Is the Samsung A55 worth the extra $145 from the A35?

Forums › Android › Is the Samsung A55 worth the extra $145 from the A35?

Youi

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Master Geek

#317812 18-Nov-2024 11:11

Mums in the market for a new phone, she wants a Samsung this time, her old phone was a Huawei Y9 Prime (2019). Is the Samsung A55 ($622 PBT) worth the extra $145 from the A35 ($477 PBT), or will the A35 be just as good as her Y9 Prime? The main thing she wants it for it watching youtube, browsing marketplace and taking photos in gardens (this one is reasonably important), never ever takes selfies or plays games etc. Her Y9 Prime took photos that were acceptable, so im assuming the A35 would be just as good, photo-wise? The A55 would be overkill? She tends to use her phones until they die though, so would consider stretching to the A55 if it was going to 'last longer' before getting all slow and crap.

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478 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3310088 18-Nov-2024 12:30

I have the A55 and I like it.
I am not a power user but play the odd pokemong go game.
Happy with battery and camera.

This review might help, looking at the 2 models.
FYI the a35 model is usually 6gb but that might not be an issue for your mum.

https://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a55_vs_samsung_galaxy_a35_review_battery_camera_price_compared-news-62212.php

cshwone

1070 posts

Uber Geek

#3310096 18-Nov-2024 12:40

Not a comparison to the A3x series compared to the A5x but I had an A50 and then moved to an A54. The difference was astonishing. So if your Mum runs a phone till it dies I would reckon the A55 would be better future proofing.

jonathan18

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#3310105 18-Nov-2024 13:17

I've recently been looking at the same phones for my kids and I recall some sites stating that the A35 shares much in common with the previous gen A54, including the same processor.

Similar to the link above, here's another comparison between the two current models: https://nanoreview.net/en/phone-compare/samsung-galaxy-a55-vs-samsung-galaxy-a35-5g

I'd decided to get the younger son the A55, as I thought the longer battery life would be a benefit in this situation, plus I had some that the faster processor etc would extend its usable lifespan. (My oldest kid has had an A52 for nearly four years so it hasn't got him through high school; he's crying out for a replacement, so I had been hoping the A55 would get my younger one through a similar if not longer period. As teens, though, they probably have higher needs/expectations than your mother!) My older son's looking at replacing the A52 with either the A55 or a Nothing 2A Plus, but I'm not sure if something more left field like that would be ideal for your mother.

Note: I found the A55 a bit cheaper at Spark - it can be purchased outright for $599, which is a pretty decent deal (cheap as it's been, according to PriceSpy): https://www.spark.co.nz/online/shop/products/samsung-galaxy-a55-g5-group/?offerId=samsung128309spo&planId=mbundle070138&ifpId=pay_upfront

huckster

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Ultimate Geek

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#3310106 18-Nov-2024 13:18

Loser-end Samsung A-series may not do Easy-Mode.

Youi

80 posts

Master Geek

#3310108 18-Nov-2024 13:23

jonathan18:

I've recently been looking at the same phones for my kids and I recall some sites stating that the A35 shares much in common with the previous gen A54, including the same processor.

Similar to the link above, here's another comparison between the two current models: https://nanoreview.net/en/phone-compare/samsung-galaxy-a55-vs-samsung-galaxy-a35-5g

I'd decided to get the younger son the A55, as I thought the longer battery life would be a benefit in this situation, plus I had some that the faster processor etc would extend its usable lifespan. (My oldest kid has had an A52 for nearly four years so it hasn't got him through high school; he's crying out for a replacement, so I had been hoping the A55 would get my younger one through a similar if not longer period. As teens, though, they probably have higher needs/expectations than your mother!) My older son's looking at replacing the A52 with either the A55 or a Nothing 2A Plus, but I'm not sure if something more left field like that would be ideal for your mother.

Note: I found the A55 a bit cheaper at Spark - it can be purchased outright for $599, which is a pretty decent deal (cheap as it's been, according to PriceSpy): https://www.spark.co.nz/online/shop/products/samsung-galaxy-a55-g5-group/?offerId=samsung128309spo&planId=mbundle070138&ifpId=pay_upfront

Oh excellent find on Sparks pricing, they have some in stock locally as well and she would much prefer to buy locally. Thank you!

