Review: The Samsung Galaxy A35 and A55 look a lot like their more expensive brothers | Tweakers

This is a shortened version of a review that appeared on Tweakers.

Samsung’s mid-range phones have been very popular for years. That’s not surprising, since they are broadly very similar to their more expensive S brothers. This applies to the appearance and the software, but also increasingly to the specifications. The A-phones are becoming increasingly powerful, making the difference with the flagships increasingly smaller.

The differences between the A-models are also becoming smaller on paper. The A35 and A55 are even closer in terms of specifications than last year’s A54 and A34. While they have the same introductory price as those phones: 379 and 479 euros respectively. In this review we look at what the added value of the A55 is and whether the extra price of one hundred euros can be justified. We also find out whether you would be better off with a model from a year earlier, since these devices have now been reduced in price.

Both phones feel sturdy and feel great in the hand; you wouldn’t say you’re dealing with cheaper midrange phones. Both the A35 and the A55 have an OLED screen with a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels and a maximum refresh rate of 120 hertz. Our screen measurements show that both screens can achieve a brightness of at least 1,000 candela per square meter. The brightness of the A35 in particular can generally keep up with that of the more expensive flagships. The screen is therefore easy to read in full sunlight.

The minimum brightness is also lower than that of many smartphones from the top segment, so you can also use the device comfortably in a dark room. The colors of the screens are also displayed truthfully. A small color deviation is only visible on the A34. Furthermore, a fingerprint scanner has been placed under the screen and the phone can be submerged in water up to a depth of one meter. These are things that we do not always encounter on smartphones in this price range.

We compared the photo performance of the Samsung Galaxy A35 and A55 with each other and the older Google Pixel 7. The latter device is currently between the two Samsungs in terms of price. Our comparison shows that the photos of the A35 and A55 suffer less from distortion than the Pixel and are therefore slightly more accurate. The colors are also more realistic, although the photos from Samsung smartphones are somewhat darker. At night, the camera performance of the Pixel 7 and A55 is quite comparable, but the A35 clearly captures less detail and takes less clear photos.

All devices in the comparison have to make do without a telephoto camera, which means the cameras cannot zoom in as nicely. Details are somewhat smeared and appear blurry, especially on the A35. There is an ultra-wide-angle camera. This allows you to take photos with a wide angle of view. The A55’s ultra-wide-angle photos are slightly tighter than those of the A35, but the Pixel 7 captures much more detail.

The A35 and A55 also have a macro camera, but with a resolution of 5 megapixels it is not much. The colors do not stand out and it is difficult to get a sharp image. The selfie camera is also disappointing. Photos are rarely sharp and contain few details. The Samsungs can film in 4K resolution at thirty frames per second. This is striking in the price range of the A35, since many other similarly priced phones do not go beyond 1,080 pixels.

The software of the mid-range cars is very similar to that of the more expensive models, but there are a number of differences. For example, the AI ​​functions are conspicuous by their absence and there is much more bloatware on board. There are even more of these pre-installed apps than on the A34 and A54. This means that apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Candy Crush will be installed automatically, whether you want them to or not. However, almost all of these can be removed.

Another point where Samsung distinguishes between the midrange and high-end devices is the software support. The more expensive smartphones receive new updates for seven years, while the mid-range smartphones receive ‘only’ five years of security updates and four years of Android upgrades. That is still better than most manufacturers in the same price range.

The A55 is equipped with an Exynos 1480 chip, while the A35 has a 1380 chip. Although the A55 contains a better chip in theory, you hardly notice it in practice. Switching between apps is fast and smooth without any stuttering on both devices. Playing demanding games at the highest settings is also no problem. Only when editing media will you find yourself dealing with midrange smartphones.

We tested the battery life of both devices while browsing and watching videos. What is immediately noticeable is that the batteries of the A35 and A55 last much less long while browsing than their predecessors. For example, with the A34 you can scroll through web pages for twenty hours, while the A35 can do that for less than thirteen hours. The A55 can browse for an hour less at a time than the A54, which lasts seventeen hours on a charge. However, the battery life while watching videos shows a different picture. The A55 can last no less than a day, three hours and nineteen minutes. The other three devices just shy of a full 24 hours.

The phones also need about an hour and a half to be fully charged. That is about the same as last year’s devices, but many competitors charge faster. In addition, the adapter to charge the A35 and A55 must be purchased separately, as Samsung has not supplied this for years.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 and A55 are not only very similar to each other, but also to the more expensive S24 devices. This gives them a high-quality appearance and a colorful and bright screen. The chips of both mid-range products are also very similar. They both respond equally quickly and smoothly and can effortlessly run the most demanding Android games of the moment.

The software of the A35 and A55 is also very similar to the software of the more expensive Samsungs, although the AI ​​functions are missing and unfortunately there is much more bloatware on board. Furthermore, the mid-range cars are supported with updates for a shorter period of time: five years instead of seven. Although that is still better than most other smartphones in this price category.

The biggest difference between the two devices is in the cameras. Those of the A55 generally capture more detail and can handle low light better, although the A35 also takes excellent photos for its price range. However, the macro and selfie cameras of both devices are disappointing.

Yet the differences between the two phones are so small that the cheaper A35 will be the better choice for most users. Although the predecessors of both devices have now been reduced in price, we are not so quick to recommend them. The A35 is virtually the same as last year’s A54, which means that the A34, despite its lower price, quickly feels outdated. The A55 is more future-proof than the A54 due to its faster chip, making the newer model a better choice if you want to game on it a lot. Since the specifications of the A54 are almost the same as those of the A35, in other cases the latter is the better choice. The A35 is cheaper than the reduced price A54.

Want to know more about the Samsung Galaxy A35 and A55, such as specifications, user experiences and the stores with the best prices? Then view the overview in the Tweakers Pricewatch.