This latest line-up of Galaxy A series phones offers extras not seen in the A series before, including more premium materials and security features.
“With the Galaxy A series, we are expanding our latest technologies to a wider audience so that more people can benefit from them,” TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Experience Business at Samsung Electronics said.
“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 line-up. We’re proud to enable Galaxy A series users to safely and reliably enjoy outstanding mobile experiences.”
These phones join two other A series releases earlier this year, the Galaxy A25 5G and A15 5G. With the launch of the lower-cost A15 5G, the starting price of a 5G Samsung phone in New Zealand is now down to NZ$349.
Samsung Galaxy A55 specs and features
The mid-range Galaxy A55 5G offers a quality Samsung performance, at a more budget-friendly price point of NZ$799. You’ll get up to five years of security updates and up to four years of Android operating system updates. The Galaxy A55 5G also includes an aluminium frame along with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus – a first for the A series.
As the name suggests, the A55 includes 5G compatibility, along with an Exynos 1480 processor with access to Samsung Knox Vault to protect against both hardware and software attacks – the first time this feature has been offered in the A series. Samsung has also included eSIM in the A55 – another first for a Galaxy A series device – which also means it’s dual-SIM capable. You’ll also get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage.
The A55 features a large 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, with a refresh rate up to 120Hz and Samsung’s Vision Booster for sharper, brighter viewing in direct sunlight. The phone comes with a 5000mAh battery along with fast charging.
As for the cameras, Samsung is packing in enhanced Nightography and Night Portrait mode to enhance your night and low-light photos — yet another feature not included in the A series until now. In the back, you’ll get a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and 5-megapixel macro camera, with a 32-megapixel front-facing camera for all your selfies. Samsung has also included many of its AI image features such as object eraser and edit suggest, along with other features like dual-recording for your vlogging needs.
The Samsung Galaxy is available for NZ$799 in Awesome Navy. It’s available from a range of retailers and on a plan from One NZ.
- NZ$799
- 5G connectivity
- Exynos 1480 processor
- 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate
- Triple rear-camera setup (50MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro)
- 32MP front-facing camera
- 5000mAh battery with fast charging
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB internal storage + up to 1TB expandable Micro SD storage
- IP67 dust and water resistance
- Android 14 + One UI 6.1 operating system
- Available in Awesome Navy
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G specs and features
Available for a cheaper $649 upfront, Samsung’s Galaxy A35 packs in many of the same security and photography innovations as the A55, but at a lower price point. As with the A55, A35 buyers get a big 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, along with Samsung’s Vision Boost tech for increased brightness and better tones in direct sunlight.
The Galaxy A35 5G is powered by an octa-core Exynos processor, a fairly standard chipset for a mid-range Android smartphone. But it’s the inclusion of Samsung Knox Vault security that may be a real draw for Samsung users.
The hardware-based Samsung Knox Vault runs alongside Android 14 software to keep your data safe, with the phone also offering Auto Blocker and Galaxy Security and Privacy Dashboard for additional protection.
The A35 may not pack the high-end camera specs of pricier Galaxy phones, but it’s no slouch: the phone comes with triple 50-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and 5-megapixel macro cameras in the back, plus a 13-megapixel front camera. The camera system offers all of Samsung’s must-have features, including Night Vision and AI processing for brighter, sharper photos.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G also features a big 5000 mAh battery, plus 128GB of storage and an expandable microSD card slot for up to 1TB. The phone is available from selected retailers and the Samsung online store.
- NZ$649
- 5G connectivity
- Exynos 1380 Octa-core processor
- 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
- Triple rear-camera setup (50MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro)
- 13MP front-facing camera
- 5000mAh battery with fast charging
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB internal storage + up to 1TB expandable Micro SD storage
- IP67 dust and water resistance
- Android 14 + One UI 6.1 operating system
- Awesome Navy
While you can buy both of the new Galaxy As as “device only”, it makes sense to bundle your new phone with a phone plan.
Compare monthly mobile plan providers here!
About the reviewer of this page
This guide was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.
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