Galaxy A36 vs A35 – Which One Should You Buy?
Compare the Samsung Galaxy A36 and A35 to find out which one offers better features, performance, and value for your money.
Thinking about buying a Samsung mid-range phone and can’t decide between the Galaxy A36 vs A35? You’re not alone—both smartphones offer similar features and design, making the decision a bit tricky.
In the US, the Galaxy A36 is priced the same as the A35, so choosing the newer model makes more sense. In Europe, prices are also close, even though the A36 officially costs about €50 more.
In the UK, the situation is a bit different. The Galaxy A36 is available only with 256GB storage, while the A35 comes in a 128GB version. On top of that, the A36 can cost up to £150 more.
So, when it comes to Galaxy A36 vs A35, is the newer phone really worth the extra money? Let’s compare and find out.
Galaxy A36 vs A35: Key Specifications Compared
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A36 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | March 10, 2025 | March 15, 2024 |
| Price (India) | ₹30,999 | ₹24,701 |
| Storage & RAM | 128GB / 8GB RAM | 128GB / 8GB RAM |
| Build & Design | Gorilla Glass Victus+, 7.4 mm thin, 195g | Gorilla Glass Victus+, 8.2 mm thick, 209g |
| Water Resistance | IP67 (1m for 30 min) | IP67 (1m for 30 min) |
| Display | 6.7″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1900 nits peak | 6.6″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits HBM |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 px (~385 ppi) | 1080 x 2340 px (~390 ppi) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) | Exynos 1380 (5nm) |
| OS & Updates | Android 15, One UI 7, 6 major updates | Android 14, One UI 6.1, 4 major updates |
| Main Camera | 50MP + 8MP + 5MP | 50MP + 8MP + 5MP |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP | 13MP |
| Video Recording | 4K @30fps, 1080p @60fps | 4K @30fps, 1080p @60fps |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 45W fast charging | 5000mAh, 25W fast charging |
| Loudspeakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Expandable Storage | No | Yes (via shared SIM slot) |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Under-display (optical) | Under-display (optical) |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.4 | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.3 |
| Colors | Lavender, Black, White, Lime | Ice Blue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
Size Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A36 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 195 g | 209 g |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm | 161.7 x 78.0 x 8.2 mm |
| Display Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
The Samsung Galaxy A36 is slightly thinner and lighter than the A35, but both phones have a similar size overall. The A36’s display is a tiny bit larger at 6.7 inches, compared to 6.6 inches on the A35. While the difference is small, it results in slightly thinner bezels on the newer model, giving it a more refined look.
Both phones are well-built with a plastic frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front, and the A36 also adds Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the back. They both have IP67 water resistance, meaning they can survive up to 30 minutes in one meter of water.
In terms of design, the A36 feels a bit more polished, but the A35 has the advantage of a microSD card slot for storage expansion, which the A36 lacks. Both phones have similar button layouts and connectivity, but the A36 supports eSIM and has Bluetooth 5.4 instead of the Bluetooth 5.3 on the A35.
Display Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A36 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels | 1080 x 2340 pixels |
| PPI | 385 ppi | 390 ppi |
| Max Brightness | 1233 nits | 1024 nits |
The Samsung Galaxy A36 has a slightly larger display at 6.7 inches, though the difference is barely noticeable. Both phones have the same Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth visuals, but neither features LTPO or adaptive refresh rate technology.
The A36 stands out with a brighter display, offering a peak brightness of 1233 nits, compared to 1024 nits on the A35. This makes the A36 more comfortable to use in direct sunlight.
However, despite the brightness boost, the A36 still lacks HDR video support, just like the A35.
Battery Life: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
Both the Samsung Galaxy A36 and A35 feature a 5,000 mAh battery and offer similar overall battery performance. However, the Galaxy A35 has a slight advantage, especially when it comes to gaming. The Exynos 1380 chip in the A35 seems to provide slightly longer gaming endurance compared to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the A36.
| Phone | Active Use Score | Video Playback | Web Browsing | Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A36 | 11:38h | 27:46h | 11:41h | 12:08h |
| A35 | 12:26h | 26:39h | 10:19h | 13:38h |
Charging Speed: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
The A36 supports faster 45W PD charging, while the A35 is limited to 25W.
| Phone | Charging Speed | 15 Min | 30 Min | Full Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A36 | 45W | 36% | 60% | 74min |
| A35 | 25W | 26% | 52% | 86min |
The A36 charges faster in the first 30 minutes and reaches full charge about 12 minutes quicker than the A35. However, to achieve the A36’s fastest charging speed, you’ll need a 5 Amp cable, as the included one is only 3 Amp.
