 "Samsung Galaxy M35 Review: Punching above its class")
Pros:
- Solid AMOLED display in this budget
- Bankable performance
- Solid software update cycle
- Vapour cooling chamber at this price point
- Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection
- 4K video recording in the front camera
- Comes with NFC
- Battery life
Cons:
- Slow charging + No charger in the box
- No headphone jack
- Think bezels around a gorgeous display
Price: Rs 21,499 for the tested 8GB + 128GB unit, starts at Rs 19,999
Rating: 4.25/5
Samsung has been consistently launching some pretty solid phones in its premium line-up, as well as its mid-tier lineup. However, for some reason, it has been missing from the budget end of the spectrum. They only have the Galaxy M series in the sub-25K category, a segment that is saturated by the likes of Realme, Vivo and Redmi. With the Galaxy M35, Samsung hopes to shake things up a bit in one of the most competitive segments of the Indian smartphone market, and boy, do they have the offering to do just that.
The Galaxy M35 is the successor to the Galaxy M34 from last year, a device that, despite its shortcomings, was one of the best overall packages around the Rs 20,000 price point. With the Galaxy M35, Samsung is taking things up a notch — you get slightly better performance better cameras and a substantially better battery life, but, if you play your cards right and avail of various offers, you can get the device for as low as Rs 15,999. Now that is a solid deal.
However, there are some legacy issues as well. Charging, for example. At a time when most of its competitors are offering crazy charging speeds, Samsung is sticking to a more conventional and slow charging system. And then, there is the issue of adware or bloatware, something that just doesn’t sit well with the kind of image Samsung has developed for itself over the years.
So how does the Galaxy M35 stand up as a device? Is it worth spending your hard-earned money on? We find out.
Samsung Galaxy M35 Review: The design
The Galaxy M35 5G carries forward the same minimalist design language of last year’s Galaxy M34. On the back panel of the phone, we get a clean, vertically aligned camera array, with Samsung’s logo subtly placed near the bottom half.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe triple camera setup is aligned in a single row, accompanied by a flash. Our review unit came in Dark Blue, but the phone is also available in Light Blue and Grey. The Dark Blue variant, which I reviewed, catches light in a unique way, highlighting a checkered pattern on the back panel. This adds a touch of flair to what is otherwise a simple and straightforward design. Unfortunately, there are no IP ratings for this device.
The Light Blue model offers a safer, more traditional look for those who prefer to keep things low-key, while the Grey variant strikes a balance between the two, making it an ideal choice for older users who appreciate a more understated aesthetic.
The sides of the Galaxy M35 5G are made using plastic and come with a matte finish, which not only helps resist fingerprints but also provides a comfortable grip, thanks to the phone’s flat edges.
The plastic back also has a matte finish, keeping smudges at bay, though it’s prone to scratches over time. It’s probably a good idea to invest in a case, though sadly, we don’t get one included in the box.
Given the hefty 6,000mAh battery, it’s no surprise that the Galaxy M35 5G is on the heavier side. It measures 9.1mm in thickness, just a bit thicker than its predecessor, the M34, and weighs 222 grams — 14 grams more than last year’s model. However, the extra bulk doesn’t make it uncomfortable to hold or use.
As for the button layout, you’ll find all the usual suspects along the sides: a USB-C port for charging at the bottom, volume rockers, and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner on the right edge.
Sadly, Samsung has done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack this time around, likely to keep the thickness and weight in check. On the bright side though, the phone features a hybrid SIM tray, which allows a user to expand their storage to up to 1TB via a microSD card, a rare feature in smartphones today, even at this price range.
Up front, the Galaxy M35 comes with a 6.6-inch display, which now sports a punch-hole cutout for the front camera, replacing the teardrop notch from previous models. The bezels are still on the thicker side, which does take away some of the premium feel, but given that this is a budget device, it’s not a major thing that we can complain about. On the plus side though, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy M35 with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ for added protection.
