If you’ve been browsing for a mid-range smartphone lately, there’s a high chance you’ve stumbled upon Samsung’s brand-new Galaxy M35 5G. At ₹19,999, this phone isn’t trying to be flashy like a Galaxy S-series flagship, nor is it trying to be a budget warrior — instead, it’s aiming to be that sweet-spot daily driver that’s reliable, powerful enough for most, and capable of lasting you through a day (and probably more) without making you rush for the charger.
Samsung is clearly targeting a very specific set of users with this device: those who value good battery life, a capable processor, clean software, solid cameras for everyday shots, and the security of buying from a trusted global brand. But with so many strong contenders around the ₹20,000 mark such as iQOO Z9, Redmi Note 13 Pro, and Realme Narzo 70 Pro, can the Galaxy M35 5G hold its own?
Let’s take a deep, unfiltered look at everything this new mid-ranger offers — from design to performance, battery to gaming, and how it fits into the wildly competitive market.
Design and Build: Practical, Not Pretentious
The first thing you notice when you hold the Galaxy M35 5G is that it’s not trying too hard to look “premium” in that fake, flashy way. It has a clean, understated design language that Samsung has been refining over the past couple of M-series generations. You get flat sides, a smooth plastic back with a matte finish (which, thankfully, doesn’t attract too many fingerprints), and the signature vertically aligned triple camera setup at the back.
The phone comes in multiple colour options, and Samsung has gone for hues that look fresh without being too loud. The feel in the hand is sturdy enough — no creaks, no flimsy build — though it does lean on the bulkier side, largely because of that giant battery packed inside. At around 9mm thickness and 210g weight, you can feel its presence in your pocket, but not to an uncomfortable extent.
The front is a familiar Samsung affair: slim bezels (but still a noticeable chin), a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera, and a flat display for those who prefer practicality over curved-screen aesthetic drama.
Galaxy M35 Display: Classic Samsung Strength
If there’s one arena where Samsung almost never fumbles, it’s the display department. The Galaxy M35 5G packs a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. This isn’t just marketing jargon — the panel is genuinely a treat to look at.
Colors pop as you’d expect from AMOLED. Blacks are deep, contrast is excellent, and the viewing angles are solid. Whether you’re scrolling Instagram, watching YouTube videos, or bingeing that weekend anime, you’re getting a display that feels like it belongs to a higher-priced phone.
Brightness is decent even for outdoor use, with Samsung’s Vision Booster feature helping make content legible under direct sunlight. It’s not Galaxy S24 Ultra-level bright, but for day-to-day tasks, it’s more than enough. The 120Hz refresh rate helps make UI navigation ultra-smooth, and the adaptive switching means you won’t always be draining the battery unnecessarily.
Galaxy M35 Performance: Reliable for Most Users
Under the hood, the Galaxy M35 5G runs on the Exynos 1380 chipset, which we’ve seen before in the Galaxy A54 5G. This is paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage (expandable via microSD). While the Exynos 1380 isn’t a sheer performance beast like Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, it’s a solid, efficient performer for most regular users.
Launching apps is quick, multitasking is smooth thanks to Samsung’s RAM Plus feature giving you up to 8GB of virtual RAM, and day-to-day performance feels consistent. For casual gaming like Call of Duty Mobile or Asphalt 9, the phone handles it without noticeable stutter, though heavy gamers might notice throttling in extended high-graphics play sessions.
The UI experience is classic One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14, which means you’re getting a clean interface, refined animations, and Samsung’s full range of customization options. The best part? Samsung’s promise of four years of OS updates and five years of security updates — a massive advantage over many competitors in this price bracket. This ensures the M35 5G stays relevant well into the future while others may stop receiving updates in two years.
Galaxy M35 Battery Life: Where the M35 5G Truly Shines
Here’s the “monster” part in Samsung’s description of this phone — the 6,000mAh battery. This isn’t just good on paper; in real life, it’s ridiculous how long this thing lasts.
If you’re a light-to-moderate user (social media, chatting, video calls, some casual gaming), you could easily stretch this phone to 2 full days on a single charge. Even heavy users will find themselves comfortably ending a day with 30–35% still left.
