In the vibrant and rapidly evolving Kenyan smartphone market, the mid-range segment is where the most exciting battles are fought. Here, phones aren’t just about raw power; they’re about delivering a balanced and compelling experience that offers the best value for money. This year, the spotlight falls on two new and highly anticipated contenders: the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A36.
These devices are a perfect reflection of their respective brands’ philosophies. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a rebellious and innovative upstart, challenging the status quo with its unique design and an emphasis on a clean software experience. The Samsung Galaxy A36 is the reliable, well-established player, building on a legacy of trust, a vast ecosystem, and a promise of long-term support. This 3000-word blog post will serve as your ultimate guide to this captivating showdown. We will meticulously compare every facet of these two devices, from their design and display to their cameras, performance, and most importantly, their value proposition and local market realities in Kenya.
Part I: The First Impression – Design, Build, and Display
The look and feel of a smartphone are crucial, and both the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A36 have very different design languages.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is all about standing out from the crowd. It continues Nothing’s signature transparent design, showcasing a stylized view of the internal components and featuring the iconic Glyph Interface on the back. The Glyph Interface uses a series of LED light strips that can be customized for notifications, charging status, and more, offering a truly unique and interactive user experience. The phone has a plastic frame and a transparent glass back, giving it a premium yet quirky feel. Its display is a large 6.77-inch AMOLED panel with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It also boasts a stunning peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it exceptionally vibrant and readable even in the harshest of sunlight. The screen is protected by a durable Panda Glass, and the phone has an IP64 rating for dust and water splash resistance.
The Samsung Galaxy A36, in contrast, adopts a more subtle and refined design. It features a modern, minimalist aesthetic with a clean, linear camera layout on the back and a slim profile. Samsung has used high-quality materials, with a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both the front and back, giving it a superior level of durability. The phone has a plastic frame, but its overall build feels solid and reassuring. The display is a beautiful 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. While its peak brightness of 1200 nits is good, it doesn’t quite match the Nothing phone’s incredible brightness. The Galaxy A36, however, comes with a more robust IP67 rating, offering better protection against dust and water submersion.
Clear Unique Comparison: Design and Display
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s Unique Advantage: The Nothing Phone’s most compelling feature is its Glyph Interface and its world-class display brightness. The Glyph lights are not just a gimmick; they are a genuinely useful tool for discreetly receiving notifications. The display’s staggering 3000 nits peak brightness is a game-changer for outdoor visibility, making it a clear winner for anyone who spends a lot of time in the sun.
- Samsung Galaxy A36’s Unique Advantage: The Samsung Galaxy A36’s greatest strength is its superior build quality and durability. The use of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back provides a level of drop and scratch resistance that is unmatched in this price segment. This, combined with its higher IP67 rating, makes it the more practical and robust choice for a user who needs a phone that can withstand the rigors of daily life.
Part II: The Core Battle – Performance and Software
A phone’s performance is a combination of its processor and the software that runs on it. Both the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A36 have different approaches.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor. This is a powerful and efficient chipset that provides a very smooth and responsive user experience, capable of handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. The phone runs on Nothing OS 3.1 on top of Android 15. Nothing OS is known for its clean, near-stock Android experience with a unique, minimalist aesthetic and a focus on essential features. The software is free from bloatware, and Nothing has committed to 3 major Android OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. While not as powerful as the Nothing phone’s processor, it is still a very capable chip that delivers a reliable and consistent performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The phone runs on One UI 7 on top of Android 15. One UI is a feature-rich and highly customizable software experience, with a vast number of tools and settings. The most significant feature of the A36 is Samsung’s commitment to 6 major Android OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates. This is an industry-leading promise for a mid-range phone, making it a true long-term investment.
Clear Unique Comparison: Performance and Software
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s Unique Advantage: The Nothing Phone’s key feature is its superior performance with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor and its clean, minimalist Nothing OS. For the user who values a smooth, fast, and bloatware-free software experience, the Nothing Phone is a breath of fresh air. It offers a premium feel in its performance that is hard to match in this segment.
- Samsung Galaxy A36’s Unique Advantage: The Samsung Galaxy A36’s unmatched feature is its unprecedented software support of 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates. This is a monumental advantage for the Kenyan market, where a phone is a long-term investment. It provides a level of security and future-proofing that no other mid-range phone can offer, ensuring the device remains relevant and safe for years to come.
