Choosing your next smartphone shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle. If you’re looking at mid-range options, two phones probably caught your attention: Samsung’s Galaxy A35 and Google’s Pixel 7a. Both promise solid performance without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches to win your wallet.
Let’s cut through the marketing fluff and see which phone actually delivers what you need in your daily life.
What Makes These Phones Different
The Galaxy A35 and Pixel 7a represent two distinct philosophies in smartphone design. Samsung went bigger with a 6.6-inch display and focused on giving you more screen real estate for your money. Google kept things compact with a 6.1-inch screen but packed in flagship-level camera intelligence.
Think of it this way: the Galaxy A35 is like choosing a larger apartment with decent amenities, while the Pixel 7a is like getting a smaller space with premium fixtures. Both have their merits, depending on what matters most to you.
The Samsung device brings a larger battery, faster charging, and that smooth 120Hz display that makes scrolling feel silky. Google counters with superior processing power, computational photography magic, and the promise of timely Android updates straight from the source.
Design and Build: Substance Over Style
Neither phone will win beauty contests, but they don’t need to. The Pixel 7a feels more premium in your hands thanks to its aluminum frame, while the Galaxy A35 embraces its plastic construction without apology. Don’t let materials fool you completely though – both phones feel solid and reliable.
Samsung introduced something called a “Key Island” on the A35, which is essentially a raised section housing the power and volume buttons. It’s a practical design choice that makes finding buttons easier in your pocket or bag. Google sticks with their signature camera bar that runs across the back – love it or hate it, you’ll recognize a Pixel from across the room.
Both phones earn IP67 water resistance ratings, so your device survives accidental spills and light rain without drama. The Pixel 7a comes in four color options including an eye-catching Coral shade, while Samsung offers three choices with names like “Awesome Iceblue” that sound like ice cream flavors.
Size-wise, the Galaxy A35 definitely feels bigger, but it’s not significantly heavier than the Pixel 7a. If you have smaller hands or prefer one-handed use, the Google phone wins. If you want more screen for watching videos or reading, Samsung delivers.
Display Quality: Smooth vs Smoother
Screen quality matters more than you might think for daily use. The Galaxy A35’s 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display provides excellent colors and deep blacks that make content pop. More importantly, it runs at 120Hz refresh rate, making everything from scrolling through social media to navigating menus feel incredibly smooth.
The Pixel 7a’s 6.1-inch OLED screen delivers similar color quality but caps out at 90Hz refresh rate. While still smooth, you’ll notice the difference if you use both phones side by side. However, the smaller screen size means slightly higher pixel density, so text and images appear slightly sharper.
Brightness levels favor the Samsung phone slightly, making it easier to use outdoors on sunny days. Both displays support HDR content, so your Netflix shows will look great on either device.
For most people, the Galaxy A35’s larger, smoother display provides a better daily experience. The extra screen real estate helps with productivity tasks, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes the phone feel more responsive overall.
Performance: Brain vs Brawn
Here’s where things get interesting. The Google Pixel 7a uses the same Tensor G2 processor found in Google’s flagship phones, while the Galaxy A35 relies on Samsung’s Exynos 1380 chip. On paper, both are capable mid-range processors, but real-world performance tells a different story.
The Pixel 7a consistently outperforms the Galaxy A35 in benchmark tests and daily use scenarios. Apps launch faster, games run smoother, and multitasking feels more fluid on the Google device. The Tensor chip’s strength lies in artificial intelligence tasks, making features like voice transcription and photo processing incredibly fast.
Samsung’s Exynos 1380 handles basic tasks fine but occasionally shows its limitations. You might notice slight delays when opening heavy apps or switching between multiple applications. Gaming performance heavily favors the Pixel 7a, delivering higher frame rates and better thermal management.
However, the Galaxy A35 comes with a microSD card slot for expandable storage, while the Pixel 7a offers only fixed 128GB storage. If you take lots of photos or download many apps, the Samsung phone provides more flexibility for future storage needs.
Camera Systems: Quantity vs Quality
Camera performance often decides smartphone purchases, and these phones take completely different approaches. The Galaxy A35 features three rear cameras: a 50MP main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and 5MP macro camera. Sounds impressive until you realize the macro camera produces mostly forgettable results.
The Pixel 7a keeps things simple with two rear cameras: a 64MP main sensor and 13MP ultra-wide. Don’t let the numbers fool you – Google’s computational photography works like magic. Photos consistently look better on the Pixel 7a thanks to superior processing algorithms and artificial intelligence enhancements.
