Google and Samsung’s mid-range phones are improving every year, and that’s once again the case with the new Pixel 8A and recently released Galaxy A35 5G. Google just announced the $500 Pixel 8A on Tuesday ahead of its official launch on May 14, while Samsung’s $400 Galaxy A35 5G has been on sale since April 18.
Both Google and Samsung are attempting to recreate the experiences of their high-end premium phones, but in a more affordable package. However, they each have a different approach to accomplishing this. Samsung goes big on screen and battery size, while Google emphasizes the processor and software. There’s also a $100 difference between the two devices, and that extra cash gets you perks like wireless charging, more RAM and some extra software features.
Here’s a closer look at how the Pixel 8A and Galaxy A35 5G compare.
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Display
The Pixel 8A runs on Google’s Tensor G3 processor.
Samsung and Google also took different directions when it comes to the processors in their respective budget phones. Google put the Tensor G3, the same processor from the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, inside the Pixel 8A. Samsung, on the other hand, chose the mid-range Exynos 1380 chip to power the Galaxy A35 5G.
We won’t know how performance compares until we’ve had time to test the Pixel 8A. But the Pixel 8, which has the same chip as the Pixel 8A, scored higher than the Galaxy A35 5G on Geekbench 6, a benchmark test for measuring general computing performance.
Cameras
The Pixel 8A (pictured) has a smaller battery than the Galaxy A35 5G.
Battery capacity is one area in which the Galaxy A35 5G outshines the Pixel 8A — at least on paper. Samsung’s phone has a 5,000 mAh battery, while the Pixel 8A has a 4,492 mAh battery. Samsung’s phone should also charge faster since it supports up to 25W fast charging, while the Pixel 8A’s charging speed tops out at 18W.
Yet again, the numbers alone aren’t everything. Achieving those charging speeds usually means using a compatible power adapter, which will have to be purchased separately. And there’s more than just battery capacity that contributes to battery life; how power efficient the software and processor are also plays a role. It’s also worth noting that the Pixel 8A supports wireless charging, while the Galaxy A35 5G does not.
But the Galaxy A35 5G does have a big advantage when it comes to onboard storage. It’s one of the few new phones with expandable storage, with the capability to add 1TB of extra space via a microSD card slot.
Out of the box, though, you’ll get 128GB of onboard storage on the Galaxy A35 5G and Pixel 8A. But the obsidian (black) version of the Pixel 8A also comes in a 256GB variant.
The Pixel 8A also has more RAM compared to the Galaxy A35 5G (8GB versus 6GB).
Software support
