Realme C85 vs Samsung Galaxy A35: A Detailed Comparison for Budget Buyers
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a vibrant display, the Samsung Galaxy A35 is the stronger choice. Its Exynos 1380, despite a slower charging speed, delivers sustained performance and a superior user experience. However, the Realme C85 offers a compelling value proposition for those who prioritize charging speed and raw processing power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme C85 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 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, November 02 | 2024, March 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, November 13 | Available. Released 2024, March 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 77.9 x 8.4 mm (6.54 x 3.07 x 0.33 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 | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Resolution | 720 x 1570 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~254 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 113.0 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, 1200 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 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 | Up to 256GB | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.96", PDAF | - |
| 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 | 1080p@30/120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired Reverse wired Bypass charging | 25W wired |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Green, Purple | Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
| Models | RMX5253 | SM-A356E, SM-A356E/DS, SM-A356B, SM-A356B/DS, SM-A356U, SM-A356U1 |
| Price | - | $ 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 C85
- 45W SuperVOOC charging for rapid top-ups
- Mediatek Dimensity 6300 offers strong burst performance
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Likely lower display brightness and color accuracy
- Less efficient chipset may lead to shorter battery life
Samsung Galaxy A35
- Brighter 1024 nit display for excellent outdoor visibility
- Exynos 1380 provides sustained performance and efficiency
- Samsung’s One UI offers a polished software experience
- Slower 25W charging
- Potentially higher price compared to the Realme C85
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A35 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1024 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight, a clear advantage over the Realme C85 (brightness data unavailable). While the C85’s panel technology isn’t specified, the A35’s brightness suggests a higher-quality panel. Samsung’s display expertise is evident, offering a more immersive viewing experience, particularly for video content. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, but color accuracy is likely superior on the A35 due to Samsung’s calibration.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests the Galaxy A35 will likely have a more refined image processing pipeline. Samsung’s cameras generally prioritize vibrant colors and strong contrast. The Realme C85 will likely focus on delivering competitive specs at a lower price point. It’s reasonable to assume the A35 will offer better low-light performance and more consistent image quality across all lenses, assuming similar sensor sizes. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests they are largely marketing features and offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme C85 utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A35 features the Exynos 1380 (5nm). While both are octa-core CPUs, the A35’s Exynos 1380 employs Cortex-A78 cores (4x2.4 GHz) which are architecturally more advanced than the C85’s Cortex-A76 cores (2x2.4 GHz). The 5nm process node of the Exynos 1380 also provides better power efficiency and thermal headroom, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The C85’s Dimensity 6300 will likely excel in burst performance, but the A35’s chip is better suited for sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A35 demonstrates a clear advantage in real-world battery endurance, achieving 12 hours and 26 minutes of active use. While the Realme C85’s battery capacity is unknown, its 45W charging capability is significantly faster than the A35’s 25W charging. This means the C85 can replenish its battery much quicker, but the A35’s larger battery and more efficient chipset provide longer overall usage time. The A35’s slower charging is a trade-off for its superior battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme C85 if you need blazing-fast 45W charging and prioritize peak CPU performance for demanding apps or light gaming. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phone throughout the day. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A35 if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, longer sustained performance under load, and the reliability of Samsung’s One UI software ecosystem. It’s the better choice for media consumption and everyday productivity.