HomePhonesSamsungSamsung Galaxy A35 5G
Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon
Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

7.8/10 UpPhone score

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G brings Samsung's polished mid-range experience to the under-$300 segment, offering a vivid Super AMOLED display, 5G connectivity, and Samsung's multi-year software update commitment.

Cheapest plan with this phone
$6.25/mo
Straight Talk
with Straight Talk · see all 4 plans below
Or buy outright: $149.99
See this deal
Screen
6.6"
Chip
Exynos 1380
Camera
50 MP
The verdict, & two little voices

Should you actually get the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G?

The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
UP
Our takeEditorial
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is a well-rounded mid-range phone that delivers genuine value, particularly at the $149.99 Straight Talk price point. The Super AMOLED 120Hz display, IP67 water resistance, stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint sensor, and Samsung's four-year OS update commitment are a feature combination that is hard to match at this price. Storage expandability via microSD adds further practical value.

The Exynos 1380 is competent if not class-leading, and 25W charging is adequate but not exceptional. For buyers who want a reliable, feature-rich mid-range Android with long software support and Samsung's polished One UI, the Galaxy A35 5G is a strong choice — especially at the lower carrier price points.

UpPhone Team
The Optimist
“Samsung has done something MIRACULOUS with the Galaxy A35 5G — they took flagship DNA and crammed it into a phone that can go for $150! Super AMOLED! One hundred and twenty hertz! IP67 water resistance! An in-display fingerprint sensor! STEREO SPEAKERS! Four years of OS updates! At this price! The Awesome Lilac color alone is worth the price of admission! This is Samsung looking at the mid-range market and saying "you deserve better" and then DELIVERING better! Four OS upgrades means you will still be getting software updates in 2028 on a phone you bought for one hundred and fifty dollars! Samsung has essentially handed you a flagship experience wrapped in a budget bow and you should ABSOLUTELY accept this gift!”
— the angel on your shoulder
The Cynic
“Ah yes, the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G — Samsung's annual tradition of taking last year's features, slightly shuffling them around, and presenting the whole thing as innovation. Exynos 1380? Solid enough, sure, but Samsung sells you a Snapdragon in the US on the Galaxy S series while shipping Exynos everywhere else, and it is telling that even Samsung's mid-range gets the secondary chip. Twenty-five watt charging in 2024 when some phones in this range are doing 45W or 67W? Thrilling. And that $449 price tag at Ultra Mobile for a budget mid-ranger when Samsung's own A55 5G exists is a special kind of audacity. It is a competent phone, but Samsung's A-series naming is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.”
— the devil in your other ear
Our take

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G brings Samsung's polished mid-range experience to the under-$300 segment, offering a vivid Super AMOLED display, 5G connectivity, and Samsung's multi-year software update commitment.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is a mid-range Android smartphone launched in 2024, positioned as a capable everyday device for users who want Samsung quality without flagship pricing. Available in Awesome Navy, Awesome Iceblue, and Awesome Lilac colorways with 128 GB of storage, the A35 5G sits in a competitive segment where it offers Samsung's trusted build quality and software ecosystem. Prepaid pricing ranges from $149.99 at Straight Talk to $449 at Ultra Mobile, with US Cellular offering it at $399.99 outright or $13.33 per month on installments.

Samsung equipped the Galaxy A35 5G with a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate — a genuine differentiator at this price point where many competitors use 60Hz or 90Hz LCD panels. The Exynos 1380 processor handles everyday tasks competently, and Samsung committed to four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security patches, giving the A35 5G unusually strong software longevity for a mid-range device.

The camera system includes a 50 MP main camera, 8 MP ultrawide, and 5 MP macro, plus a 13 MP selfie camera. A 5,000 mAh battery supports 25W wired fast charging. The A35 5G also features an IP67 water resistance rating, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and stereo speakers — a feature set that punches well above what most phones at $150–$300 deliver. Samsung's One UI software experience adds polished productivity tools on top of stock Android.

What we love
  • 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
  • IP67 water resistance — uncommon at this price tier
  • Four OS upgrades + five years of security patches from Samsung
  • In-display fingerprint sensor for clean, notch-free aesthetics
  • 5,000 mAh battery with 25W fast charging
  • 50 MP main camera delivers competitive mid-range photography
  • Stereo speakers included
What we don't
  • Exynos 1380 processor trails Snapdragon equivalents in some benchmarks
  • 25W charging is slower than competitors like the Nothing Phone or Poco X6
  • No wireless charging support
  • Prepaid pricing varies widely — $149.99 to $449 across carriers

