Samsung may have already rolled out the Galaxy M36 5G, but the Galaxy M35 5G continues to hold its ground as a compelling budget pick in the brand’s mid-range arsenal.
Launched last year, the M35 offers just the right blend of dependable hardware, long software support, and massive battery life, something the new M36 doesn’t dramatically improve upon. For anyone looking for a budget Samsung phone under Rs. 20,000, the M35 is still a smart and practical choice.
1. Display That Still Feels Premium
The Galaxy M35 5G features a 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. It gets bright too, up to 1000 nits of peak brightness, making it easy to use outdoors. Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection also gives it a durability edge in this segment.
While the newer M36 bumps the display size slightly to 6.7 inches and switches to an Infinity-U notch, it’s not a dramatic shift in experience. Both panels are AMOLED and 120Hz, so you’re essentially getting the same visual quality, only the design framing changes.
For those who prefer the cleaner Infinity-O punch-hole design over the older teardrop notch, the M35 actually looks more modern despite being older.
2. Performance That Holds Up
Powered by the Exynos 1380, the same chipset used in the newer M36, the M35 5G delivers solid performance for day-to-day tasks, multitasking, and even moderate gaming.
Samsung hasn’t upgraded the SoC for the M36, meaning performance is identical across both generations. Whether you go for the 6GB or 8GB RAM variant, the Exynos 1380 handles One UI 7 smoothly, with minimal stutter or lag.
You also get vapor chamber cooling on the M35, which helps with thermal efficiency during prolonged use.
3. Camera Setup You Can Trust
The M35’s triple rear camera setup is led by a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, flanked by an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro lens. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s consistent, and image quality is respectable in daylight with good dynamic range. The 13MP selfie camera inside the punch-hole notch is more than enough for social media-ready shots.
The Galaxy M36 introduces 10-bit HDR video recording for both front and rear cameras, which is a welcome addition, but unless you’re doing professional-level content creation, it won’t be a game-changer for most users. For general photography, the M35 still holds its own.
4. Battery Beast with Long-Term Support
The Galaxy M35 packs a massive 6000mAh battery, larger than the M36’s 5000mAh, and supports 25W fast charging. Samsung doesn’t ship a charger in the box, but that’s now standard practice across most brands.
Battery life on the M35 is exceptional. This phone can comfortably last two days with moderate use. In comparison, the M36 is slimmer at just 7.7mm and lighter, but that comes at the cost of battery capacity. If endurance is a priority, the M35 wins hands down.
Plus, Samsung has promised four generations of Android updates and five years of security patches for the M35. That’s not far behind the M36’s six-year commitment. For a phone that launched in 2024, it still has years of updates left, which gives it longevity rarely seen in this price segment.
5. Pricing That Undercuts the Successor
Here’s where the Galaxy M35 makes even more sense: pricing. The M35 5G currently starts at just Rs. 16,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant and Rs. 21,499 for the top 8GB+256GB model.
That’s significantly cheaper than the M36, whose base variant starts at Rs. 17,499 for the same configuration and Rs. 21,999 for the top-tier model with a smaller battery.
If you’re not chasing marginal upgrades like Android 15 out of the box or a few grams less in weight, the M35 gives you nearly the same experience at a lower cost.
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