Samsung has thrown out its 2024 line of mid-range phones, which combines weaker specs and feature sets with more attractive prices than its flagship phones. The Galaxy A55 and A35 have 6.6-inch Super AMOLED displays. For the first time on its budget phones, the company included Knox Vault, a walled security section that debuted on the Galaxy S21.
Both Android 14 phones have FHD+ (2220×1080) displays (374 pixels per inch) and variable refresh rates of up to 120Hz. Like last year's Galaxy A54, both include Samsung's Vision Booster feature, which adjusts the screen's tone mapping based on ambient lighting conditions. Its diagonal measurements of 6.6 inches (excluding rounded corners) are a slight increase over the A54's 6.4 inches.
Samsung's official materials do not list the phones' processors, but Android Police reports the A55 uses an Exynos 1480, while the A35 makes do with a slower Exynos 1380. RAM comes in different configurations: 8GB or 12GB on the A55 and 6GB or 8GB on the cheaper A35. Your storage options are 128GB or 256GB on each phone, but only the A55 has a microSD card slot.
Besides performance, the cameras will be one of the main differences between the two phones. The pair has three rear cameras, each with a 50MP main camera and a 5MP macro lens. But the more expensive A55 uses a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, while the A35 has a simpler 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens. Additionally, the A55 has a 32MP front camera, compared to the A35's 13MP front camera. Both use optical image stabilization (OIS) and video digital image stabilization (VDIS) to compensate for camera shake.
Unsurprisingly, neither phone appears to include the generative ai features that Samsung uses to differentiate the Galaxy S24 series (and older flagships, via software updates). The closest you can get in this price range is the company's “ai advanced image signal processing (ISP)” for better low-light photography, included only in the A55.
Samsung didn't include the phones' build material in its press release or official specifications, but Android Police The A55 is said to be the company's first mid-range phone with a metal frame. (Last year's Galaxy A54 used plastic.) Engadget has reached out to Samsung for clarification and we'll update this article if we hear back.
Each of the phones has a 5,000 mAh battery. Samsung estimates two days of battery life, but this could vary greatly depending on usage.
US pricing and release dates are not yet available. However, Samsung says the A55 will start at £439 (US$562) in the UK, while the A35 will start at £339 (US$434). Samsung lists a March 20 release date for both phones in the UK.
