Galaxy A35 and A55: What Samsung has changed compared to their predecessors

The Samsung Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 are currently among the bestsellers on Digitec and Galaxus and receive top marks from the Community with 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Now the successors are available to order. The A35 is priced from 359 francs or euros, the A55 from 429 francs. Incidentally, this is already the first, very pleasing difference to its predecessors: the A55 is 30 francs cheaper than the A54 a year ago, while the A35 is still 10 francs cheaper. Where are the other differences?

Here is the pre-sale and the promotion for Switzerland:

Here is the pre-sale and the promotion for Germany:

Size and design: 6.6 inches becomes the standard

It was a little confusing with the predecessor: the cheaper A34 with 6.6 inches had a larger screen than the more expensive A54 with 6.4 inches. This difference no longer exists. Both new models come with a 6.6-inch touchscreen.

On paper, this is just as good as last year: the Amoled display has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, a maximum refresh rate of 120 hertz and a brightness of 1000 nits.

I would also call them quadruplets visually. You can only tell the two generations apart by the colour of the casing. Samsung has given the four new Galaxies slightly different colours than last year: instead of white, there is now a white-blue, instead of violet a light purple, instead of lime a more yellow lemon and instead of black a very dark blue.

And if you look closely, you will see that the buttons on the right-hand side are more prominent. The entire metal frame protrudes slightly in this area. This should also provide a better grip.

An upgrade for the processor

The chips installed are one of the most important differences compared to the previous year - and also between the models. The A35 uses the Exynos 1380, which was reserved for the A54 last year. Samsung has given the A55 the recently launched Exynos 1480.

The better and newer processor is therefore a justification for the price difference between the A35 and A55. The memory sizes have remained the same: 6 or 8 GB of RAM, 128 or 256 GB of memory for the operating system, apps and data.

More security for the new products

The improvements to the software are more difficult to recognise on paper - you'll have to wait for our tests for details. Samsung has upgraded the security features in particular for the new models.

Samsung Knox Vault is used for the first time in the A series. This security solution is based on a storage environment that is physically separated from the main processor and normal memory. Important data such as login information, pin codes, passwords and encryption data are stored here.

An "Auto Blocker" is also installed, but you have to actively switch it on. This software feature blocks apps from unauthorised sources, checks programs before installation and prevents software installation and the transfer of malware when an external device is connected via USB-C.

By the way: The A35 and A55 will receive the next four generations of Android and security updates for five years. This is exactly the same as for the A34 and A54.

How much better are the cameras?

Whether photos or videos are successful always depends on the interplay of hardware and software. Of course, this also applies to the new Samsung smartphones - and will only be shown effectively when tested. The manufacturer at least states that the processing of image data has been improved, especially when taking pictures in difficult lighting conditions.

This can certainly make a difference. In terms of hardware, on the other hand, there were only minor upgrades compared to the previous year, from which the A35 in particular benefits with a new main camera. It now also has a 50-megapixel sensor. The selfie cam on both models is significantly better than last year: instead of a sensor with 13 megapixels, one with 32 megapixels is used.

In addition to the processor, the cameras are the second area in which the more expensive A55 stands out from the cheaper A35. The A55 comes with a slightly larger main sensor that can capture more light. In the wide-angle camera, the more expensive model has a sensor with 12 megapixels instead of just 8 megapixels.

Conclusion: Gentle upgrade for the popular models

Samsung's two new smartphone models are not completely new. Instead, the tried-and-tested formula has been slightly improved. You get the proven Samsung quality at affordable prices - without the manufacturer neglecting the details that are important in everyday life. The battery is very large at 5000 mAh, the housing is IP67 waterproof and the screen is high-quality and bright. However, you will have to do without luxuries such as wireless charging or a glass back.

Since the prices of the two new models have fallen slightly, the deals are quite fair. But the two predecessors have become cheaper over time and are still attractively priced - so you can save around 100 to 150 francs or euros. You will have to compromise on the processor, the security software and probably also the camera. In addition, you have already "lost" the first year of updates.

You can read more details about the products here: