Samsung Galaxy A36 tested: Cheaper, but not tempting
16/4/2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Jan Johannsen
The Galaxy A36 is identical to the Galaxy A56 in many respects. Three features make it cheaper - one of which speaks against the smartphone.
The Galaxy A36 is the cheaper version of the Galaxy A56. Samsung changes very little in order to sell it for 100 euros, or 80 francs less. The plastic frame and the ultra-wide-angle camera with lower resolution are not a problem, but the processor is.
Plastic or aluminium? It doesn't matter
Display, main camera, shape, battery, charging speed, waterproofness and memory variants are identical between the Galaxy A36 and A56. However, Samsung has allowed a slightly wider frame for the more affordable A36. The smartphone is 0.7 millimetres wider and 0.7 millimetres higher. This is just as imperceptible as the fact that it is three grams lighter. At 7.4 millimetres, both smartphones are the same thickness.
There is a noticeable difference in the frame. The Galaxy A36's frame is made of plastic and does not feel as cold as the aluminium frame of the Galaxy A56. However, the difference can only be recognised with the eyes by slightly more reflections and the antenna cut-outs in the metal. Nothing I really need to pay the extra price for.
8 or 12 megapixels? The grass is greener on one side
The fact that Samsung has installed an ultra-wide-angle camera with a resolution of eight megapixels in the Galaxy A36 is not the problem. There are no differences in the level of detail compared to the Galaxy A56 with twelve megapixels. However, the different focal lengths and the greener grass on the more expensive smartphone are immediately noticeable. And the grass really was spring-fresh green. The A36 has poorer colour reproduction.
The resolution and focal lengths do not speak against the cheaper Galaxy A36, but the imprecise colour reproduction does. This can also be observed in the main camera. Despite the same resolution, the main camera of the Galaxy A36 also has a slightly longer focal length.
The Galaxy A36 has a night mode, but no access to the AI function of «Nightography». Only the Galaxy A56 can borrow this from the S series. And yes, the more expensive smartphone brightens up the shots at night considerably more. But I think the Galaxy A36 - and also the A56 with night mode deactivated - capture the atmosphere better.
Samsung Exynos or Snapdragon 6 Gen 3? A noticeable difference
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the Galaxy A36 performs worse in all benchmark tests than the Exynos 1580 in the Galaxy A56. That's nothing to worry about at first. However, the Galaxy A36 sometimes feels noticeably slower than the A56 in everyday use. I notice fewer differences between this and the S series, which is equipped with even more power.
The Galaxy A36 and A56 both have a 5000 mAh battery. Nevertheless, the more expensive smartphone seems to use it more efficiently. The battery test from PC Mark Work 3.0 determined a runtime of 10:25 hours for the A36 and 11:54 hours for the A56. That's a noticeable difference in everyday use.
Two AI tools less
The Galaxy A36 comes with Android 15 and One UI 7.0 as the user interface. Like the A56, it receives operating system updates and security updates for six years. As usual, Samsung pre-installs many of its own apps and some from third-party providers.
In contrast to the Galaxy A56, the A36 lacks two AI functions: It creates portrait photos without the help of AI and it can't cut highlight clips from longer videos. Neither of these are decisive for me when choosing a smartphone.
In a nutshell
Cheaper, slightly worse, without added value
The Galaxy A36 is a usable smartphone, but it doesn't convince me. It is cheaper than the Galaxy A56, but one limitation spoils my enjoyment of the device: the display is good and the plastic frame doesn't bother me. I could overlook the poorer colour reproduction of the cameras if I don't take many photos. The shorter battery life is annoying and the slower processor really bothers me.
I'd rather pay the extra 100 euros or 80 francs that Samsung charges for the Galaxy A56 in the recommended retail price. This is all the more true if the retail prices continue to converge. Only when the gap widens will the A36 come into question.
However, the Galaxy A35 with the Exynos 1380 seems to me to run more smoothly than the A36. It is now even cheaper, but has already used up a year of its updates.
Pro
- Good display
Contra
- slow chipset
- Shorter battery life
Header image: Jan Johannsen
As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