Part III: The Shutterbugs’ Choice – Camera System and Photography
The camera is a crucial part of the modern smartphone experience, and both of these phones offer impressive camera setups.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro features a versatile triple-camera system: a powerful 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The inclusion of a periscope telephoto lens at this price point is a huge selling point and a major differentiator. It allows for high-quality zoomed shots that are simply not possible on most other mid-range phones. The phone also comes with a high-resolution 50MP selfie camera, which is great for detailed self-portraits and video calls.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 features a reliable triple-camera system: a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While it lacks a telephoto lens, Samsung’s camera software and post-processing, combined with the power of its processor, produce consistently good and vibrant photos. The OIS on the main sensor ensures stable and clear shots, even in low-light conditions. For a casual user who needs a versatile camera for everyday photography, the A36’s camera system is more than capable.
Clear Unique Comparison: Camera System
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s Unique Advantage: The Nothing Phone’s key feature is its flagship-tier camera hardware, specifically the 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and the high-resolution 50MP selfie camera. This combination gives it a massive advantage for users who love taking zoomed-in shots or high-quality selfies. It redefines what’s possible in mid-range photography.
- Samsung Galaxy A36’s Unique Advantage: The Samsung Galaxy A36’s strength lies in its reliable and consistently good camera performance with OIS on the main sensor. For a user who values a predictable and high-quality point-and-shoot experience, the A36’s camera is a dependable tool. The inclusion of a dedicated macro lens also adds a layer of versatility for close-up shots.
Part IV: Staying Power – Battery and Charging
A phone’s battery life and charging speed are non-negotiable, and both phones offer a solid experience.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is equipped with a large 5000mAh battery that provides more than a full day of use. It supports a respectable 50W wired charging, which can get you to 50% in about 20 minutes, and a full charge in under an hour. This is a very convenient feature for the user on the go.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 also comes with a large 5000mAh battery that is optimized for efficiency, providing excellent endurance. It supports a slightly faster 45W wired charging, which can get you to a full charge in a short amount of time.
Clear Unique Comparison: Battery and Charging
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s Unique Advantage: The Nothing Phone’s key feature is its 50W fast charging, which provides a very quick top-up time. For the user who needs to get a significant amount of charge in a very short period, this speed is a major benefit.
- Samsung Galaxy A36’s Unique Advantage: The Samsung Galaxy A36’s main advantage is its more efficient battery management, backed by Samsung’s reliable software optimization. This often translates to a slightly longer-lasting battery in real-world usage, even with the same battery capacity.
Part V: The Local Reality – Price, Availability, and After-Sales Support
The final decision for the Kenyan consumer often comes down to price and the local support ecosystem.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a new entrant to the Kenyan market, with an estimated starting price of around Ksh 61,000 to Ksh 68,000. Nothing’s official presence in Kenya is still in its early stages, with most devices being sold through third-party importers and online retailers. This can make after-sales support and warranty claims a challenge, as the official service network is not yet fully established.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 is priced more competitively, with an estimated starting price of around Ksh 32,000 to Ksh 37,500. Samsung has an unrivaled presence in Kenya, with a vast network of official stores, authorized dealers, and a comprehensive after-sales support system. This provides buyers with the invaluable peace of mind of an official warranty, readily available spare parts, and a trusted service network.
Clear Unique Comparison: Price and Availability
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s Unique Advantage: The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s primary advantage in Kenya is its premium hardware features, such as the periscope camera and its unique design, offered at a competitive price for a user who values innovation.
- Samsung Galaxy A36’s Unique Advantage: The Samsung Galaxy A36’s most significant unique selling point in Kenya is its unbeatable value proposition and the security of a long-term, officially backed ownership experience. The combination of a lower price, a massive software support promise, and a robust local support network makes it an incredibly practical and sensible choice for the Kenyan consumer.
Conclusion: The Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A36 are both excellent mid-range phones, each catering to a different type of user.
Choose the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if:
- You are a tech enthusiast who wants a phone with a unique, eye-catching design and the innovative Glyph Interface.
- You prioritize a premium camera experience with a periscope telephoto lens and a high-resolution selfie camera.
- You demand a fast, smooth, and clean software experience with a powerful processor.
- You are willing to navigate a less-established local support network for a more unique device.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy A36 if:
- You are a user who values unmatched long-term software support and security, with a promise of 6 years of updates.
- You prioritize superior durability and a higher IP rating for a more rugged and reliable device.
- You need the peace of mind of a vast local support network and a phone that is a safe and practical long-term investment.
- You want an affordable and dependable phone from a trusted brand with a feature-rich, customizable software experience.
In the end, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is the ambitious disruptor, a phone for the user who wants to stand out and embrace innovation. The Samsung Galaxy A36 is the reliable workhorse, a phone for the user who values practicality, security, and a hassle-free ownership experience. Both are great options, and the choice is now yours.
