Galaxy A35 Vs Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A35, released in March 2024, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, launched in January 2021, represent different segments of Samsung's smartphone offerings. While both operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI, the S21 Ultra 5G was a flagship device at its release, emphasizing advanced camera capabilities and a premium display, whereas the A35 focuses on delivering a balanced experience for everyday use.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical durability.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy A35 is a newer device, released in March 2024, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G was released earlier, in January 2021. This difference in launch date inherently provides the A35 with a longer potential lifespan in terms of current technology and future compatibility.
• Software Support: The Galaxy A35 is promised four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, extending its software support until approximately Android 18 and security patches until 2029. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, having launched with Android 11, has received its four major OS updates, reaching Android 15, and is also expected to receive five years of security updates from its release. This means the A35 will receive software updates for a longer period into the future.
• Physical Durability: Both devices offer robust protection. The Galaxy A35 features Gorilla Glass Victus+ on its display and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G comes with Gorilla Glass Victus on both its front and back, coupled with an IP68 rating, indicating slightly better water immersion protection.

Performance varies between these two devices, reflecting their original market positioning and release dates.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy A35 is equipped with a processor designed for efficient daily tasks, handling browsing, streaming, and light gaming smoothly. Users generally report a responsive experience for common applications, though some note occasional lag when launching heavier apps. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, as a former flagship, features a more powerful processor, delivering robust performance for demanding applications, intensive multitasking, and graphic-heavy gaming without significant slowdowns.
• Multitasking and Storage: The A35 typically comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and offers 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with the option to expand storage via a microSD card. The S21 Ultra 5G provides more substantial RAM options, with 12GB or 16GB, and internal storage configurations up to 512GB, though it does not support expandable storage.
• Battery Behavior: Both phones house a 5000mAh battery. The Galaxy A35 generally offers strong battery life, often lasting a full day or even a day and a half with moderate use, providing around 7 hours of screen-on time. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G also delivers all-day battery life, with around 7 hours of screen-on time, but its higher-resolution display and more powerful components can lead to faster battery drain when used at maximum settings.

The visual experience on both devices is driven by their display technology, though with notable differences in resolution and brightness.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy A35 features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Quad HD+ resolution (3200 x 1440 pixels), providing a significantly sharper and more detailed visual experience.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones offer a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations. The A35 reaches a high brightness mode of 1000 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. The S21 Ultra 5G, however, achieves a peak brightness of 1500 nits and features an adaptive refresh rate that can scale from 10Hz to 120Hz, optimizing power consumption while maintaining fluidity.
• Viewing Experience: The A35 provides a clear and vibrant viewing experience suitable for media consumption and daily tasks. The S21 Ultra 5G's higher resolution and greater peak brightness make it particularly well-suited for detailed content creation, HDR video playback, and outdoor visibility.

Camera capabilities are a key differentiator, with the S21 Ultra 5G offering a more versatile and advanced system.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy A35 includes a triple camera setup with a 50MP main sensor (with OIS), an 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens. It performs well in daylight conditions, capturing vibrant photos, and has an impressive night mode. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a quad-camera system, including a 108MP main sensor (with OIS), a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 10MP 10x telephoto lens, along with a laser autofocus sensor. This setup provides exceptional versatility and zoom capabilities.
• Front Camera and Video: The A35 has a 13MP front camera, capable of recording 4K video at 30fps. The S21 Ultra 5G features a higher-resolution 40MP front camera, also capable of 4K video recording at 30fps. Both devices offer 4K video recording from their main cameras, but the S21 Ultra 5G extends to 8K video recording at 24fps.
• Photography Performance: The A35 delivers good everyday photos, with users praising its daylight and selfie performance, though low-light ultrawide and macro shots may be less impressive. The S21 Ultra 5G is recognized for its pro-grade camera system, offering sharp images, impressive dynamic range, and advanced zoom features like 100x Space Zoom, making it suitable for a wide range of photographic scenarios, including distant subjects.