Samsung Galaxy A26 vs. Galaxy A36
The new Galaxy A series is here and if you are looking to upgrade your older budget device, especially if it's a Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy A26 and the Samsung Galaxy A36 are both very sensible options. If, for whatever reason, you'd like to stick with Samsung's ecosystem, then these two phones should definitely be on your list.
The difference in MSRP between the two is about â¬80 in the EU, but in reality, third-party stores have already slashed the price and it's more like â¬40-50. In the UK, it's a different situation as Samsung seemingly has much better control over the retail pricing there and the current price difference between the two is a whopping £100. It's about the same situation in the US where the difference is $100.
In any case, choosing between the two siblings is a valid dilemma, so let's try to solve it.
Table of Contents:
For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the following text.
Size comparison
Although both devices offer the same screen diagonal, the Galaxy A36 is considerably more compact. Sure, it's slightly wider, but it's shorter and thinner than the A26 by a sensible amount. They also weigh roughly the same. The main reason is likely the bezels. The Galaxy A26 has considerably thicker bezels.
When it comes to build quality, design, and ingress protection, the two phones are identical. You get IP67 water and dust protection either way, and Gorilla Glass Victus+ sheets protect the front and back, while the frame is plastic on both phones.
Display comparison
At first glance, the Galaxy A26 and A36 feature identical displays. That's, at least, what the specs suggest. Same diagonal, same resolution, same refresh rate, same HDR support (only in YouTube). Aside from the visual traits, of course. The A36 has a punch-hole selfie camera and much thinner bezels, whereas the A26 adopts a dated teardrop-style notch with thick bezels all around.
According to our tests, the Galaxy A36's display is significantly brighter. It peaked around 1,200 nits, whereas the A26 didn't even get to 800 nits. The Galaxy A36 is the clear winner in this category, providing a much more comfortable outdoor viewing experience.