Full specifications

Display
Size6.6"
TypeSuper AMOLED
Resolution2340 x 1080 px
PPI390
Performance
ChipExynos 1380
RAM8 GB
Storage128 GB
OSAndroid 15
Camera
Rear camera50 MP
Rear camera 28 MP
Front camera13 MP
VideoYes
Design
Dimensions161.7 x 78.0 x 8.2 mm
Weight209
ColorsIceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.3
NFCYes
USBUSB 3.2 (5 Gbps)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G on individual carriers

All 4 plans with Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
Straight Talk
Installments + Basic Unlimited
Unlimited
24-mo term
$6.25/mo
total $30.25 over term
Straight Talk
Installments + Straight Talk Silver Unlimited
10 GB
24-mo term
$6.25/mo
total $48.75 over term
Straight Talk
Installments + Straight Talk Gold Unlimited
15 GB
24-mo term
$6.25/mo
total $61.25 over term
Straight Talk
Installments + Straight Talk Platinum Unlimited
Unlimited
24-mo term
$6.25/mo
total $71.25 over term
All 4 plans with Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G have?

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ (1080 x 2340 pixel) resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Super AMOLED panels deliver true blacks, vivid colors, and excellent outdoor visibility — advantages over the LCD screens commonly found at this price point. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations noticeably smoother than 60Hz devices.

Samsung's display calibration on the A35 5G offers multiple color modes, and the always-on display feature is supported. The in-display fingerprint sensor sits beneath the panel, contributing to a clean, notch-free front design. Overall, the display is one of the standout features of the Galaxy A35 5G and a compelling reason to choose it over competitors in its price range.

What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G have?

The Galaxy A35 5G includes a triple rear camera system: a 50 MP main wide camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8 MP ultrawide, and a 5 MP macro camera. The front-facing camera is 13 MP. Samsung's camera software processes images through its proven computational pipeline, and the 50 MP main sensor delivers sharp, well-exposed photos for a mid-range device. Video recording supports 4K at 30fps from the main camera.

OIS on the main camera is a meaningful inclusion at this price — it improves both photo sharpness and video stabilization. The ultrawide is useful for landscapes and group shots, while the macro camera handles extreme close-ups. Samsung's camera interface and scene optimization are mature and easy to use, making the A35 5G's camera system genuinely capable for everyday photography.

What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G houses a 5,000 mAh battery, which is ample for a full day and often into a second day under moderate use. Samsung rates the device for up to 24 hours of continuous video playback. The 120Hz display can increase battery drain compared to 60Hz alternatives, but the large 5,000 mAh cell compensates. Wired fast charging at 25W is supported; a charger is not included in the box. Wireless charging is not available on the A35 5G.

What processor does the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G use?

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 1380 chipset, built on a 5 nm process. The Exynos 1380 is a capable mid-range processor that handles everyday tasks, social media, moderate gaming, and multitasking without issue. In benchmark comparisons, it generally trails Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series equivalents slightly, but real-world performance in typical use cases is smooth and responsive. The chip integrates a 5G modem for sub-6 GHz 5G connectivity.

How much storage does the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G have?

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G comes with 128 GB of internal storage. The device supports microSD card expansion up to 1 TB, giving users flexibility to substantially increase storage capacity at a low cost. This combination of 128 GB built-in plus expandable storage is a significant practical advantage over iPhones and some Android competitors that lock storage with no expansion option. The base 128 GB comfortably handles apps, photos, and media for most users.

What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G have?

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G includes stereo speakers. Samsung tuned the dual-speaker system to deliver wider, louder audio than the single mono speakers found in many mid-range competitors. While the speakers are not Dolby Atmos-certified at this tier, they are noticeably better than what budget phones in this category typically offer and are well-suited for media consumption, calls, and casual listening without headphones.

Does the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G support fingerprint or face unlock?

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G features an in-display optical fingerprint sensor along with face unlock via the front camera. The in-display fingerprint sensor provides a clean look with no physical button on the side or back of the device. Unlock speed is reliable, though optical in-display sensors are generally slightly slower and less secure than capacitive side-mounted sensors. Face unlock is faster but less secure. Both options are available simultaneously, giving users flexibility.

Is the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G water-resistant?

Yes. The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G carries an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, meaning it is fully dust tight and can withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. This is a meaningful inclusion at the mid-range price point — many competing phones in the $150–$300 range lack formal IP certification entirely. The IP67 rating means the A35 5G can handle rain, splashes, and accidental drops into water without damage under normal conditions.

Related phones

Also consider

Apple iPhone 17e 128 GB
Apple iPhone 17e 128 GB
from $16.67/mo
Apple iPhone 17 256 GB
Apple iPhone 17 256 GB
from $23.03/mo
Apple iPhone 17 Pro 256 GB
Apple iPhone 17 Pro 256 GB
from $13.06/mo