Are you in search of a Samsung midrange smartphone? Priced at around €480, the Galaxy A55 may seem a bit expensive compared to the Galaxy A35, which starts at a more reasonable price of €380.
However, upon closer examination, you will find that the previous year’s Galaxy A54 is also a viable option in this price range. It has undergone a nice depreciation in value and can often be found selling for less than the A35 on average.
This presents an interesting dilemma. Each option has its positives and negatives, and we will discuss them further in this comparison.
Table of Contents:
If you want to start by comparing the complete spec sheets, or proceed with our editor’s assessment, continue reading below.
Size comparison
Despite Samsung’s slightly confusing numbering scheme, the Galaxy A35 is actually the larger device of the two. It features a 6.6-inch display, compared to the 6.4-inch screen of the A54. This difference in size is quite noticeable.
The new A35 is similar in dimensions to its predecessor, the Galaxy A34, but it has become heavier, weighing 209 grams this year. This makes it heavier than the A54, which weighs 202 grams. While the difference may not be significant in practical usage, it does indicate an upgraded build quality in the A35.
The Galaxy A35 now boasts a more premium design with a glass back instead of plastic. The front glass has also been upgraded to Gorilla Glass Victus+. Although not the most advanced glass from Corning, it is an improvement over the Gorilla Glass 5 found in the A54 and A34. Both the A35 and A54 offer the same IP67 ingress protection rating for durability.
In terms of design, the A34 and A54 feature a rounder design compared to the new A35. The A35 has a more modern look with flatter sides and an elevated middle frame for the buttons.
Left: Galaxy A35 • Right: Galaxy A54
Additionally, the Galaxy A35 has replaced its teardrop notch style camera with a punch-hole design, giving it a more premium appearance similar to the higher-end Galaxy 5X series. This means there is minimal visual difference between the A35 and A54 from the front view. The A35 has slightly thinner display bezels, but the variation is minor.
When it comes to color options, personal preference will play a key role. The A54 offers more traditional color choices including Lime, Graphite, Violet, and White. On the other hand, the A35 is available in Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon.
Both the A35 and A54 have similar controls and layouts, including stereo speaker setups, optical under-display fingerprint readers, NFC support, and expandable storage via a microSD slot. However, neither model includes a 3.5mm audio jack or an onboard FM radio receiver. It is worth noting that both models feature virtual proximity sensors.
Display comparison
The display on the Galaxy A35 remains mostly unchanged from the A34, possibly using the same 6.6-inch, 120Hz Super AMOLED panel. The A54 features a slightly smaller 6.4-inch display with the same resolution and refresh rate. Both displays offer good brightness levels suitable for outdoor use.
The notable difference is that the Galaxy A54 is HDR10+ certified, while the A35 lacks any formal HDR certification. However, applications like YouTube may still provide HDR streams to the A35. The A54 has a slight advantage in this regard but lacks official HDR support on all platforms.
Battery life
Both phones are equipped with large 5,000 mAh batteries and use the same Exynos 1380 chipset. Although there is a slight difference in display size, battery life is expected to be similar between the two.
However, Samsung has managed to optimize battery performance on the A35 compared to the A54. This improvement may be attributed to software enhancements, and it is hoped that similar improvements will be extended to the A54.
Charging speed
Both the Galaxy A35 and A54 support Samsung’s 25W PPS + PD-based charging. Surprisingly, the A54 charges faster than the A35 despite having the same battery capacity. This difference is noticeable, with the A54 reaching a full charge in just over an hour, while the A35 takes closer to an hour and a half.
The A54 also maintains higher charge percentages at various checkpoints during charging compared to the A35. While the variance is not significant, it is worth mentioning.
Speaker test
Both the Galaxy A35 and A54 feature a similar hybrid stereo speaker setup with one bottom-firing speaker and an amplified earpiece acting as the second channel.
After conducting standardized loudspeaker testing, both phones achieved a good loudness rating with clear vocals, sharp highs, and adequate bass. While there may be minor differences in sound tuning between the two devices, the overall quality is comparable.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 chipset powers both the Galaxy A35 and the A54, offering similar performance levels. This modern 5nm chip features an octa-core CPU setup with four Cortex-A78 cores and four Cortex-A55 cores, along with an onboard Mali-G68 MP5 GPU.
Both models come with a base configuration of 128GB storage and 6GB RAM, which is expandable via microSD. The A54 appears to offer more storage and RAM options compared to the A35.
Although the A35 and A54 use the same chipset, benchmark tests show that the A35 offers slightly better CPU performance. However, this difference may be a result of software optimization. The thermal-throttling issue present in the A54 seems to have been addressed in the A35, resulting in improved stability and sustained performance.
While most users may not notice these performance enhancements in everyday use, it is worth acknowledging the improved performance of the Exynos 1380 in the A35.
Camera comparison
At first glance, the Galaxy A35 and A54 share similar camera setups, both featuring a 50MP main camera. However, they utilize different sensors, with the A54 using a larger 1/1.56″, 1.0µm sensor and the A35 having a smaller 1/1.96″ sensor. The A54 also includes a higher-resolution 12MP ultrawide camera, while the A35 offers an 8MP unit. Both phones lack autofocus for the ultrawide camera and feature a 5MP macro shooter.
On the front, the A54 sports a higher resolution 32MP camera with a larger sensor, while the A35 includes a 13MP unit. Both front cameras lack autofocus but can capture 4K selfie videos.
Image quality
Both phones produce 12.5MP photos with their main cameras due to pixel binning. Image quality is comparable between the two, with minor differences in processing. Overall, the A35 offers a slightly more relaxed and natural look compared to the A54. The difference, however, is minimal.
It is challenging to distinguish a clear winner between the two devices, as they offer similar performance. The A35 may have a slight advantage in terms of image processing, but the A54 is not far behind.
Video quality
The Galaxy A35 and A54 both support 4K video capture on their main cameras. Video quality is good on both devices, with plenty of detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy. The A54 has a slight edge in video quality, especially in low-light conditions.
Verdict
Ultimately, both the Galaxy A35 and A54 are excellent mid-range smartphones with similar features and performance. The A54 offers faster charging and additional video capabilities, but the A35 excels in battery life and overall performance.
When choosing between the two, the decision may come down to personal preferences and pricing. Both devices provide a satisfying user experience, so choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
- Samsung’s latest design language.
- Premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus+.
- Larger 6.6-inch display.
- Better battery endurance.
- Improved performance and less thermal throttling.
- Longer software support.
Get the Samsung Galaxy A35 for:
- HDR10+ video certification.
- Faster charging rate.
- 4K video capture on the ultrawide camera.