Samsung’s Galaxy S vary would possibly steal all of the plaudits, however signing up to make use of one among these flagship telephones will value you an excellent chunk of change. For most individuals, the corporate’s Galaxy A sequence is greater than sufficient.
It spans price range and mid-range value factors, that means for nicely beneath half the value of a Galaxy S25 Extremely, you will get your self a telephone that covers the entire similar bases – albeit to a lesser diploma of accomplishment.
However which Samsung Galaxy A telephone is the perfect purchase? The 2 main contenders proper now are the Samsung Galaxy A56 and the Samsung Galaxy A36.
We’ve reviewed these telephones, handing out the identical 3.5-star rating for each, so there clearly isn’t loads in it. Let’s take a better take a look at what every has to supply.
Do you care about… a premium design?
Wanting on the photos on this characteristic, you could be struggling to inform these two telephones aside. There’s no denying that the Samsung Galaxy A56 and the Galaxy A36 look the identical, and so they even share comparable dimensions.
Nonetheless, whenever you go hands-on with each telephones, you discover a transparent distinction in high quality. Whereas the Samsung Galaxy A36 employs a plastic body, the Galaxy A56 (under) goes with aluminium.
Mattias Inghe
This extra premium materials makes the Galaxy A56 really feel extra like a Galaxy S flagship telephone than its cheaper sibling. If that sort of tactile enchantment is necessary to you, it could be price forking out on the nicer mannequin.
Apart from this distinction in body composition, the 2 telephones are constructed simply in addition to each other. Each use toughened Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the entrance and rear surfaces, and each characteristic IP67 mud and water resistance.
There’s not a lot in it, however the costlier telephone has the slight higher hand.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A56
Do you care about… dependable efficiency?
Neither of those telephones is a prime performer, and avid gamers on a price range ought to in all probability be trying elsewhere for his or her kicks.
Nonetheless, the Samsung Galaxy A56 (under) holds a transparent efficiency benefit over the Galaxy A36. The previous runs on an Exynos 1560 processor, whereas the latter solely has a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 to depend on.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
There’s a roughly 30 p.c distinction in CPU efficiency within the Galaxy A56’s favour, and a fair greater 40 p.c distinction in some GPU assessments.
Elsewhere, the Galaxy A56 makes use of sooner UFS 3.1 storage in comparison with the Galaxy A36’s UFS 2.2.
All collectively, this leads to a noticeably smoother expertise on the A56, with the Galaxy A36 coming throughout as being barely much less constant than we’d like in some situations.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A56
Do you care about… pictures?
Each of those telephones use 50Mp f/1.8 important cameras, however look slightly nearer at that Galaxy A56 spec record. It makes use of a 1/1.56” sensor, which is bigger than the 1/1.96″ sensor of the Samsung Galaxy A36.
There’s an much more pronounced distinction between the ultra-wide cameras. Whereas the Galaxy A56 offers you a 13Mp 1/3.06″ sensor, the Galaxy A36 (under) makes use of a smaller and fewer pixel-packed 8Mp 1/4.0″ equal.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
You’ll even discover that selfies look higher from the Galaxy A56, with its 12Mp 1/2.74″ digital camera besting the Galaxy A36’s 13Mp 1/3.06″ equal.
Whereas each telephones are able to taking properly crisp and contrasty photographs in excellent circumstances, the Galaxy A56 has the clear higher hand on the subject of taking clearer, sharper photographs.
These benefits solely enhance as the sunshine begins to drop, due to the bigger sensor sizes and the Galaxy A56’s unique entry to a Nightography characteristic. The latter combines a number of frames with AI processing to provide clearer evening photographs.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A56
Do you care about… above-average battery life?
Each of those telephones use 5,000mAh batteries. On condition that they run the identical One UI software program (model 7 at launch, 8 now out there) on the identical 6.7-inch 120Hz Tremendous AMOLED shows, you would possibly anticipate equivalent battery life.
Nonetheless, in our common battery benchmark check, the Samsung Galaxy A36 fell 14 p.c in need of the Samsung Galaxy A56 (under) by way of longevity.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Evidently, the costlier telephone’s superior processor and reminiscence are working extra effectively, granting it higher stamina.
It’s not a night-and-day distinction, and it is best to anticipate to get a full day on a single cost no matter which you select. However for that further peace of thoughts, the Galaxy A56 is a safer wager.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A56
Do you care about… saving cash?
If you happen to’re procuring at this mid-range portion of the market, it’s already clear that worth for cash issues to you. However for those who’re minimising expenditure so far as attainable, then the Samsung Galaxy A36 is the cheaper of the 2.
Whereas pricing for the Samsung Galaxy A56 begins from £499/$499, the Samsung Galaxy A36 will solely set you again £399/$399.99. That’s a 20 p.c saving.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Nonetheless, it’s very attainable to search out offers on each of those telephones, given they’re now fairly a couple of months previous. This could at all times be factored into your resolution on which to purchase.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy A36
Do you care about… having the newest telephone?
In case your reply is ‘sure’, you shouldn’t purchase both of those telephones. The Galaxy A36 and A56 each launched again in March 2025, that means their successors are prone to be introduced quickly.
Certainly, in December 2025, a leak steered that each telephones would get an earlier-than-usual launch date in February 2026.
Samsung Galaxy A56 vs Galaxy A36: Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is a flat-out higher telephone than the Galaxy A36. It wins on three of the 4 important classes listed above.
That features a extra premium construct, superior efficiency and an all-around higher digital camera expertise. Regardless of having the identical capability, it additionally has a slight higher hand on battery life.
Nonetheless, the value distinction goes some technique to night out the enjoying area. The Galaxy A56 is best, however is it £100/$100 higher? Positive, the Galaxy A36 falls in need of its brother in quite a lot of respects, however the margin isn’t large.
What’s extra, the 2 telephones share an terrible lot in frequent, from their primary design to their software program and even their shows.
If you happen to can stretch slightly additional along with your price range, then the Samsung Galaxy A56 is clearly the higher telephone of the 2. However the Galaxy A36 would possibly simply be the higher purchase for most individuals.