Samsung announces new A Series smartphones with all the punch but none of the hip-pocket bite

A lot of hype, pizzaz and marketing power goes into some of Samsung’s best selling phones. The Samsung Galaxy S24 announced just two months ago set pre-order records here in Australia, while those flip and folding phones are all the attention seekers come the middle of the year. But if you’re after true value, features and bang-for-your-buck – then look no further at the Samsung Galaxy A series devices.

In addition to a couple that quietly launched in retail earlier this year (I’m looking at you Galaxy A05, A15 and A25), Samsung has tonight announced the Galaxy A353 and A55 with sharp pricing and fantastic design.

“With the Galaxy A series, we are expanding our latest technologies to a wider audience so that more people can benefit from them,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to open up even more possibilities on the Galaxy A series this year, including offering Samsung Knox Vault for the first time on this lineup. We’re proud to enable Galaxy A series users to safely and reliably enjoy outstanding mobile experiences.”

Drawing down from features seen recently in the Flagship “S series” Galaxy Smartphones, you’ll find things like better image signal processing, night time photography and an overall better camera from the previous generation.

The two devices also feature optical image stabilisation and video digital stabilisation for better protection from those blur-inducing hands of yours.

A bright, full HD screen which is Super AMOLED is nothing to blink at, coming in at 6.6 inches both the A35 and A55 look fantastic in all conditions.

Another featuring trickling down from the top end of town is Samsung Knox Vault allowing your most critical data, like PIN codes, passwords and lock screen credentials to be stored in a single hardware chip, encrypted for your own privacy.

Critically also, Samsung’s A series now also features their “Auto Blocker” which is opt-in, but features the ability to block unknown apps and provide app security checks. Users also have a Security and Privacy Dashboard for basic and detailed recommendations.

Great peace of mind for people too, with five years of security updates included.

Both the A35 and A55 will be on sale from 25 March, the A35 comes in at $549, while the A55 pushes harder at $699.

A 35 comes in a deep blue and ice blue, while the A55 comes in that deep blue and a lilac.

Specifications:

Galaxy A55 5G
Display	6.6-inch FHD+Super AMOLED DisplayUp to 120Hz refresh rateVision Booster
	* Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.6-inch in the full rectangle and 6.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight	161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2mm, 213g
Camera	12MP Ultra-Wide CameraF2.250MP Main CameraF1.8, AF, OIS5MP Macro CameraF2.432MP Front CameraF2.2
Memory & Storage	8GB + 128GB
	*Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
Battery	5,000mAh (typical)
	*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,905mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
OS	Android 14One UI 6.1
Security	Samsung Knox

Galaxy A35 5G
Display	6.6-inch FHD+Super AMOLED DisplayUp to 120Hz refresh rateVision Booster
	* Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.6-inch in the full rectangle and 6.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight	161.7 x 78.0 x 8.2mm, 209g
Camera	8MP Ultra-Wide CameraF2.250MP Main CameraF1.8, AF, OIS5MP Macro CameraF2.413MP Front CameraF2.2
Memory & Storage	6GB + 128GB
	* Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
Battery	5,000mAh (typical)
	*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,905mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
OS	Android 14One UI 6.1
Security	Samsung Knox

*Specifications may vary by market.