Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat phone for the Money .... but it is very "slippery: (READ: to Make it Work with Verizon )
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
UPDATED POST (30JUN24)
For some reason, the phone is very "slippery" when placed glass-side down. I have set the phone face down on surfaces like a kitchen or restaurant table with and without cloth and plastic table cloths, my pant leg when I am sitting down, the keyboard and top of my laptop when it is turned off or closed, and other materials.
When placed this way, if there is ANY slight sense of not being 100% level and flat, the phone will start to creep in the direction of the slant and make it way off of the device. This is very annoying and concerning that it may sustain damage...especially since the frame and corners are plastic.
My only solution it to put it face up (yet camera side down) where is seems to create a bit more friction and not creep off of the surface. When trying to maintain privacy, I although I WANT to place it face down, I am fearful it will slide off of the surface.
SOLUTION: Getting a thin silicone skin-type case for it has solved my issue.
Note: Although I say "I" above, it is a combination of either me or my wife, as the phone is now hers, but I use it from time to time.
ORIGINAL POST :
I bought this for my wife. I have a newer Samsung S-series.
This phone has everything I would want.
I would gladly trade my S-series for it.
What it is missing, compared to my S-Series:
1) Wireless charging
If I really needed that I could get this for $10
(See end of this review for Amazon TASUMATO Wireless Charging Receiver Qi Charger Adapter link)
2) Thinness A35 is thicker (0.32" vs 0.30")
3) Maybe speed? (Not noticeable enough for me)
4) Too new for Verizon to recognize
5) Read "complaints" about speed of fingerprint reader. To me it is not significant.
6) Size A35 is taller (6.37" vs 5.76" )/wider( 3.07"vs 2.79" ) ,
I like the smaller S-Series because so it does not stick out of my back pocket like the A35.
What is has that I wish my S-Series had
1) Micro SD Slot
2) Less that 1/2 the price.
3) Battery almost 2x as big
4) Android 14 is its first OS. Which means it will be supported longer than my S-Series (release with Android 13) with another Android O/S update.
Since this is an Unlocked version, Verizon doesn't sell a similar version (even a Verizon locked version) yet, and it has only been out since Mar/APRIL 2024, I had an issue with Verizon.
The only issue I had was getting a physical 5G nano SIM installed for it from the local Verizon store.
I used the old Verizon 3G SIM I had (from the phone I was replacing) in this new phone until I could get to the verizon store. No issues.
When the Verizon "tech" tried to scan the phone, it would not come up in his database. Thus he couldn't link it to the new SIM in an automated way (and he did not know how else to do it).
He said "We usually have this issue with Unlocked phones."
I think it was just because it was so new.
So, he set it up via eSIM. He did some testing and found no issues.
I ran it this way for a while without issue.
I also got him to give me a new blank Verizon 5G SIM. (It was no good to me unless Verizon registered it anyway).
I called Verizon customer support. Since I had a blank Verizon 5G SIM, they were able to void the eSIM and get my 5G physical SIM to work over the phone.
So, no real "issues" with Verizon, just an inconvenience.
NOTE:
I did not set it up with face recognition or the fingerprint reader for security reasons.
WIRELESS CHARGING RECEIVER ADAPTER from AMAZON:
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Charging-Receiver-Charger-Adapter/dp/B09T9192P1/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XikiZ2djR8Rm8GopWoXVrA6AtYSRHayCogLn1kB5WU1S1MxZpSygtHxk2SoP8HhoTmeYF_C9UDcXTJbQfQvHkiFALl_olKSl3jH1Kr2lBa2mHnkXagvaC0d1QDHVq2ia76qe0msNIOLPW8CEfpderibezU531235JojJLrHVl0ezvGYDTYPDr9cO3-X6l09LEsoaOhkw0GzjX5EsJIKh71KnLblw7KQ1dHYPBzj199A.YtasrLm4IwzJ-ZHKuwzoNLE3v11As-gdgSzdTnxyzf4&dib_tag=se&keywords=wireless+charging+adapter&qid=1717338850&sr=8-7