In a world where flagship phones are often priced out of reach for many, budget smartphones offer a viable solution without sacrificing essential features. Two of the most prominent contenders in the budget smartphone market in 2024 are the Google Pixel 8a and Samsung Galaxy A35. Both phones promise excellent value for money, offering strong performance, decent cameras, and robust features at affordable price points. But with so many options available, how do you decide which one is right for you?
In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 8a and the Samsung Galaxy A35 across several important categories, including performance, display quality, camera capabilities, battery life, software experience, and overall value for money. By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of which budget phone suits your needs best.
Design and Build Quality
Google Pixel 8a: Google’s Pixel series has been known for its clean, minimalist design, and the Pixel 8a is no exception. The phone boasts a solid, premium-feeling plastic back with a matte finish, making it resistant to fingerprints and smudges. The rear camera module is simple and unobtrusive, maintaining the aesthetic of previous Pixel devices. The Pixel 8a has a 6.1-inch display, which offers a compact and comfortable size for one-handed use.
The device is available in a variety of attractive colors, offering a modern look that still feels sleek and professional. With an IP68 rating, the Pixel 8a is dust and water-resistant, which is an added bonus for a budget phone.
Samsung Galaxy A35: The Samsung Galaxy A35 also presents a premium design but with a more traditional plastic construction. The phone comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, which is slightly larger than the Pixel 8a’s screen. The A35 has a slim profile with smooth curves, giving it a modern and stylish look. Its rear camera setup is housed in a vertical module, which adds to the phone’s contemporary design.
While the Galaxy A35 doesn’t offer an IP68 rating like the Pixel 8a, it still manages to feel like a solid and well-built device. It is available in a range of vibrant colors, appealing to users who appreciate some flair in their devices.
Display
Google Pixel 8a: The Pixel 8a is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The display supports Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080), which is sharp enough for everyday use and media consumption. While the Pixel 8a’s screen may not have the highest refresh rate, it offers smooth visuals and solid brightness levels. The OLED technology also provides better contrast compared to standard LCD screens.
Samsung Galaxy A35: The Galaxy A35 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080). The Super AMOLED panel delivers bright, punchy colors, and deep blacks, making it one of the best in the budget category. Additionally, the A35 offers a 90Hz refresh rate, which is noticeably smoother than the 60Hz refresh rate on the Pixel 8a. The higher refresh rate enhances the user experience during scrolling, gaming, and general navigation.
In terms of display quality, the Galaxy A35 has a slight edge over the Pixel 8a, thanks to the larger screen size and the higher refresh rate.
Performance
Google Pixel 8a: Under the hood, the Pixel 8a is powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip, the same processor found in Google’s flagship devices. This gives the Pixel 8a a significant performance boost compared to other budget phones. The Tensor G2 is optimized for AI and machine learning tasks, providing a seamless experience when using Google Assistant, processing photos, or running apps that require more processing power.
The Pixel 8a comes with 6GB of RAM, which is sufficient for multitasking and day-to-day activities. For storage, it offers either 128GB or 256GB options, though there is no microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Samsung Galaxy A35: The Samsung Galaxy A35 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset, a reliable mid-range processor that offers good performance for the price. Coupled with 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage, the A35 handles everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming with ease. However, for more demanding tasks such as gaming or intensive multitasking, the Pixel 8a’s Tensor chip offers a more powerful and efficient experience.
The Galaxy A35 also supports expandable storage via a microSD card slot, which is a notable advantage for users who need more space for apps, photos, and media.
Camera Performance
Google Pixel 8a: Google Pixel devices are renowned for their outstanding camera performance, and the Pixel 8a continues this legacy. The phone features a 12.2MP main camera with an f/1.7 aperture and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. While it may not have the same multiple-camera setups found on higher-end models, the Pixel 8a excels in computational photography, producing crisp and vibrant photos in various lighting conditions.
The Pixel 8a also benefits from Google’s AI-powered software enhancements, such as Night Sight, Super Res Zoom, and Real Tone, which improve image quality significantly. The 8MP front camera offers excellent selfies with natural skin tones and good detail.
Samsung Galaxy A35: The Galaxy A35 comes with a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro sensor. The higher megapixel count gives the A35 an edge in terms of raw resolution. The camera system delivers solid daytime performance, with sharp details and good color reproduction, though the quality may not match the Pixel 8a’s computational photography abilities in low-light conditions.
Samsung’s camera software includes useful features like Night Mode, Super Steady video stabilization, and an AI-powered scene optimizer, which helps improve photos in various conditions. The 13MP front camera is decent, though it doesn’t quite reach the Pixel 8a’s level in terms of color accuracy and detail.
Battery Life and Charging
Google Pixel 8a: The Pixel 8a comes equipped with a 4385mAh battery, which should be sufficient for a full day of moderate use. Thanks to its efficient hardware and software optimization, the Pixel 8a manages power well. Charging is limited to 18W fast charging, and while not the fastest in its class, it’s adequate for most users.
Samsung Galaxy A35: The Galaxy A35 has a slightly larger 5000mAh battery, which gives it an advantage in terms of overall battery life. Thanks to the efficiency of the MediaTek Dimensity chipset and the 90Hz refresh rate display, the A35 offers a longer battery life, even with heavy usage. It supports 25W fast charging, which is a significant boost over the Pixel 8a, allowing you to charge your device more quickly.
Software Experience
Google Pixel 8a: The Pixel 8a runs the clean, bloat-free version of Android 14, with regular updates directly from Google. Pixel devices are known for receiving timely security patches and Android version upgrades. The user interface is simple, intuitive, and free from third-party add-ons, making it a smooth experience for those who prefer a stock Android feel. Additionally, the Pixel 8a is equipped with exclusive features like Google Assistant, Call Screening, and the Recorder app.
Samsung Galaxy A35: The Galaxy A35 comes with One UI 6.0, based on Android 14. Samsung’s One UI is feature-rich, with customizations, multitasking tools, and Samsung-exclusive apps like Samsung Pay, Samsung Health, and Samsung Knox. One UI is well-optimized for larger screens and offers several customization options, making it a more versatile experience for users who like to tailor their phone.
Samsung also promises at least two years of Android updates, but the Pixel 8a benefits from faster and more frequent updates directly from Google.
Conclusion: Which Budget Phone Should You Get?
Both the Google Pixel 8a and Samsung Galaxy A35 offer compelling options for those in the market for a budget smartphone. However, the choice depends on your priorities.
- If you prioritize camera quality, pure Android experience, and regular software updates, the Google Pixel 8a is the better option. It offers excellent computational photography, a clean user interface, and fast updates directly from Google.
- If you’re looking for a larger battery, a higher refresh rate display, and expandable storage, the Samsung Galaxy A35 stands out. It also has a more powerful camera system in terms of raw resolution and a sleek design that many users may appreciate.
