Okay, let's dive into a detailed comparison of the Honor 70 and the Samsung Galaxy A35. I'll break down the tech specs into real-world scenarios to give you a clear picture of what each phone offers.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a look at how these two phones stack up, focusing on practical implications:
| Feature | Honor 70 | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | 161.7 × 78 × 8.2 mm | The A35 is slightly wider and thicker, making the Honor 70 feel more slender in hand. |
| Weight | 178g | 209g | The Honor 70 is noticeably lighter, enhancing comfort during extended use. |
| Build Quality | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | The Galaxy A35 has a more robust screen protection, which makes it more durable against everyday scratches and minor drops. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.6" | Both have a similar screen size with the Honor 70 being slightly larger; great for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2340 | Both offer sharp, clear visuals, with negligible difference in resolution. |
| PPI | 395 | 390 | Near identical pixel density, both are very sharp for regular use. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both technologies offer vibrant colors and deep blacks for great viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, making the user interface more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | The listed brightness is incorrect, but both should be sufficiently bright for outdoor use. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) | Both are capable for daily tasks, but the Snapdragon might offer slightly better gaming performance, while the Exynos handles AI related tasks well. |
| AnTuTu Score | 600,525 | 578,500 | Both offer similar overall performance, making them quite capable for most apps and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Mali-G68 MP5 | Different GPU configurations, which will have an impact on intensive graphics-related applications and gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera Res. | 54MP | 50MP | The Honor 70 has a slightly higher megapixel count, but sensor size and aperture also play an important role. |
| Standard Camera Aperture | f/1.9 | f/1.8 | A slightly wider aperture on the A35 may allow better low-light photography. |
| Standard Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.49" | 1/1.96" | Honor 70 has a bigger sensor, which can mean better low light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Res. | 32MP | 13MP | The Honor 70 takes high resolution selfies than the A35, resulting in more detailed shots. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.2 | A wider aperture on the A35 means it can allow more light, resulting in slightly better low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens Res. | 50MP | 8MP | Honor 70 offers higher resolution wide angle photos, resulting in more detailed images. |
| Macro Lens Res. | 2MP | 5MP | The A35 has a higher resolution macro lens which may capture more details in very close-up shots. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@60fps (EIS), 960 fps Slow-motion | 4K@30fps (EIS), 1080p@60fps (EIS), 240 fps Slow-motion | Both offer great video recording, with the Honor 70 having higher slow motion capabilities. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | Galaxy A35 offers Optical image stabilization (OIS) for more steady videos |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 115 | 104 | Honor 70 is slightly better in camera performance. |
| Camera Features | RAW | RAW 12 bit, OIS, Pro Video Mode | The Galaxy A35 offers a wider array of features for advanced users including 2x2 OCL, Pro Video Mode, OIS, AutoFraming, All Pixel Omni-Directional PDAF, NPU AI Engine, DOL HDR. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4800 mAh | 5000 mAh | The A35 has a slightly larger battery, which might translate to a bit more usage between charges. |
| Charging | 66W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | Honor 70 charges significantly faster, great for quick top-ups. |
| Battery Tech | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Both battery types are widely used, providing a safe and reliable power source. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | Non-removable | Honor 70 can charge other devices, which may be useful in emergencies. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12 | Android 14 | The A35 comes with a newer version of Android out of the box, offering more recent features and updates. |
| Max Version | Android 18 | The A35 will be supported with more software updates and patches, which provides longevity. | |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 LE | 5.3 | The A35 has a slightly newer Bluetooth version. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | The A35 supports more satellite systems, which may offer improved accuracy in some cases. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones allow the use of two SIM cards at once. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512 GB | 128/256 GB | The Honor 70 offers more internal storage options, with a 512GB option. |
| RAM | 6/8/12 GB | 6/8 GB | The Honor 70 has an option with 12GB of RAM which is great for power users. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion, so it is important to choose the right model with appropriate storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The A35 provides better immersive audio, due to the Dolby Atmos technology. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Basic | Basic | Both offer a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure unlocking. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Comprehensive sensor suites, each with their own advantages. |
| ## 2. Key Insights |
Honor 70:
Strengths:
- Lighter and More Compact: The Honor 70 is significantly lighter, which makes it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods.