Speaker Test: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
Both the Samsung Galaxy A36 and A35 feature a similar hybrid stereo speaker system, with a dedicated bottom-firing speaker and an amplified earpiece. This setup can cause slight output imbalance, but it doesn’t significantly affect the listening experience.
Speaker Performance:
- Samsung Galaxy A36: -26.2 LUFS (Good loudness score)
- Samsung Galaxy A35: -26.1 LUFS (Good loudness score)
Both phones have clear mids and undistorted highs, providing a good listening experience. The A36 may have a slightly better bass response, but this is hardly noticeable during everyday use.
In terms of loudness, both phones received a Good rating, making them suitable for everyday audio needs.
Performance: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
The Galaxy A36 and A35 use different chipsets, but their performance is quite similar. The A35 has Samsung’s Exynos 1380 (built on a 5nm process), while the A36 uses Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (built on a 4nm process). Both offer smooth everyday performance.
The Galaxy A36 starts with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, and there are versions with 8GB or 12GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. It uses faster UFS 2.2 storage.
The Galaxy A35 also starts with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, but it supports microSD cards for storage expansion, which is missing in the A36. It uses UFS 2.1 storage.
In terms of software, the A36 runs the latest Android 15 with One UI 7 and will get 6 major Android updates. The A35 comes with Android 14 and One UI 6.1, with 4 promised Android updates.
Benchmark Scores
- Galaxy A36
- AnTuTu 10: 613,492
- Geekbench 6: 2,917
- 3DMark Wild Life: 912
- Galaxy A35
- AnTuTu 10: 603,441
- Geekbench 6: 2,931
- 3DMark Wild Life: 806
The A36 shows a small improvement in GPU performance, especially in gaming. Both phones handle heat well and stay cool, even during longer gaming or multitasking sessions.
Camera Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A35
Samsung made a few changes to the camera setup on the Galaxy A36 compared to the A35. The main camera is still 50MP, the ultrawide is 8MP, and the macro camera is 5MP—same as before. But the front camera has changed from 13MP on the A35 to a 12MP one on the A36.
When it comes to photo quality, both phones are very similar. The main cameras deliver detailed photos with good color and dynamic range. However, the A36 adds a bit more sharpness and contrast, while the A35 keeps things softer and more natural. Shadows also appear darker on the A36.
The ultrawide cameras are the same on both phones. Their image quality is also very close. The A36 may leave a little more noise, but it also captures more fine details.
In low-light conditions, the A36 performs slightly better. Its photos have more detail, better contrast, and improved dynamic range. Again, the difference isn’t huge, but it’s noticeable.
As for selfies, the A35’s 13MP front camera actually produces better results than the A36’s new 12MP one. It handles skin tones and hair details a bit better, especially if you look closely.
- Xiaomi 14 Review: Compact Flagship with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 & Fast Charging
- Oppo Find X8 Ultra review
- Infinix Note 50 Pro 4G Review: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse with Impressive Features
Samsung Galaxy A36 vs Samsung Galaxy A35: Pros Comparison
| Samsung Galaxy A36 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|
| – 🛡️ Refined design with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on front and back | – 💸 Lower price (in some markets) |
| – 🌞 Brighter display | – 🔄 Same user experience |
| – ⚡ Faster 45W charging | – 🗃️ microSD card slot |
| – 🔄 Six major OS updates | – 🎮 Better gaming battery life |
| – 💪 Slightly more powerful GPU |
Conclusion
Galaxy A36 and A35 are both good mid-range phones. They offer great value for the price.
The A36 isn’t very different from the A35. It has a brighter screen, faster charging, a slightly better chip, and longer software support. But these changes aren’t big.
If the A36 and A35 cost about the same, go for the A36—unless you really need a microSD card slot, which only the A35 has.
If the A36 is much more expensive, the A35 is the better deal. It gives you almost the same features for less money.
