Galaxy A35 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy A35, released in March 2024, and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, launched in October 2023, represent distinct approaches within the Android smartphone market. While the Galaxy A35 offers a balanced experience with a focus on display quality and battery endurance, the Pixel 8 Pro prioritizes advanced computational photography and an extended software commitment. Both devices operate on the Android platform, yet they cater to different user needs through their hardware and software implementations.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors. The Google Pixel 8 Pro, being a flagship device, benefits from an extensive software commitment, while the Samsung Galaxy A35, a mid-range offering, also provides a substantial update period.

• Software Longevity: The Google Pixel 8 Pro stands out with a commitment to seven years of OS, security, and feature updates, providing an extended period of software support until 2030. The Samsung Galaxy A35 offers four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is a solid duration for its category.
• Physical Durability: Both devices offer good protection against environmental elements. The Galaxy A35 features an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front. The Pixel 8 Pro boasts an IP68 rating and uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for enhanced screen durability.
• Repairability: The Samsung Galaxy A35 has a commendable repairability score of 8.4 to 8.5 out of 10, suggesting a relatively straightforward process for repairs and good availability of spare parts. The Google Pixel 8 Pro's repairability scores vary across assessments, with some indicating a lower score of 4.0 out of 10 due to challenges in accessing internal components, while others suggest a score of 7 out of 10, indicating that some repairs are manageable with proper tools.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, from app usage to demanding games. Both the Galaxy A35 and Pixel 8 Pro are equipped with capable processors, but they offer different levels of responsiveness and power efficiency, impacting the user experience.

• Everyday Responsiveness: The Pixel 8 Pro delivers a consistently smooth and fluid experience, handling demanding applications and multitasking with ease due to its advanced processing capabilities. Users report that the phone is very quick and smooth in day-to-day processes. The Galaxy A35 provides adequate performance for daily tasks, though some users have reported occasional lag when opening heavier apps or scrolling through web pages.
• Multitasking and Storage: The Pixel 8 Pro comes with 12GB of RAM, facilitating seamless multitasking and app switching, and offers storage options up to 1TB. The Galaxy A35 is available with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with the added benefit of expandable storage via a microSD card, which is a notable advantage for users needing more space.
• Battery Behavior: The Pixel 8 Pro features a 5050mAh battery, offering reliable power for a full day of use, with some users reporting good battery life, especially on Wi-Fi. The Galaxy A35 has a 5000mAh battery, which generally provides decent battery life, often lasting through the evening with average use. The Pixel 8 Pro supports faster wired charging at 30W and includes wireless charging capabilities, while the Galaxy A35 supports 25W wired charging but lacks wireless charging.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and both devices offer vibrant viewing experiences, though with distinct characteristics in technology, resolution, and brightness that cater to different preferences.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels, providing exceptional sharpness and detail. The Galaxy A35 sports a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, offering clear visuals and vibrant colors.
• Brightness and Smoothness: The Pixel 8 Pro's 'Super Actua' display can reach a peak brightness of up to 2,400 nits, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor conditions, and features an adaptive refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and power efficiency. The Galaxy A35's display offers a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals and sufficient brightness for outdoor use, though some users note that colors can appear washed out in direct sunlight compared to higher-end models.
• Viewing Experience: The Pixel 8 Pro's larger and brighter display, combined with its higher resolution, provides an immersive viewing experience for media consumption and detailed content. The Galaxy A35 offers a good viewing experience for its class, with its AMOLED panel delivering deep blacks and good contrast.

The camera systems on both the Galaxy A35 and Pixel 8 Pro are central to their appeal, yet they are designed with different strengths, impacting the quality of photos and videos in various scenarios.

• Rear Camera Capabilities: The Pixel 8 Pro features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, known for its exceptional detail, dynamic range, and strong low-light performance. The Galaxy A35 also has a triple-camera system with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens. It performs well in daylight conditions, capturing good colors, but low-light shots can sometimes appear blurry or noisy.
• Front Camera and Video: For selfies, the Pixel 8 Pro includes a 10.5MP front camera with autofocus, while the Galaxy A35 has a 13MP front camera. Both devices are capable of recording 4K video at 30fps with their main and front cameras. The Pixel 8 Pro benefits from advanced computational photography for video stabilization and clarity, while the Galaxy A35 offers gyro-EIS for video stability.
• Audio and Speakers: The Pixel 8 Pro provides clear microphone quality for calls and recordings, and its speakers deliver a balanced audio output for media. The Galaxy A35 also features stereo speakers, offering loud output, though some users suggest that bass levels could be improved.