Google Pixel 8A vs. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G: How They Compare

Google's and Samsung's midrange 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 re-create the experience 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.

Read more: Best Phone to Buy for 2024

Display 

Display size is one of the biggest ways in which the Galaxy A35 5G and Pixel 8A differ from each other. Samsung's phone has a 6.6-inch screen, while the Pixel 8A's display measures 6.1 inches. That may not sound like much, but nearly half an inch makes a big difference when it comes to screens as small as the ones on our smartphones. Both phones use a type of OLED display panel, and they can each boost their refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. The Pixel 8A also has a higher pixel density than the Galaxy A35 5G (430 pixels per inch versus 389 pixels per inch), which isn't necessarily surprising, since the Pixel 8A has a smaller screen. 

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 in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, inside the Pixel 8A. Samsung, on the other hand, chose the midrange 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

Both phones have ultrawide cameras in addition to a standard wide camera, but their resolutions differ. The Pixel 8A has a 64-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, while the Galaxy A35 5G has a 50-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and 5-megapixel macro camera. But resolution isn't everything; the size of the sensor, as well as the image processing pipeline, also have a lot to do with overall picture quality. 

Google's new phone also includes a handful of the company's AI-powered editing features that debuted on the Pixel 8, such as Audio Magic Eraser, Best Take and Magic Editor. Samsung's AI features aren't currently available on the Galaxy A35 5G, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them arrive through a future software update. 

A Samsung support page already mentions the Galaxy A35 5G as being compatible with certain Galaxy AI features, although the features don't seem to be live at the time of writing. Even though Samsung has expanded Galaxy AI to older Galaxy S phones and its foldables, the company hasn't brought it to the A series yet. 

Battery and storage

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 worth noting too that the Pixel 8A supports wireless charging, while the Galaxy A35 5G doesn't.

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 comes in a 256GB variant as well.

The Pixel 8A also has more RAM compared with the Galaxy A35 5G (8GB versus 6GB). 

Software support

As is the case with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Google will be supporting the Pixel 8A with seven years of Android OS and security updates. That's important because it means the Pixel 8A shouldn't feel out of date after just a couple of years, and it means you'll continue to get new features for years to come. 

Samsung, on the other hand, offers four generations of Android OS updates and five years of security updates for the Galaxy A35. For now, Samsung commits to only seven years of software updates for the Galaxy S24 series. 

Overall thoughts

The Galaxy A35 5G and Pixel 8A each have a lot to offer for the price. The Pixel 8A is more expensive, but that extra $100 brings additional benefits, such as wireless charging and longer software support. The cheaper Galaxy A35, however, has a significantly larger screen and expandable storage.

We'll know more once we've had the chance to test both phones extensively.