Samsung Galaxy M35 5G After 90 Days: Still Worth Buying in 2025?
Today let’s talk about the Samsung Galaxy M35 5G, which I unboxed 90 days ago. This phone was launched in July 2024, and now in July 2025, even after a year, it is very much in the market.
But is it still a solid choice in the budget of ₹15,000? Or is the new Galaxy M36 5G better? After 90 days of real-world use, a major issue has also come up with the Android 15 (One UI 7) update. Let’s talk about its condition, performance, and price in detail!
Design and Build
The design of M35 is very simple and practical. Polycarbonate back with glossy finish, which looks premium, but you will have to use a case for scratches.
Flat frame and slightly rounded corners give the phone a comfortable grip, but 222g weight and 9.1mm thickness make it feel a bit bulky. Can be held in hand while watching long gaming or reels.
Talking about ports:
- Bottom: USB-C port, speaker, and microphone.
- Top: Secondary microphone for noise cancellation.
- Right: Power button (along with fingerprint sensor) and volume rocker.
- Left: Hybrid SIM tray (2 SIMs or 1 SIM + 1 microSD up to 1TB).
The front has a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits brightness.
There is also Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, so the display will be safe from small drops. Even after 90 days, the build quality is solid, no major wear is visible.
Battery Life: Did the update play any role?
The 6000mAh battery of M35 is its biggest plus point. In normal use (social media, calls, YouTube), it runs comfortably for 1.5–2 days.
Even with heavy use (gaming, video streaming), a full day passes, like 7–8 hours screen-on time. But there is one issue: After the Android 15 (One UI 7) update, the battery backup has reduced a bit.
Earlier I used to get 10 hours of screen time, now it lasts only for 8 hours. This is a genuine problem, maybe a software optimization issue.
Talking about charging, there is 25W fast charging support, but the charger is not provided in the box. It takes 1.5 hours to fully charge.
Someone asked in the comment if we can use 18W charger? I haven’t tried it, but I did use Realme’s 18W charger with M15 once, and within 3 months the charging port got damaged. So, stick to 25W charger for safety.
Performance: Is it smooth even now?
M35 has Exynos 1380 chipset, which is made on 5nm process. AnTuTu score is around 6.25 lakh, which is decent in this price range.
There is no lag in normal tasks like Instagram scrolling, WhatsApp, or video editing (KineMaster, PixelLab). Casual gaming (Free Fire, COD Mobile) is also smooth at 60fps, but there is a little stuttering on high graphics.
The phone can get a bit warm during long gaming sessions (1 hour+), but the vapor cooling chamber controls overheating.
The performance is steady even after 90 days, but not the best for heavy gamers. If you want hardcore gaming, then iQOO Z9 or Realme P3 Ultra are better options.
Camera: How is the quality?
The triple rear camera setup of M35 is:
- 50MP main (OIS): Gives vibrant and detailed shots in daylight. Colours are natural, but a little noise is visible in low-light.
- 8MP ultra-wide: Decent for group photos or landscapes, but there is slight distortion at the edges.
- 2MP depth sensor: Okay for portrait shots, bokeh effect is good.
The 13MP front camera is good enough for selfies, and delivers natural skin tones. Video recording supports up to 4K 30fps, which is solid at this price point.
After 90 days of use, the camera quality is consistent, but low-light performance could have been better.
Software: Impact of Android 15
The M35 was launched with Android 14 (One UI 6.1), but now it has received the Android 15 (One UI 7) update. Samsung promises 4 years of OS updates (till Android 18) and 5 years of security updates, which is rare at this price point. One UI 7 is smooth, with features like Samsung Wallet, Secure Folder, and Voice Focus feeling premium.
But a user commented that Bixby is not working after the update. I did not have this issue in my phone, maybe I will have to check after resetting the settings.
Price and Variants
M35 comes in three variants:
- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage: ₹14,599
- 8GB RAM + 128GB storage: ₹16,999
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage: ₹18,999
LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage are standard in this price. Discounts can be found on Amazon and Flipkart, especially during Prime Day (July 12–14, 2025).
Compared to Galaxy M36 5G, the price of M35 is only ₹1000–2000 less, but the design of M36 is slightly updated. Still, M35 is strong as per its value.
Is it still worth it?
After 90 days of use, M35 is a solid budget phone. Battery life, display, and long-term software updates are its big plus points. Battery backup has improved after Android 15 update.
There is some drawback, but for normal users it still lasts for 1.5–2 days. Performance is good enough for daily tasks and casual gaming, but not for heavy gamers. Camera is decent, but requires a little effort in low-light.