- Superior Selfie Camera: The 32MP selfie camera captures more detail.
- Faster Charging: The 66W fast charging is a significant advantage, allowing for quicker battery top-ups.
- Higher Resolution Wide-Angle Lens: The 50MP wide-angle lens is great for landscape and group photos.
- More RAM and Storage Options: It provides more options with 12GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage.
Trade-offs:
- Older Android: Comes with Android 12, while the A35 has Android 14 which means less long term support.
- No Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): May not perform as well in video capture or low light photography, as it only uses Electronic Image Stabilization.
- Lacks Robust Screen Protection: It has an unknown screen protection which might not be as durable.
- No Dolby Atmos: The audio experience is slightly inferior.
Samsung Galaxy A35:
Strengths:
- Newer Android: It ships with Android 14, offering a more up-to-date experience and better support over time.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): The A35 offers better image and video stabilization.
- Larger Battery: The slightly larger battery may offer a bit more usage between charges.
- Better Audio: It uses Dolby Atmos providing a superior audio experience.
- More Robust Build: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers a significant upgrade in screen protection.
- More Advanced Camera Features: 2x2 OCL, Pro Video Mode, OIS, AutoFraming, All Pixel Omni- Directional PDAF, NPU AI Engine, DOL HDR.
- Better GPS: It supports more satellite systems for accurate location tracking.
Trade-offs:
- Heavier: At 209g, it is noticeably heavier and may be less comfortable to handle for long periods.
- Slower Charging: The 25W charging is significantly slower compared to the Honor 70.
- Inferior Selfie Camera: 13MP selfie camera captures less detail.
- Inferior Wide Angle Camera: The 8MP wide angle lens is of lower quality.
- Less Storage and RAM: Fewer options compared to the Honor 70, especially for the highest end storage and RAM variants.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Honor 70:
- Ideal User: Content creators focused on vlogging, individuals who prioritize fast charging and a lightweight design, social media enthusiasts who take lots of selfies, or users who need a lot of RAM and storage.
- Use Cases: Great for social media content, quick battery top-ups throughout the day, and comfortable extended use for gaming and video streaming.
Samsung Galaxy A35:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize a robust build and good video stability, enjoy media consumption and care about audio quality, users who want more software support from Android, or those who appreciate advanced camera features.
- Use Cases: Good for shooting videos, daily communication, media consumption, reliable GPS navigation, and a long-term software experience.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to consider when choosing between the Honor 70 and Samsung Galaxy A35:
Do you prioritize lightweight design and fast charging or longer-lasting build and software updates?
- If you need a light phone with fast charging, the Honor 70 is the better option.
- If you need software longevity and a robust design the A35 should be considered.
Is camera performance, especially for selfies and vlogging, critical, or do you prefer more video stability?
- If selfie quality is more important to you, the Honor 70 is the better option.
- If video stability and advanced features are more important, then the Galaxy A35 is the better option.
Are you looking for more storage options and RAM or a newer Android version?
- If you need more storage and RAM, the Honor 70 will fit better.
- If having the latest software is your priority, go for the Samsung A35.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: The Mobile Content Creator
- Recommendation: The Honor 70 is recommended for higher quality selfie and wide angle photos and great battery charging.
Scenario 2: The Everyday User and Media Enthusiast
- Recommendation: The Samsung Galaxy A35 is recommended because of the robust build, better video stability, enhanced audio, and software updates.
Scenario 3: The On-the-Go Professional
- Recommendation: The Honor 70 is recommended due to it's light and compact design and fast charging abilities.
My Choice
Personally, I would lean towards the Samsung Galaxy A35. While the Honor 70 has some impressive features like faster charging and a better selfie camera, the overall package of the A35 is more appealing to me. As someone who uses phones for extended periods of time, the robustness of the Gorilla Glass Victus, along with the more stable video capture and better software support, is more valuable to me. Additionally, I am a big fan of audio and the Dolby Atmos is a great feature for me. While the 25W charging is slower, I find it to be acceptable for my lifestyle. Although the Honor 70 is a capable device, in the long run the Galaxy A35 seems like the more sensible choice.
