The Korean tech conglomerate Samsung has launched yet another mid-range handset in India: the Galaxy A26 5G. Given that this is the third entrant in the 2025 Galaxy A lineup, buyers might be confused between it and the Galaxy A36 5G. Both phones offer similar specifications and features, but there are a few differences that are hard to notice.
To end your dilemma, here’s a detailed comparison between the Galaxy A26 5G and the Galaxy A36 5G.
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Tech Specs
| Galaxy A26 5G | Galaxy A36 5G | |
| Dimensions | 164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 200 grams | 195 grams |
| Screen | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen; 120Hz | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen; 120Hz |
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 (5nm) | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) |
| Memory and storage | 8GB, 128GB/256GB | 8GB/12GB, 128GB/256GB |
| Cameras | Rear: 50MP + 8MP + 2MP Front: 13MP | Rear: 50MP + 8MP + 5MP Front: 12MP |
| Operating System | One UI 7.0 (based on Android 15) | One UI 7.0 (based on Android 15) |
| Software Support | 6 years of OS updates | 6 years of OS updates |
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh, 25W fast charging | 5,000 mAh, 45W fast charging |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Design
Materials
Both the Galaxy A26 and the Galaxy A36 use Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front/back and have a plastic frame.
Dimensions & Weight
- Galaxy A26: 164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm; 200 grams
- Galaxy A36: 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm; 195 grams
Going by the numbers, the Galaxy A26 is significantly thicker and slightly heavier than the Galaxy A36.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A26 5G Indian Pricing & Availability Announced: Here’s how much it will cost
Design
While both the handsets use the same materials on the front and the back, they feature a different design.
On the front, the Galaxy A26 features a water-drop notch and a thick bottom chin. However, the more expensive Galaxy A36 features a punch-hole screen with thinner bezels (both on the sides and the bottom).
The rear panel of the handsets, however, looks the same with a vertically stacked triple camera setup.
Colors
- Galaxy A26: Awesome Black, Awesome Mint, Awesome White, and Awesome Peach
- Galaxy A36: Awesome Lavender, Awesome Black, and Awesome White
While the Galaxy A26’s finishes are pretty basic, the Galaxy A36 seems to have some sort of a gradient-back finish for the lavender and white shades.
IP Rating
Both smartphones come with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating (up to 1m for 30 minutes). Together with the Gorilla Glass protection, the IP rating instills more confidence in the durability of the handsets.
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Display
Samsung equips the Galaxy A26 5G with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. Despite having an AMOLED panel, the Galaxy A26’s screen isn’t as bright as other phones in the segment, and it might bother some users when viewing under direct sunlight.
The Galaxy A36 also has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a similar resolution, but it can reach 1200 nits in the high-brightness mode (and has a peak brightness of 1900 nits). If outdoor usage concerns you, you’d be better off with the Galaxy A36. Further, the symmetrical bezels and thinner bottom chin give the handset a modern look.
While the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S26 is placed on the side, the Galaxy A36 features an under-display optical sensor.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A26, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A56 Launched; Check Specs and Pricing
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy A26 5G features the Exynos 1380 (5nm) SoC, the chipset that powered the Galaxy A34, Galaxy A54, and the Galaxy A35. The chipset features four 2.4 GHz performance cores and four 2.0 GHz efficient cores, along with the Mali-G68 MP5 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. Interestingly, Samsung offers a microSD card slot with the Galaxy A26 5G (expandable up to 2TB).
In our review of the Galaxy A35 5G, we mentioned how the Exynos 1380 SoC can easily handle multitasking, but prolonged gaming sessions result in frame drops. For those wondering, the one-year-old handset (with a similar RAM and storage configuration) scores around 600K points in the AnTuTu 10 and 1014/2892 points in the GeekBench 6 (CPU) benchmark tests.
The Galaxy A36 5G, on the other hand, relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) SoC, which comprises four 2.4 GHz performance cores and four 1.8 GHz efficient cores. Besides, the phone features the Adreno 710 GPU, up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, it lacks the support for a microSD card slot (a feature that the Galaxy A26 5G provides).
