, which have a flagship-caliber CPU.
However, Samsung has revealed the phones' RAM and storage capabilities. The Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 have 8GB RAM/128GB and 8GB RAM/256GB storage options, respectively. The Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 also have 12GB/256GB and 6GB/128GB options available.
Regarding the battery, both phones have this feature as well. The phones have built-in 5,000 mAh batteries and allow 25W charging.
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs A35: Software & Special Features
Along with Android 14 and One UI 6.1 out of the box, the A55 and A35 will also get five years of security updates and four years of complete Android upgrades. Though not nearly as long as the seven years of complete upgrades for the Galaxy S24 series, there's still plenty of time to appreciate new features.
Along with all the features that the most recent software provides, Knox Vault is another feature that Samsung has added to these two phones. Knox Vault is a secure software/hardware environment designed to safeguard all the sensitive information you probably have on your phone, including passwords and PINs. It is maintained apart from the other chips in phones. It's fantastic to see this feature make its way to Samsung's more reasonably priced phones from its previous flagship phone exclusivity.
Additionally, Samsung is pushing the Auto Blocker feature for the new Galaxy A series phones, which made its debut with a One UI upgrade last autumn. Power users who desire more freedom to install and use apps from sources other than the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store will find this optional system useful as it can scan your phone for malware and prevent sideloading of apps and unauthorized access via USB. It is also easily removable.