Samsung Galaxy A35 5G vs iQOO Z9 5G : In 2025, the competition in the mid-range smartphone segment will have increased a lot. Both Samsung and iQOO brands have launched their powerful smartphones – Galaxy A35 and iQOO Z9 – in this range. On one hand, there is Samsung, which is known for premium design and trusted brand value, on the other hand, there is iiQ OO, which has become a game changer in performance and value-for-money. Let’s know who is ahead of whom in these two phones.
Design and Build Quality
Samsung Galaxy A35 has a glass back and IP67 water-dust resistance, which is very rare in this price range. This phone looks premium and is also durable for a long time. iQOO Z9 has a plastic build but the design is trendy and lightweight. Yes, Samsung is slightly ahead in premium feel.
Display quality
The Samsung Galaxy A35 has a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The colour quality and brightness of the display are great. The iQOO Z9 also has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. But Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology is brighter and more colourful. Therefore, the Galaxy A35 is slightly ahead in display as well.
Performance and processor
The iQOO Z9 gets the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset which is 4nm based and gives very smooth, powerful performance. This chipset is great for gaming, video editing and heavy multitasking. The Samsung Galaxy A35 gets the Exynos 1380 chipset which is good for daily tasks, but lags behind iQOO in gaming or heavy use.
Camera performance
The Galaxy A35 has a triple camera setup with a 50MP primary camera (with OIS), 8MP ultrawide and 5MP macro lens. Its camera gives stable and natural photos in both day and night conditions. The iQOO Z9 has a 50MP Sony IMX882 sensor with OIS as well, but there is no ultrawide camera. Its camera is quite sharp but Samsung is more flexible in multi-camera usage.
Battery and charging
Both have a 5000mAh battery. The iQOO Z9 gets 44W fast charging which charges the phone up to 50% in just 25 minutes. The Samsung A35 has 25W slightly slower charging. Battery backup is equal in both, but iQOO is ahead in charging speed.
Software and updates
Samsung promises to provide Android updates for 4 years and security updates for 5 years in its phones, which is a huge plus point. The One UI experience is also clean and feature-rich. The iQOO Z9 has Funtouch OS 14, which is now much improved, but does not offer as clean and long-term support as Samsung.
If your focus is on gaming, speed and fast charging, then the iQOO Z9 5G is a better option for you. If you want a premium design, a trusted brand, a better camera and long software support, then the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G will be a more balanced and durable choice.