Samsung Galaxy M35 Review: The display
The 6.6-inch display Samsung Galaxy M35 comes with is an HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. It also comes with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
The screen is slightly larger than last year’s M34, but most of the other specs remain unchanged. One of the standout features is the impressive brightness, peaking at 1,000 nits, which ensures clear visibility whether you’re indoors or out in the sun. You have the option to choose between an adaptive refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz or a more standard 60Hz, depending on your needs.
To reduce eye strain, the Galaxy M35 includes an Eye Comfort Shield that limits blue light emission. Dark mode also looks fantastic on the AMOLED screen, providing a more comfortable viewing experience in low light.
You can switch between Vivid or Natural screen modes based on your preference, or even manually adjust the white balance to suit your taste. However, it’s worth noting that the phone lacks DC dimming or a low-brightness anti-flicker mode, features that some of its competitors offer in this price range. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any flickering of any sort at low brightness, during my testing.
When it comes to the visual quality, the display truly shines. Whether you’re watching videos or playing games, the colour reproduction is spot on, and there’s support for Widevine L1, which means you can stream full HD content on your favourite apps without any issues.
And because you get a pair of stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, you can have a pretty enjoyable content-watching session, even without a pair of headphones.
Yes, the bezels around the display are a bit chunkier than what we’d ideally like, especially considering some of the other options Samsung is competing against. But there’s no denying that the screen on the M35 is seriously impressive. With its vibrant colours and wide viewing angles, it delivers an immersive experience.
The screen gets bright enough to ensure excellent visibility, even in bright conditions, and performs well under direct sunlight. Whether you’re watching content on YouTube or binge-watching on OTT platforms, the viewing experience is top-notch. Overall, the display offers stunning visuals, with decent viewing angles and brightness, even if it’s not the very best out there.
Samsung Galaxy M35 Review: The camera
The Samsung Galaxy M35 5G comes equipped with a triple rear camera setup, and they’re pretty solid, especially for a phone in this segment. You’ve got a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). For those wide-angle shots, there’s an 8MP sensor with an f/2.2 lens and a 2MP macro camera with an f/2.4 lens rounds out the trio. On the front, there’s a 13MP sensor with an f/2.2 lens for selfies.
The camera app sticks to the classic Samsung layout, keeping things straightforward with all the main modes easily accessible.
Photos taken with the Galaxy M35 5G typically showcase vibrant colours, though the details can be hit or miss. The phone also tends to tweak contrast and shadows, giving images a more dramatic and social media-ready look. However, in low-light situations, the details can sometimes fall short, and you might notice some noise creeping into the final images.
The 50MP primary rear camera performs well in daylight, capturing good detail with a touch of over-saturation in the skies and greenery — a signature of Samsung’s image processing. Despite this, the photos are quite colour-accurate, with decent HDR and white balance. In low light, some noise starts to appear, but thanks to the auto night mode, you still get reasonable detail and colour.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera also holds its own in both daylight and low-light conditions, though the latter introduces a bit more noise compared to the main camera. The colour accuracy between the primary and ultra-wide lenses is fairly consistent.
Selfies taken with the Galaxy M35 are decent in well-lit conditions, though the skin tones can be a bit off. In low light, however, the noise becomes more noticeable, affecting the overall quality.
When it comes to video, the main rear camera can shoot at 4K resolution at 30fps. The footage is generally clean in daylight, with slightly saturated colours, but there can be some choppiness if you’re on the move. The night-time video isn’t too bad either, though noise is more evident. There’s also a Super Steady mode that helps stabilize footage, but it’s limited to 1080p at 30fps.
Samsung has also brought its Nightography feature to the budget segment with the Galaxy M35, something typically reserved for their higher-end models. It helps to brighten low-light photos a bit, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Sometimes, the images can appear a bit soft.
For some unedited camera samples from the Galaxy M35, click here.
Samsung Galaxy M35 Review: The performance, software experience and UI
The Samsung Galaxy M35 5G is powered by the Exynos 1380 chip. The unit we tested came with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 2,2 storage. The device is also available in 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB variants.