Bee

732 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3310115 18-Nov-2024 14:00

IMHO I would definitely reccommend buying the best phone you can afford, Ive had the Galaxy a5x series for many years and they are an excellent phone... Also just wanted to point out with Black Friday and Xmas approaching there is going to be special prices out there, so if she can wait a few weeks that might help too.

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

jonathan18

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#3310120 18-Nov-2024 14:25

Bee:

Also just wanted to point out with Black Friday and Xmas approaching there is going to be special prices out there, so if she can wait a few weeks that might help too.

If history has any value in helping predict what'll happen this year, it looks like the A54 came down to $554 during Black Friday and as low as $544 Boxing Day 2023; seems to be off the same base $799 full price.

https://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=8846468#statistics

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Qazzy03

478 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3310174 18-Nov-2024 15:11

I think the Spark $599 would be a good deal for your mum.
Being able to get support from Spark compared to other retails could be beneficial over a possible saving.

I got my A55 at launch for $580ish, but that was via the partner store with 10% off.
I haven't seen it drop below that with all the sales this year. Just as an FYI.

I do recommend getting a phone wallet from trade me or alliexpress for like ~$10.

The cameras stick out really far and are not flush with the back my case makes back flush with the cameras

rhy7s

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3310176 18-Nov-2024 15:17

Qazzy03:

I think the Spark $599 would be a good deal for your mum

...

Are these SIM locked to Spark?

mrgsm021

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#3310180 18-Nov-2024 15:49

rhy7s:

Are these SIM locked to Spark?

Phones at $599 price point would not be SIM locked

Qazzy03

478 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3310279 18-Nov-2024 16:20

I don't think these are sim locked but would recommend to check with Spark.

These look to be selling fast though.
No longer able to buy online, you could when I first checked.

Youi

80 posts

Master Geek

#3310280 18-Nov-2024 16:20

rhy7s:

Qazzy03:

I think the Spark $599 would be a good deal for your mum

...

Are these SIM locked to Spark?

thankfully shes actually with spark, so if it were, it wouldnt be an issue!

jonathan18

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#3311725 22-Nov-2024 09:23

I noticed that a few other stores now have the A55 down to $599 (https://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=13331375), so it's still not yet as good a price as last year.

Nothing 2A: While discussing phones at this price point, has anyone tried out the Nothing 2A? My son's thinking of buying this over the A55 and, given its limited availability here, it would need to either be brought in from Amazon or bought at a local parallel import store.

toejam316

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#3311729 22-Nov-2024 09:45

VoLTE support would be a concern with a parallel imported phone.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

KiwiSurfer

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#3311733 22-Nov-2024 10:02

If you can spare the money for an S-series phone (even last year's model etc to get a better price or see if you can get refurbished/second hand) then I'd try for that. I have both a personal S21 and a work A73 and the difference is night and day in favor of the S21 despite its age. Many things are so much better on the S21. E.g. I often take work photos/videos on the S21 and share it over to my A73 rather than use the A73's camera itself (which struggles to focus in photo mode, and there are very noticeable dropped frames and random focus issues in video mode that appears when you playback a video recorded by the A73). The performance of the A73 can be weak too -- apps that are snappy on the S21 perform sluggishly on the A73.

The S is more expensive up front but if you take into account it'll last longer than an A-series and performs much better it may be worth the investment and you buy a good case to protect from drops etc. My S21 still goes strong nearly 4 years later and still get software updates etc. Battery life is still great. I am really glad I didn't go for an cheaper A-series going by my experience with my work phone.

Regardless of the model you get, for any Android phone, I would definitely buy from a NZ telco (or a major NZ store that sells the official NZ version e.g. Noel Leeming etc) to ensure you get the NZ model. For some years now, Samsung makes one model for the entire NZ market so it'll work fine across all 3 carriers should you want to change between 2deg/One/Spark in the future. I wouldn't risk a parallel imported phone with all the trouble they have with VoLTE support which will be required from 2026 onwards for voice/SMS calling including emergency 111 calls/texts.

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