The midrange smartphone segment is more competitive than ever, with brands pushing for the best mix of performance, design, and features at an affordable price. The Samsung Galaxy A35 and vivo V40e are two strong contenders, each bringing something unique to the table. But which one is the better buy? In this in-depth comparison, we evaluate their design, display, performance, camera, battery, and software to determine which phone stands out as the ultimate midrange champion.
Design and Build Quality
Build quality plays a vital role in a smartphone’s longevity and overall feel. The Samsung Galaxy A35 features a glass back and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front, giving it a premium look while ensuring better protection against scratches and drops. Its plastic frame keeps the phone lightweight while maintaining durability. Additionally, Samsung has included IP67 water and dust resistance, meaning the device can survive submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, offering an extra layer of security against accidental spills or rain.
The vivo V40e, on the other hand, sports a glass front but a plastic back and frame, making it slightly less premium in terms of materials. It also has an IP64 rating, which protects it from dust and minor water splashes but falls short of the full waterproofing that Samsung offers. This means that while both devices can handle daily wear and tear, the Galaxy A35 is more resilient in harsh environments, making it a better choice for users who need a more durable phone.
Display
A good display significantly enhances the user experience, whether it’s for gaming, watching videos, or general browsing. The Samsung Galaxy A35 features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of peak brightness. The high brightness ensures better visibility outdoors, and the always-on display allows users to check notifications without unlocking the phone. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio ensures a comfortable grip while providing a wide viewing experience.
The vivo V40e takes a slightly different approach with a 6.77-inch AMOLED panel that offers HDR10+ support. This enhances color accuracy and contrast, making HDR content appear more vibrant. The phone also boasts a higher screen-to-body ratio (~90.3%), which means thinner bezels and a more immersive display. However, vivo does not specify the peak brightness, which raises concerns about outdoor visibility.
Both devices offer 120Hz refresh rates, ensuring smooth scrolling and animations, but the Samsung Galaxy A35’s higher brightness makes it a more practical choice for outdoor use, while the vivo V40e is better for HDR content.
Performance
Performance is a critical aspect when selecting a smartphone, especially for multitasking, gaming, and long-term efficiency. The Samsung Galaxy A35 is powered by the Exynos 1380 (5nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core CPU (4x Cortex-A78 @2.4GHz & 4x Cortex-A55 @2.0GHz) and Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. The device supports up to 12GB of RAM and includes microSD card expansion.
The vivo V40e, in contrast, is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 (4nm) chipset, with a slightly faster Cortex-A78 core clocked at 2.5GHz. It also includes the Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, which, while efficient, is slightly weaker in handling graphics-heavy tasks. The device offers up to 8GB of RAM but lacks microSD support, limiting storage flexibility.
Benchmark Scores:
Samsung Galaxy A35:
- AnTuTu (v10): 603,441
- Geekbench (v6): 2,931
- 3DMark (Wild Life Extreme): 806
vivo V40e:
- AnTuTu (v10): 681,470
- Geekbench (v6): 2,971
- 3DMark (Sling Shot): 642
While the vivo V40e delivers better raw CPU performance, the Samsung Galaxy A35’s GPU is stronger, making it a better choice for gaming. The expandable storage on the A35 also makes it more flexible for long-term use.
Camera
Both smartphones feature a 50 MP primary sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), ensuring sharp and steady shots. However, the Samsung Galaxy A35 offers a triple-camera setup, including an 8 MP ultrawide camera (123° FOV) and a 5 MP macro lens. This gives users more versatility when capturing different types of shots.
The vivo V40e, on the other hand, has a dual-camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor and an 8 MP ultrawide lens (116° FOV). While it lacks a macro camera, it compensates with a 50 MP front camera, which produces significantly sharper selfies compared to the 13 MP front camera on the Galaxy A35.
For general photography, Samsung’s additional macro lens and wider ultrawide sensor make it more versatile. However, if selfie quality is a priority, vivo’s 50 MP front camera is the better choice.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery capacity and charging speed can make a big difference in daily usage. The Samsung Galaxy A35 is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. While the battery life is solid, the charging speed is comparatively pretty slow compared to competitors.
The vivo V40e takes the lead in this category with a larger 5500 mAh battery and 80W fast charging. This allows it to charge from 0 to 50% in just 20 minutes, a huge advantage for users who need quick top-ups throughout the day.
While both phones offer strong battery life, vivo’s faster charging speed makes it the clear winner in this category.
Software and Extra Features
The Samsung Galaxy A35 runs Android 14 with One UI 6.1 and promises 4 major OS updates and 5 years of security updates. This ensures that the device will remain updated for a long time. It also features NFC support (region-dependent) for mobile payments.
The vivo V40e runs on Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14, but its update policy is less transparent, meaning it may not receive as many major updates as the A35. Additionally, it lacks NFC, which is a dealbreaker for users who rely on Google Pay or other contactless payment services.
Samsung’s stronger software support, user-friendly UI, and additional features make it the better choice in this category.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Build & Durability | Samsung A35 |
| Display | Tie |
| Performance | vivo V40e |
| Camera | Samsung A35 |
| Battery & Charging | vivo V40e |
| Software & Features | Samsung A35 |
Overall, while the vivo V40e excels in raw performance and battery charging speed, the Samsung Galaxy A35 offers a better-rounded experience with superior durability, better cameras, longer software support, and expandable storage.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A35
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A35 is the better long-term investment, making it the best choice in this midrange battle.
