The Realme 15 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A35 represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Realme focuses on rapid charging and a newer chipset, while the Samsung prioritizes display quality and established brand recognition. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and display clarity, the Samsung Galaxy A35 emerges as the better choice. Its Exynos 1380, coupled with a brighter 1024-nit display and longer battery life, offers a more refined experience, despite the slower 25W charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 26, 28, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, October | 2024, March 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October | Available. Released 2024, March 15 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 161.7 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm (6.37 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) | 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm (6.37 x 3.07 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Energy (4 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G615 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 15, Realme UI 6.0 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.95", PDAF, OIS
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96", PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical); unspecified sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Satin Green, Glitter Gold, Electric Purple | Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
| Models | RMX5000 | SM-A356E, SM-A356E/DS, SM-A356B, SM-A356B/DS, SM-A356U, SM-A356U1 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | $ 138.00 / C$ 419.99 / £ 205.99 / € 259.99 / ₹ 18,299 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.44 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
Realme 15 Lite
- 80W SuperVOOC charging for incredibly fast top-ups
- Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Energy offers a newer architecture
- 4nm process potentially leads to better thermal management
- Battery life is likely shorter than the Samsung Galaxy A35
- Display brightness and quality are likely inferior to the A35
Samsung Galaxy A35
- Excellent battery life with 12:26h of active use
- Bright 1024 nit display for superior outdoor visibility
- Samsung’s established software support and ecosystem
- Slower 25W charging compared to the Realme 15 Lite
- Exynos 1380 is a generation older than the Dimensity 7300 Energy
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A35 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1024 nits, compared to the Realme 15 Lite (brightness data unavailable). This higher peak brightness translates to better outdoor visibility. While the Realme 15 Lite’s panel technology isn’t specified, Samsung’s display is likely to offer superior color accuracy and viewing angles. The absence of LTPO on either device suggests neither will offer adaptive refresh rates for power saving, but the A35’s brightness advantage is a clear win for users who consume a lot of media outdoors.
Camera Comparison
Camera details beyond sensor resolution are limited. Without knowing sensor sizes or aperture values, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Realme 15 Lite’s inclusion of a 2MP macro camera is likely to offer limited practical benefit. The Samsung Galaxy A35’s image processing is known for its vibrant, sometimes oversaturated, look, while Realme tends towards a more natural, though less refined, aesthetic. The larger sensor (if present) on the A35 would likely capture more light and detail, especially in low-light conditions.
Performance
Both devices utilize octa-core CPUs with a similar core configuration – four Cortex-A78 performance cores and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. However, the Realme 15 Lite’s Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Energy, built on a 4nm process, has a slight clock speed advantage (2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz on the A35’s Exynos 1380). Crucially, the 4nm node of the Dimensity 7300 Energy should offer better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Exynos 1380, fabricated on a 5nm process, is still efficient, but the Realme has a theoretical edge in sustained performance. RAM speed (LPDDR5x) is not specified for either device, but will impact multitasking performance.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A35 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery life, achieving 12 hours and 26 minutes of active use. While the Realme 15 Lite’s battery capacity is unknown, its 80W wired charging is significantly faster than the A35’s 25W charging. This means the Realme can replenish its battery much quicker, but the A35’s larger battery and efficient chipset provide longer runtimes between charges. A full charge on the Realme 15 Lite is expected to be significantly faster, potentially under 40 minutes, while the A35 will likely take over an hour.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 15 Lite if you absolutely need the fastest possible charging speeds and prioritize a newer chipset architecture, even if it means potentially sacrificing some sustained performance and display brightness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A35 if you value a brighter, more color-accurate display, longer battery life in real-world usage, and the peace of mind that comes with Samsung’s software support and established ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Samsung Galaxy A35 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1380 is a capable chip, it can exhibit some throttling under sustained heavy load. However, Samsung’s software optimization and the phone’s thermal design generally prevent overheating from becoming a major issue. Expect some performance dip after 30-45 minutes of demanding games, but it shouldn’t be severe.
❓ Is the 80W charging on the Realme 15 Lite compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
No, the Realme 15 Lite utilizes SuperVOOC charging, which is a proprietary standard. While it may work with some PD chargers, it won't achieve the full 80W charging speed unless you use a compatible SuperVOOC charger. Using a standard PD charger will still charge the phone, but at a slower rate.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the Realme 15 Lite and the Samsung Galaxy A35?
Samsung’s image processing typically produces vibrant, saturated colors, often prioritizing a visually appealing image over absolute accuracy. Realme’s processing tends to be more natural, aiming for a more realistic representation, though it may lack the same level of polish. This difference is subjective and depends on personal preference.
❓ Will the Realme 15 Lite receive long-term software updates and security patches?
Realme’s software update commitment is generally shorter than Samsung’s. While the Realme 15 Lite will likely receive a few major Android updates, it may not receive the same level of long-term security patch support as the Samsung Galaxy A35, which benefits from Samsung’s four-year update promise.