Ryan Haines / Android Authority
long story short
- Samsung has launched Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 in the European market.
- A Samsung representative confirmed that the Galaxy A35 is coming to the U.S. market.
- As of now, the Galaxy A55 is not expected to be sold in the United States.
Samsung today launched its latest Galaxy A series phones – Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 – in the European market. Both phones have meaningful design upgrades, improved internals, and better cameras. But there’s mixed news for U.S. buyers looking to purchase these new mid-range devices.
according to a report Science and Technology Information Network, Samsung currently only plans to introduce the Galaxy A35 to the US market. This will mark a major shift in Samsung’s A-series strategy in the US market. While previous A5x series phones (such as the A50, A51, A52, A53, and A54) were officially released in the United States, the Galaxy A34 and A33 never made it to the U.S. market.
In a statement to the outlet, a Samsung U.S. representative confirmed the A35’s arrival in the United States, saying: “We can confirm that the Galaxy A35 5G is coming to the U.S. market and look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks.” However, They also added, “We will not ship Galaxy A55 5G at this time.”
The official reason for the decision is unclear. But Samsung appears to be positioning the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 FE in the US as cheaper alternatives to its current flagships, rather than using the Galaxy A55.
However, a closer look at Samsung’s current products reveals concerns that there may be sales cannibalization within the lineup. The Galaxy A54 sells for $449 in the United States, while the Galaxy A55 costs more in Europe (€479, about $525). This means the A55’s potential price in the US could be very close to the S23 FE, which currently retails for $599.
If that’s the case, the S23 FE becomes a more attractive option, with a top-notch Snapdragon processor, wireless charging, and a superior camera system. The A55 would need a significant price cut (around $500 or less) to justify its value proposition.
It’s time for “A” to return
However, there’s good news for American fans of budget Galaxy phones. The feature-rich Galaxy A35 is almost certain to hit the U.S. market, marking a comeback for the Galaxy A3x series of phones in the country.
Compared to its predecessor, the A35 features an updated premium design with a modern punch-hole cutout (instead of a notch), a glass back, and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
The display is a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution. Under the hood, the A35 is powered by the same Exynos 1380 processor as last year’s A54. The phone is available in 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, with the option to expand the storage further using a microSD card.
Keeping the device running is a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. An in-display fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, and IP67 dust and water resistance round out the phone’s features.
Camera upgrades include a new 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), while the 8MP ultra-wide camera and 5MP macro camera are carried over from the Galaxy A34. The punch-hole cutout houses the 13MP selfie camera.
The A35 will ship with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 software and is guaranteed to receive four Android OS updates. Although the specific U.S. release date is still under wraps, the price is expected to be around $400 when it hits shelves.