Unveiling the Contenders: Samsung’s Strategy in the Mid-Range Segment
Samsung has long dominated the smartphone market, not just with its flagship S and Z series, but also with its highly popular and accessible A-series. These mid-range devices aim to deliver a compelling balance of features, performance, and affordability. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll dissect two of Samsung’s latest offerings in this segment: the Samsung Galaxy A36 and its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy A35. While both promise a solid smartphone experience, subtle yet significant upgrades in the newer model often warrant a closer look. Is the A36 a monumental leap forward, or a refined iteration building upon the A35’s strong foundation? Let’s explore.
Design and Build Quality: Aesthetic Evolution and Enduring Durability
At first glance, both the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A35 share Samsung’s characteristic clean and minimalist design language. Both phones feature a modern, flat-edge design, a trend Samsung has embraced across its recent lineups. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice some refinements in the A36.
The Galaxy A35, released in March 2024, set a good precedent with its stylish appearance, available in attractive color variants like Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon. It sports a camera module with three separate lenses, giving it a distinctive look. The A35 also boasts a glass front (protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+) and a plastic frame, with an unspecified glass back. It weighs in at 209 grams and measures 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm.
The newer Galaxy A36, launched in March 2025, builds on this foundation. While retaining the overall aesthetic, it reportedly embraces more rounded edges, aiming for a more modern and intuitive feel. It features a slightly larger 6.7-inch display compared to the A35’s 6.6-inch, contributing to a slightly higher screen-to-body ratio (86.5% vs. 84.8%). The A36 is also notably lighter at 195 grams and thinner at 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm. A significant upgrade in durability for the A36 is the inclusion of Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, elevating its premium feel and offering enhanced protection against drops and scratches. Both devices carry an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning they can withstand immersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes, providing peace of mind for everyday splashes and dust exposure.
In terms of SIM support, both offer dual SIM capabilities, with the A36 providing more flexibility with Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time), while the A35 has Nano-SIM + eSIM or Hybrid Dual SIM. The A36 also features a “Key Island” element, a raised section around the power and volume buttons, which is a subtle design refinement.
Verdict on Design: The A36 takes a noticeable step forward in build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides and a slightly lighter, thinner profile. While the A35’s design is still appealing, the A36 offers a more robust and premium feel.
Display: A Brighter Outlook
The display is often a make-or-break feature for many smartphone users, and Samsung, with its renowned AMOLED technology, rarely disappoints. Both the Galaxy A36 and A35 feature Super AMOLED displays with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, promising vibrant colors, deep blacks, and fluid scrolling.
The Galaxy A35 offers a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2340 pixel (FHD+) resolution and a pixel density of approximately 390 ppi. Its peak brightness in High Brightness Mode (HBM) is stated as 1000 nits. This is already an excellent display for its price point, providing a great viewing experience for multimedia consumption and daily use.
However, the Galaxy A36 steps up the game considerably in terms of brightness. While it maintains the 1080 x 2340 pixel resolution and a similar pixel density of 385 ppi on its slightly larger 6.7-inch panel, its brightness capabilities are significantly enhanced. The A36 boasts an HBM brightness of 1200 nits and an impressive peak brightness of 1900 nits. This translates to far better visibility under direct sunlight, making the A36 a superior choice for outdoor use. Both displays are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, ensuring robust scratch resistance. The A36 also adds HDR10+ support, which can offer a more dynamic and immersive viewing experience for compatible content.
Verdict on Display: The Galaxy A36 is the clear winner here, primarily due to its significantly higher brightness levels and HDR10+ support. If you frequently use your phone outdoors or consume a lot of HDR content, the A36’s display will offer a noticeable upgrade.
Performance: A Generational Leap
The heart of any smartphone lies in its processor, and this is where the two devices diverge quite distinctly. The choice of chipset directly impacts everything from daily responsiveness and app loading times to gaming performance and overall efficiency.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1380 chipset, built on a 5nm fabrication process. This octa-core processor features 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, coupled with a Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. It delivers solid mid-range performance, capable of handling most everyday tasks, social media, and moderate gaming with ease. Its AnTuTu v10 benchmark score is around 603,441.
The Samsung Galaxy A36, on the other hand, comes equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, manufactured on a more efficient 4nm process. This octa-core processor also features 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores but pairs them with 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, and crucially, an Adreno 710 GPU. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 offers a noticeable performance bump over the Exynos 1380, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks and gaming. The A36 achieves an AnTuTu v10 score of approximately 613,492, indicating a slight but perceptible edge in overall performance. Furthermore, the A36 incorporates a 15% larger vapor chamber for improved thermal management, which means sustained performance during demanding tasks and less throttling.
Both phones are available with various RAM and storage configurations, typically ranging from 6GB or 8GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. The Galaxy A35 offers expandable storage via a microSDXC slot (which uses a shared SIM slot), a feature conspicuously absent in the Galaxy A36.
Verdict on Performance: The Galaxy A36, with its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and Adreno 710 GPU, offers a more powerful and efficient performance, especially for gaming and demanding applications. The lack of expandable storage on the A36 might be a deal-breaker for some, a point where the A35 holds an advantage.
Camera System: Iterative Refinements
In the mid-range segment, camera capabilities are increasingly important, and both A-series phones aim to deliver a versatile photography experience. Both the Galaxy A36 and A35 feature a triple-camera setup on the rear and a single front-facing camera.