Charging is handled by 25W fast charging. Yes, some competitors are pushing 67W or even 120W, but Samsung seems to be sticking to the “slow and steady” philosophy here — prioritizing battery health over ultra-fast top-ups. And no, you don’t get a charger in the box, which means you’ll need to factor that into your budget if you don’t already own one.
Galaxy M35 Cameras: Solid, Consistent, and Very Samsung
Samsung isn’t chasing megapixel madness here. The Galaxy M35 5G packs a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, you get a 13MP selfie camera.
In daylight, the primary 50MP camera delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Samsung mid-range device — punchy colors, good dynamic range, and plenty of detail. Sometimes, skin tones can look a touch warm, but that’s a long-standing Samsung tuning trait. HDR performance is reliably good and shadows retain enough detail to prevent images from looking flat.
Low light is handled decently; the dedicated night mode helps in keeping noise low and maintaining colors, though you can see some softness creep in. The ultra-wide camera is usable for group shots or landscapes but lags behind the main sensor in sharpness and low-light ability.
Selfies are pleasing, and the portrait mode edge detection is surprisingly accurate most of the time. Video capture goes up to 4K 30fps with good stabilization thanks to OIS, making it reliable for casual vlogging.
Galaxy M35: Audio and Multimedia
The Galaxy M35 5G comes with stereo speakers — a welcome feature in this price range. They’re loud enough for watching videos without headphones, and there’s some noticeable stereo separation when watching in landscape mode.
Wireless audio over Bluetooth is solid, with support for Samsung’s usual codecs. There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, which might disappoint wired earphone fans, but this is becoming standard in mid-range devices now.
Galaxy M35: Security and Extras
You get an in-display fingerprint scanner that’s quick and accurate, along with face unlock. Samsung Knox security is baked in, which should give peace of mind to privacy-conscious users. NFC is present, so you can use contactless payments without fuss.
On the network side, it supports multiple 5G bands, ensuring you can latch onto India’s growing 5G network infrastructure without compatibility headaches.
Galaxy M35: Comparison With Rivals
Let’s see how the Galaxy M35 5G stacks up against some of its main competition at this price point:
| Feature | Galaxy M35 5G | iQOO Z9 | Redmi Note 13 Pro | Realme Narzo 70 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹19,999 | ₹19,999 | ₹20,999 | ₹19,999 |
| Display | 6.6″ FHD+ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.78″ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.67″ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.7″ AMOLED 120Hz |
| Processor | Exynos 1380 | Dimensity 7200 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 | Dimensity 7050 |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP+8MP+2MP | 64MP OIS+2MP | 200MP+8MP+2MP | 50MP OIS+8MP |
| Front Camera | 13MP | 16MP | 16MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 6000mAh, 25W Charging | 5000mAh, 44W Charging | 5100mAh, 67W Charging | 5000mAh, 67W Charging |
| Software Updates | 4 Years OS / 5 Years Sec. | 2 Years OS / 3 Years | 3 Years OS / 4 Years | 2 Years OS |
From this, it’s clear that while some rivals may outperform the M35 5G in raw processor speed or charging wattage, Samsung’s battery capacity, software update commitment, and reliable display give it a strong case for buyers who prioritize long-term use.
Galaxy M35: Daily Use Experience
Living with the Galaxy M35 5G is, in a word, effortless. You don’t have to think twice about whether the phone will last the day. You don’t need to worry about software aging poorly in two years. Even in the heat of multitasking, the performance remains smooth.
It’s the sort of phone you hand to your parents knowing they won’t be calling you every week with complaints. It’s also a perfectly viable choice for a younger audience that wants style without screaming for attention.
The only places where the phone could have been more exciting are charging speed, perhaps a slightly more powerful chipset for high-end gaming, and a slightly thinner body — but then, Samsung would have had to sacrifice that massive battery, and that’s clearly the hero feature here.
Verdict: Who Should Buy the Galaxy M35 5G?
At ₹19,999, the Galaxy M35 5G is not the fastest mid-ranger. It’s not the most camera-packed. But it is one of the most dependable options in its price bracket right now.
Buy it if you want:
- A phone that just won’t die on you mid-day.
- A vibrant, smooth AMOLED display.
- Long-term Android updates.
- Samsung’s refined One UI experience.
Skip it if you want:
- The absolute best gaming performance for the price.
- Ultra-fast charging.
- The latest camera sensor tech.