There’s also a RAM Plus feature that uses the phone’s internal memory to expand the RAM by an additional 8GB, effectively doubling the existing 8GB of RAM. This feature is enabled automatically but can be disabled if you prefer. One interesting aspect of the M35 is that it has an NFC chip, again, a feature that is often missing from phones in this budget.
The Exynos 1380 SoC in the Galaxy M35 5G is an octa-core chipset that offers a slight performance boost over last year’s model. It’s a solid budget chip that handles day-to-day tasks with ease. Multitasking on the phone was smooth, and I had no issues playing games either. An added bonus is that Samsung has added a vapour-cooling chamber, something that is extremely hard to find in this price range.
In terms of performance, the Galaxy M35 5G handles everyday tasks without breaking sweat. We didn’t encounter any lag or stuttering during our tests. Even when playing demanding games like BGMI and CODM, the phone performed admirably.
You can comfortably play BGMI at 60fps with no noticeable lag, even after 30 minutes of gameplay, and the phone didn’t heat up, which is a big plus. The same goes for CODM, where you can enjoy a smooth gaming experience with minimal frame drops, maintaining a steady 55-60fps. One of the key factors behind this performance is the phone’s excellent heat management, thanks to the vapour-cooling chamber, which keeps things running cool.
The user interface is generally smooth, with quick animations and apps loading promptly. The camera app also launches quickly, though you might notice some lag if multiple apps are running in the background.
In benchmark tests, the Galaxy M35 5G performed impressively, and in real-life usage, it was smooth and responsive during daily tasks, with no noticeable lag.
The phone comes with Android 14 and One UI 6.1 straight out of the box. While there are a few pre-installed apps, you can easily uninstall them if they’re not needed. However, there is some adware, which can be a bit annoying. What’s more bothersome is the banner that Samsung has included, which displays ads not only from Samsung but also from its partners. Fortunately, this banner widget can be removed.
On the bright side, Samsung’s update cycle is a major win. The company promises 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates, which is excellent news for users and almost unheard of at this price point.
Samsung Galaxy M35 Review: The battery
Battery life is another area where the Galaxy M35 truly shines. It’s equipped with a hefty 6,000mAh battery, which easily powers through a day and a half of regular use. Even with heavy usage, such as constant phone activity, it holds up impressively well.
While daily usage might not hit those heights, you can easily expect the phone to last a day and a half or more, regardless of how you use it.
During our tests, the Galaxy M35 comfortably lasted a full day even with high settings enabled. However, the trade-off for such a large battery is slower charging speeds. Samsung has yet to catch up with the rapid charging technology offered by some of its competitors.
There’s no denying that the charging speed could be better. It’s limited to 18W wired charging, which means it took about two hours to fully charge the device from zero using an 80W charger. To make matters a bit more inconvenient, there’s no charger included in the box, so you’ll need to purchase one separately.
Samsung Galaxy M35 5G Review: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M35 hits many of the right notes for a smartphone in its price range. It offers reliable performance, excellent battery life, and a main camera that captures Instagram-worthy photos to meet your everyday needs.
Priced under Rs 20,000 (for the base variant), it delivers great value and holds its own against the competition. The standout battery life makes it an easy recommendation if longevity is your top priority when choosing a phone.
The Galaxy M35 5G proves to be a dependable choice, especially if battery life is a key consideration. It’s also reassuring to see that Samsung hasn’t cut corners on important aspects like software updates, NFC, and 5G connectivity, all of which add to its appeal.
Of course, the M35 faces stiff competition from brands like iQOO, CMF by Nothing, and Motorola. However, it manages to carve out its niche by excelling in key areas when considered as an overall package.
If you’re in the market for a phone under Rs 20,000 with a good display, simple design, exceptional battery life, solid performance with minimal heating, a capable set of cameras, and outstanding software support, then the Galaxy M35 5G is definitely worth considering.
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