The name Samsung is internationally acclaimed for productivities and production of quality smartphones in all consumer segments and of course, Nigeria is no exception. With their premium and mid range smartphones seen as top of the line models, their entry level models have tended to be overlooked. In comes the new Samsung Galaxy M35, another budget phone pegged at under ₦250,000 to join the crowded budget market, with established brands such as Realme, Vivo, and Redmi. The Galaxy M35 also starts at ₦250,000 and is available at ₦200,000 on some promotions for anyone who loves Samsung in Nigeria.
Besides, Samsung is fast changing from a favorite choice among Nigeria’s top business professionals and influencers. As a product that combines style and its functionality, it is popular with those who need a sleek-looking gadget and no compromise regarding features.
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy M35 carries forward the same design as the Galaxy M34. Its back is pure and clean, with a vertically arranged triple camera setup bearing Samsung’s signature logo. It is available in Dark Blue, Light Blue, and Grey, each offering a distinct look:
- Dark Blue: Soprano checkered features that lift its style quotient.
- Light Blue: It has a classic and elegant design, but it will please those who like a subtle design.
- Grey: Combines both styles, suitable for users who like a more understated look.
On the face of it, the Galaxy M35 features finished sides made of plastic with a matte finish, making it comfortable to hold on to plus keep any unpleasant odors that bacterial buildup can cause away. It’s heavier, too, at 222g (up from some past Android buds, but down on the iPhone 4)—and wider, at 9.1mm in thickness, mostly due to the battery, which lurks at 6,000mAh. Nevertheless, it doesn’t weigh this thing down from a performance perspective.
Key Design Features
- Gorilla Glass Victus+: Increases durability while reducing surface scratches.
- Hybrid SIM Tray: It supports up to MicroSD expansion of 1 TB, and has plenty of storage flexibility.
- Fingerprint Scanner: In a nice little place under the power button for easy unlocking and security.
Stunning Display
The Samsung Galaxy M35 onboard is a large 6.6 inch high definition AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. Whatever you’re doing, the refresh rate of the display has been optimized at 120Hz to guarantee smooth, fluid visuals.
Key Display Features
- Brightness: It can go as high as 1,000 nits so things are still very clear even under direct sunlight.
- Adaptive Refresh Rate: It allows you toggle between 120Hz for smoother animations and 60Hz to save power.
- Eye Comfort Shield: Blue Light Emission Reduced, Not Good For Your Eyes When Using It For Long Time.
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+: It provides an extra protection to against accidental scratches and drops.
Its excellent color accuracy, plus wide viewing angles make the display perfectly optimized for video consumption and gaming. The Galaxy M35 also has full stereo front facing speakers with separate dedicated Dolby Atmos support for better multimedia experience.
Camera Performance
As one of the rare smartphone in this category, the Samsung Galaxy M35 boasts a versatile triple-camera setup which is a combination of flexibility. The camera configuration includes:
- 50MP Main Camera: It gets an f1.8 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for a sharp and high quality shot.
- 8MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera: Ideal for wide angle, big group images.
- 2MP Macro Camera: Good for close up shots to get in to the details.
- 13MP Front Camera: With its transparent bits, the Clear and vibrant ‘on the face’ selfies made it a must have for influencers.
Photography Highlights
- Daylight Performance: In bright conditions, it’s very good, producing very detailed and very accurate photos with nice colors.
- Low-Light Capability: However, Nightography enhances low-light photography a little, but averages of noise, too.
- Video Recording: 4K video at 30fps is supported along with clear and detailed recordings. Videos are stabilized at 1080p for super steady mode.
The camera app is friendly to use, and it’s easy to access the more essential modes with a tap. A few users might be put off by some of the bloatware, but the Samsung Galaxy M35’s cameras are so good at this price.
Software Experience and Performance
Based on the Exynos 1380 chipset, the Samsung Galaxy M35 ensures you get a smooth and effortless performance. Besides the 150x zoom, the tested model is equipped with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, allowing for enough space to install apps, media, and multitask too.
Performance Highlights
- Octa-Core Processor: It is easy to handle common tasks in an efficient way, as well as more demanding applications.
- RAM Plus Feature: By using internal storage, it expands the RAM from 8GB to 16GB making the multitasking capabilities stronger.
- Vapour Cooling Chamber: It keeps the device cool when it’s running hard, and cools it down if overheated.
The Galaxy M35 is powered by the user friendly One UI 6.1 based on Android 14. Coming with pre-installed apps this isn’t hard to remove some unnecessary bloatware. But some adware and banner ads may pop up from time to time, although admittedly those can be a distraction, not to mention a nuisance, but they can be blocked or handled if they bother you.
Software Features
- NFC Support: It’s a standout budget phone feature that allows contactless payments and easy data transfer.
- Long-Term Support: It Comes with 4 years OS updates and 5 years of security updates and to offer some peace of mind to users.
Exceptional Battery Life
The biggest selling point of the Samsung Galaxy M35 is its massive 6,000mAh battery as this will run for all day and more. Whether you’re surfing or streaming or gaming or multi-tasking, the Galaxy M35 stays charged on all fronts without the never ending need to recharge.
Battery Performance
- Longevity: Operates easily for a day and a half when used regularly.
- Charging Speed: The 18W wired charging works with ports like other competitors, but it’s slower. It takes about two hours from zero to full charge.
- No Charger Included: The thing is that you’ll need to buy a charger separately and it may not be always convenient.
Flawed looks aside, the Galaxy M35 has a longer battery life than it does to charge, making it a great purchasing option for buyers who want bigger battery life.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Vibrant AMOLED Display: The vast viewing angles, and solid video quality provide stuns visuals.
- Powerful Performance: It efficiently takes care of multitasking and gaming.
- Reliable Software Updates: It guarantees long term security as well as usability.
- Vapour Cooling Chamber: It is able to work with high performance, without overheating.
- Durable Gorilla Glass Victus+: Drops and scratches protection.
- 4K Front Camera: Among influencers popular for enhancing selfie quality.
- NFC Support: Supports data transfer and contactless payments.
- Outstanding Battery Life: Frequent usage without frequent charging.
Cons
- Slow Charging Speed: Maximum 18W wired charging.
- No Charger Included: You have to buy a charging plug.
- Absence of Headphone Jack: It requires relying on wireless or USB-C headphones.
- Thicker Bezels: It’s slightly off from how premium the rest of the display is.
Final Verdict
Focusing on the Samsung Galaxy M35, a sturdy and a robust smartphone that really excels in many important areas to make it a nice device for users in Nigeria. An amalgamation of typical flagship features, including a full fledged camera system, robust performance, and a vibrant display, this smartphone packs a stunning extra large battery life that complements the user experience nicely. The Galaxy M35 being priced below ₦250,000 stands it apart from iQOO, CMF by Nothing, Motorola, and others who provide a premium package without breaking the bank.
Why Go for the Samsung Galaxy M35?
- Long-Lasting Battery: Suitable for those who hardly ever run out of their mobile phone battery because they need to rely on it so much every day.
- Solid Build and Design: Multiple color options to match individual preferences, and durable.
- Future-Proof Software Support: Get extended OS and security updates for your peace of mind.
- NFC and 5G Connectivity: Offers fast and simple connectivity options.
Also, Nigeria’s tech and business elite have proven that they trust the Galaxy M35 with its rising popularity. Its sleek design and good features have made this device very popular among professionals who would like a robust device for both personal and business purposes.
If you are searching for a smartphone without compromising on the special features and if you are on a budget, Samsung Galaxy M35 is just what you need. It provides a great combination of high value and high end features and is a standout value proposition if you trade dollars for features.