In good lighting, both phones capture decent photos, but the Pixel 7a produces more accurate colors and better dynamic range. Low-light photography heavily favors Google’s device, which can create surprisingly good images in challenging conditions thanks to Night Sight mode.
Video recording capabilities lean toward the Pixel 7a as well, with better stabilization and more natural color reproduction. The Galaxy A35 handles basic video recording adequately but lacks the finesse of Google’s implementation.
For serious photography enthusiasts on a budget, the Pixel 7a delivers flagship-level camera performance. If you just want decent photos for social media, the Galaxy A35 serves that purpose fine.
Battery Life and Charging: Marathon vs Sprint
Battery performance reveals another key difference between these devices. The Galaxy A35 packs a substantial 5,000mAh battery, while the Pixel 7a contains a smaller 4,385mAh cell. Logic suggests the Samsung phone should last longer, but reality proves more complex.
Surprisingly, the Pixel 7a often matches or exceeds the Galaxy A35’s battery life in real-world testing. Google’s optimization and the Tensor chip’s efficiency help squeeze more hours from a smaller battery. Both phones easily handle full days of moderate use, but heavy users might prefer the Galaxy A35’s extra capacity.
Charging speeds tell a different story. The Galaxy A35 supports 25W wired charging, completing full charges in about 90 minutes. The Pixel 7a crawls along with 18W charging, taking around two hours for complete charges. However, Google includes wireless charging capability, while Samsung skips this convenience feature entirely.
If you frequently forget to charge overnight, the Galaxy A35’s faster wired charging saves time. If you prefer the convenience of wireless charging pads, the Pixel 7a offers that luxury despite slower overall charging speeds.
Software Experience: Pure vs Personalized
Software preferences often determine smartphone loyalty, and these phones represent opposite philosophies. The Pixel 7a runs pure Android with Google’s clean interface and immediate access to new features. You’ll receive Android updates promptly, often months before other manufacturers.
Samsung’s One UI on the Galaxy A35 provides extensive customization options and additional features not found in stock Android. Some users love the extra functionality, while others find it overwhelming or unnecessary. Samsung promises several years of updates, though they typically arrive later than Google’s releases.
The Pixel 7a includes exclusive Google features like Live Translate, Car Crash Detection, and Magic Eraser for photos. The Galaxy A35 offers Samsung’s ecosystem integration, including seamless connectivity with Galaxy tablets, earbuds, and smartwatches.
Choose the Pixel 7a if you prefer simplicity and timely updates. Pick the Galaxy A35 if you want more customization options and Samsung ecosystem benefits.
Audio and Multimedia: Clear Differences
Sound quality matters for music, videos, and calls. The Pixel 7a delivers cleaner, more balanced audio through its speakers, making music and videos more enjoyable. The Galaxy A35 produces adequate sound but sometimes lacks clarity, especially in the mid-range frequencies.
Haptic feedback – those subtle vibrations when typing or navigating – strongly favors the Pixel 7a. Google implemented precise, satisfying vibrations that enhance the user experience. Samsung’s implementation feels mushy and less refined, which might seem minor but affects daily interaction quality.
Both phones include headphone jacks, appealing to users who prefer wired audio connections. However, if you rely on wireless earbuds, the Pixel 7a’s superior Bluetooth implementation provides more stable connections and better audio quality.
Value Proposition: Making the Right Choice
Choosing between these phones depends on your priorities and usage patterns. The Galaxy A35 excels if you want a larger display, longer battery life, faster charging, and expandable storage. It’s ideal for users who watch lots of videos, need extra screen space for productivity, or want flexibility for future storage expansion.
The Pixel 7a wins if you prioritize camera quality, smooth performance, timely software updates, and premium build quality. It’s perfect for photography enthusiasts, users who prefer stock Android, or anyone wanting flagship-level features in a mid-range package.
Budget considerations also matter. While pricing varies by retailer and promotions, the Galaxy A35 typically costs less than the Pixel 7a. However, Google’s phone often provides better long-term value through superior performance and longer software support.
Final Recommendation
Both phones serve their intended audiences well, but they excel in different areas. The Galaxy A35 suits users wanting maximum screen size, battery capacity, and value for money. The Pixel 7a appeals to those prioritizing camera quality, performance, and software experience.
Consider the Galaxy A35 if you’re a heavy media consumer who values battery life and screen real estate above all else. Choose the Pixel 7a if you want the best camera in this price range and prefer Google’s clean software approach.
Either choice provides solid mid-range performance that should satisfy most users for several years. The key is matching your specific needs and preferences with each phone’s strengths rather than chasing theoretical specifications that might not matter in your daily usage.