Galaxy A35 Vs iPhone 16 Pro

Galaxy A35
Galaxy A35
Starting at

Refurbished price:£119.00

Versus £367.31 new

See options
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Starting at

Refurbished price:£580.00

Versus £999.00 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy A35, released in March 2024, and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro, launched in September 2024, represent distinct offerings in the smartphone market. While the Galaxy A35 focuses on delivering a comprehensive Android experience with a large display and robust battery, the iPhone 16 Pro emphasizes advanced camera capabilities, a powerful operating system, and a premium build. These devices cater to different user preferences, with the A35 running on Android and the iPhone 16 Pro on iOS.

Scores

Durability

When considering the long-term usability of these smartphones, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors.

  • Software Longevity: The Samsung Galaxy A35 is expected to receive four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates from its March 2024 release, extending its software support until approximately 2029. The iPhone 16 Pro, released in September 2024, typically receives iOS updates for six to seven years, with support projected until around 2031.
  • Repairability: The Galaxy A35 has a repairability score of 8.4 out of 10, indicating good accessibility for repairs and availability of spare parts. The iPhone 16 Pro has a repairability score of 7 out of 10, a notable improvement over previous Pro models, featuring a dual-entry design that simplifies access to internal components like the battery and cameras.
  • Practical Lifespan: Both devices are built with durable materials, including Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the Galaxy A35 and Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16 Pro, contributing to their physical resilience. The longer software support for the iPhone 16 Pro suggests a slightly extended period of receiving the latest features and security patches.

Year of Release

2024

2024

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

Foldable

No

No

Performance

The performance of a smartphone impacts daily tasks, from app usage to multitasking and gaming.

  • Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy A35 handles typical daily applications smoothly, providing a responsive experience for browsing, social media, and general productivity. The iPhone 16 Pro, with its advanced internal components, offers a highly fluid and responsive experience, excelling in demanding applications and complex multitasking scenarios.
  • Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy A35 is available with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and offers 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card up to 1TB. The iPhone 16 Pro comes with 8GB of RAM and storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB, though it does not support expandable storage.
  • Battery Behavior: The Galaxy A35 features a 5000 mAh battery, capable of lasting approximately 1.5 days with regular usage. It supports 25W wired charging, though the charger is sold separately. The iPhone 16 Pro has a 3582 mAh battery, which provides a full day of use for most users, with the larger Pro Max variant offering up to two days of battery life.

Memory (GB)

6 GB

8 GB

Screen quality

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, influencing viewing pleasure and usability.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy A35 features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels), delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The iPhone 16 Pro sports a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2622x1206 pixels, offering high clarity and precise color reproduction.
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both devices offer a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations. The Galaxy A35 can reach a peak brightness of 1000 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions, including bright sunlight. The iPhone 16 Pro achieves a typical brightness of 1000 nits and can reach up to 2000 nits peak brightness, providing excellent outdoor visibility and HDR content viewing.
  • Viewing Experience: The larger screen of the Galaxy A35 offers an expansive viewing area suitable for media consumption and multitasking. The iPhone 16 Pro's display, while slightly smaller, benefits from thinner borders, maximizing screen real estate within its form factor.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1206 x 2622

Screen type

Super AMOLED

LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED

Audiovisual

Camera capabilities are a significant consideration for many users, impacting the quality of photos and videos captured.

  • Rear Camera System: The Galaxy A35 is equipped with a triple-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The iPhone 16 Pro features a more advanced triple-camera system with a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera with autofocus, and a 12MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom.
  • Photography Performance: The Galaxy A35 captures detailed and color-accurate images in good lighting, with its main sensor performing well in low-light conditions. The iPhone 16 Pro delivers high-quality photos across various conditions, with improved computational photography and consistent color science across its lenses. Its ultrawide camera also sees improvements in detail and dynamic range.
  • Video and Audio: Both devices can record video in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (fps) with their main cameras. The iPhone 16 Pro extends its video capabilities significantly, offering 4K video recording at 120 fps with Dolby Vision and a Log mode for professional-grade video capture. The iPhone 16 Pro also features a 3-mic configuration for enhanced audio recording.

Main camera

50 megapixels

48 megapixels

Front camera

13 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements contribute to the overall user experience and device utility.

  • Connectivity and Ports: The Galaxy A35 supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3, and includes a USB-C 2.0 port. The iPhone 16 Pro offers advanced connectivity with 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, alongside a USB-C port.
  • Biometric Security and Navigation: The Galaxy A35 incorporates an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking. The iPhone 16 Pro utilizes Face ID for facial recognition and includes a LiDAR scanner for enhanced depth sensing and augmented reality applications.
  • Design and Handling: The Galaxy A35 features a glass front and back with a plastic frame, weighing 209g. The iPhone 16 Pro has a titanium frame, Ceramic Shield front, and textured matte glass back, weighing 199g. It also includes a customizable Action Button.

Weight

209 g

199 g

Screen size (in)

6.6

6.3

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

USB-C (USB 3)

The Samsung Galaxy A35 and iPhone 16 Pro cater to different segments of the smartphone market, each with distinct strengths. Users often praise the Galaxy A35 for its vibrant display, reliable battery life, and capable main camera, making it a strong contender for everyday use and media consumption. Some common criticisms include its ultrawide camera performance and the absence of mmWave 5G.

The iPhone 16 Pro is frequently lauded for its powerful performance, advanced camera system with enhanced video capabilities, and premium build quality. User feedback sometimes points to initial software bugs or the learning curve for new camera features.

Users prioritizing an expansive display, long battery life, and expandable storage within the Android ecosystem may find the Galaxy A35 well-suited to their needs. Those who value cutting-edge camera technology, top-tier processing power, and a longer software support window within the iOS ecosystem will likely lean towards the iPhone 16 Pro. Both devices offer a quality experience, and for those considering a more sustainable choice, quality-assured refurbished options are available for both models, providing an eco-friendly alternative.

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