When it comes to the AnTuTu benchmark, the chipset does slightly better, scoring around 620K points. However, it performs similarly in the GeekBench 6 CPU performance test (1017/2910 points in the single/multi-core test). Moreover, both phones should provide similar performance for staple day-to-day tasks, but the Galaxy A36 surely exhibits an edge.
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Software
When it comes to software, the Galaxy A26 is almost as good as the Galaxy A36. We say that because both the phones run on One UI 7.0 (based on Android 15). Further, they’ll get six years of software and security updates from Samsung. So, if longevity is your concern, you can’t go wrong with either of the handsets.
Unlike Samsung’s flagships that get Galaxy AI, the mid-range phones get “Awesome Intelligence” features, which include Circle to Search, Create Filter, Object Eraser, Edit Suggestion, and Photo Remaster. Even though the phones run on the same operating system, the higher Galaxy A36 variant with 12GB of RAM should be able to handle things better.
Also Read: Samsung announces One UI 7 Update Rollout from April 7: Entire list of devices revealed
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Optics
Galaxy A26 Camera Configuration
- Primary camera: 50MP (f/1.8, OIS) sensor
- Secondary camera: 8MP (f/2.2) ultrawide sensor with 120° field of view
- Tertiary camera: 2MP (f/2.4) macro sensor
- Front camera: 13MP (f/2.2)
The Galaxy A26’s 50MP primary sensor is smaller than that of the Galaxy A36 (1/2.76″ vs. 1/1.96″). As a result, it wouldn’t perform as well in low lighting conditions or have as much background blur. Though the rear camera can record 4K videos in 30 fps, the front camera is stuck at 1080p videos in 30 fps.
Galaxy A36 Camera Configuration
- Primary camera: 50MP Samsung (f/1.8, OIS) sensor
- Secondary camera: 8MP (f/2.2) sensor with 123° field of view
- Tertiary camera: 5MP (f/2.4) macro sensor
- Front camera: 12MP (f/2.2)
As mentioned earlier, the Galaxy A36 5G has a bigger camera sensor. Further, the ultrawide sensor covers more fields of view, and the macro sensor has a higher resolution. In addition, the Galaxy A36 can record 4K 30fps videos from the front camera as well.
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Battery Capacity And Charging Rate
Powering the mid-range Samsung handsets is a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging on the Galaxy A26, and 45W wired charging on the Galaxy A36.
However, the chipset on the Galaxy A26 is based on 5nm fabrication technology, so it should consume slightly more power than the 4nm SoC on the Galaxy A36.
Also Read: iQOO Neo 10R vs. Poco X7 Pro: How Do The Mid-Range Android Handsets Compare?
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Connectivity
Connectivity options on the handsets include 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (BT 5.3 on the Galaxy A26 vs. BT 5.4 on the Galaxy A26), GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port.
Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36: Price And Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy A26 Price
If you’ve been a Samsung user for the longest time and wish to invest in a phone that lasts you over the years, the Galaxy A26 5G could be an excellent option. The phone offers a durable built, Super AMOLED screen, the capable Exynos 1380 SoC, and up to 256GB of storage. Further, upgrading from a phone with an SD card slot shouldn’t be a problem as well.
Samsung Galaxy A36 Price
- Galaxy A36 (8GB + 128GB): Rs. 32,999
- Galaxy A36 (8GB + 256GB): Rs. 32,999
- Galaxy A36 (12GB + 256GB): Rs. 35,999
Between the Galaxy A26 and the Galaxy A36, the Galaxy A36 provides a brighter screen, a slightly more advanced processor (with more RAM), a higher resolution macro sensor, and faster wired charging. The phone also reigns supreme in terms of looks (with a thinner chassis, symmetrical bezels, and a punch-hole screen).
While the Galaxy A26 could be a good phone for a regular user, the Galaxy A36 offers a few additions to justify its higher price tag.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
