- Samsung Mobile South Africa held an event to mark the official launch of its Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G smartphones.
- The mid-range options surfaced earlier in the year, but are now available to purchase in SA.
- Samsung’s website is listed both devices for sale at discounted prices compared to their regular RRPs.
In March this year Samsung officially unveiled its latest mid-range smartphones in the form of the Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G. At the time, neither option was available to purchase in South Africa, but that changed today as Samsung Mobile SA held a local event to mark the arrival of the new hardware.
As has been the case in recent years, and as the names of the models suggests, Samsung has imbued its latest mid-range options with support for 5G, along with giving them larger displays compared to the predecessors.
Added to this is Exynos processors powering the mobile experience on these devices, and the South Korean firm highlighting its security elements that are powered by Samsung Knox Vault.
“One of the most trusted security platforms in the world, Samsung Knox is designed to safeguard critical information and protect against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection, taking a holistic approach across the entire Galaxy ecosystem,” Samsung describes of Knox in a press release shared earlier this year.
Sticking with the security elements of the devices, Samsung noted that the Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G offer, “Auto Blocker, an opt-in package of additional security measures. When switched on, Auto Blocker can block app installations from unauthorized sources, provide app security checks to scan for potential malware and block potentially malicious commands and software installations to your device while connected by USB cable.”
Looking at bit closer at the specifications of each device, the A55 has the edge in screen size, chipset, RAM, and front-facing camera.
| Galaxy A55 5G | Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Display | 6.6″ FullHD+ (2220×1800) | 6.6″ FullHD+ (2220×1800) |
| Processor | Exynos 1480 | Exynos 1380 |
| RAM | Up to 12GB | Up to 8GB |
| Storage | Up to 256GB | Up to 256GB |
| Battery | 5 000mAh | 5 000mAh |
| Rear Camera | 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP main, 5MP macro | 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP main, 5MP macro |
| Front Camera | 32MP | 13MP |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, 5G | WiFi 6, 5G |
| RRP | R11 499 | R8 999 |
It is therefore naturally more expensive, carrying a recommended price tag of R11 499, but we’ve spotted on the local Samsung website for R500 less. The A35 5G features a larger R2k discount on the site, but usually retails for R8 999.
With the Galaxy A series being one of the best all-around options when it comes to purchasing an Android phone in SA, it will be interesting to see how the A55 5G and A35 5G perform against growing competition from Chinese phone makers.