The Galaxy A35’s rear camera system comprises a 50MP wide-angle primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens with a 123˚ field of view, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro camera. The front camera is a 13MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens. Both front and rear cameras are capable of recording videos in 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30/60fps, with gyro-EIS for stabilization. The A35’s 50MP main camera is generally praised for its ability to capture detailed and vivid photos, especially in good lighting conditions.
The Galaxy A36 retains the same core camera hardware: a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens on the back. The selfie camera also gets a slight bump to 12MP on some specifications, while others list it as 13MP, similar to the A35, suggesting it might be the same sensor with potential software optimizations or a minor hardware revision. Both phones support 4K@30fps video recording with gyro-EIS. While the hardware specifications appear largely similar, the A36 benefits from newer software processing and potentially some AI enhancements through its newer chipset. Notably, the A36 is highlighted for features like “Circle to Search” and “Object Eraser,” which are AI-driven functionalities that can enhance the photo editing and overall user experience.
Verdict on Camera: On paper, the camera hardware is very similar. However, the A36’s newer processor and software optimizations, including AI features like Object Eraser, are likely to result in slightly improved image processing, especially in challenging conditions. For casual users, both will offer a good experience, but photography enthusiasts might find the A36’s software enhancements more appealing.
Battery Life and Charging: A Significant Boost for the Newcomer
Battery endurance is a critical factor for many smartphone users, and both devices are equipped with substantial 5000mAh batteries, promising all-day usage.
The Galaxy A35 supports 25W wired fast charging. While decent, it’s not the fastest in the market. A full charge will take a considerable amount of time. PC Mark battery life tests for the A35 show around 13 hours and 19 minutes of active use.
The Galaxy A36 maintains the same 5000mAh battery capacity but brings a crucial upgrade in charging speed. It supports a much faster 45W wired super-fast charging. This means significantly quicker top-ups, with Samsung claiming 66% charge in 30 minutes and a full charge in approximately 68 minutes. This is a substantial improvement for users who are often on the go and need to quickly recharge their devices. However, curiously, some PC Mark battery tests for the A36 show a slightly lower active use score of 11 hours and 38 minutes compared to the A35, which could be attributed to the newer, potentially more powerful, chipset drawing more power under certain conditions, or variations in testing methodologies. Despite this, the faster charging speed on the A36 offers a clear practical advantage.
Verdict on Battery & Charging: While both have the same battery capacity, the A36’s 45W fast charging is a significant upgrade over the A35’s 25W, offering much faster charging times.
Software and Longevity: Future-Proofing Matters
Software experience and long-term support are increasingly important considerations for smartphone buyers. Both phones run on Samsung’s One UI, built on top of Android, offering a feature-rich and customizable experience.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Samsung committed to providing 4 major Android OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates for the A35. This is a commendable commitment, ensuring the device remains relevant and secure for a good period.
The Samsung Galaxy A36, being a newer device, naturally comes with Android 15 and One UI 7 out of the box. More importantly, Samsung has extended its software support commitment for the A36, promising an impressive 6 major Android OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates. This commitment to longevity is a huge selling point, ensuring the A36 will receive software features and security patches for years to come, making it a more future-proof investment. The A36’s One UI 7 also brings some aesthetic and functional improvements, such as stacked task changer screens and a slight shift back to more realistic icons, which some users might appreciate.
Verdict on Software: The A36 takes a significant lead here with a longer commitment to Android OS and security updates. This makes the A36 a much more compelling choice for users who plan to keep their phone for an extended period.
Price and Value: The Deciding Factor
Price is almost always a critical factor in the mid-range segment. Let’s look at the current estimated pricing in Nairobi, Kenya, particularly from Mobihub Electronics, a recognized retailer.
Samsung Galaxy A35: At Mobihub Electronics, the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage) is currently priced around KSh 34,999. Other retailers in Kenya list it in a range of KSh 32,000 to KSh 34,000 depending on the configuration.
Samsung Galaxy A36: At Mobihub Electronics, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage) is listed at KSh 34,499, while the 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage variant is around KSh 37,999. Other retailers show prices ranging from KSh 32,500 to KSh 39,000, depending on the configuration.
Value Proposition: Given that the A36 is the successor, it’s expected to be slightly more expensive, especially at launch. However, looking at the prices at Mobihub Electronics, the difference is surprisingly minimal for the base models. For a difference of just a few thousand shillings, the A36 offers significant upgrades in processing power, display brightness, charging speed, and most importantly, software longevity.
The Galaxy A35 still offers excellent value, particularly if you find it at a discounted price, and if expandable storage is a must-have for you. However, the A36’s future-proofing with extended software support and performance enhancements make it a very attractive option for a marginally higher price.
Verdict on Price and Value: The A36 offers superior value for money given its enhancements, especially the extended software support, making it a more future-proof investment for a slightly higher, but competitive, price at Mobihub Electronics.
Other Notable Features and Considerations
Both phones offer a host of other features that contribute to the overall user experience:
- Audio: Both come with stereo speakers, providing a good audio experience for media consumption. Neither phone features a 3.5mm headphone jack, a common trend in modern smartphones.
- Connectivity: Both support 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.3 (A35) or 5.4 (A36), NFC (market/region dependent), and GPS. The A36’s Bluetooth 5.4 is a minor upgrade over the A35’s 5.3.
- Security: Both utilize an under-display optical fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking.
- AI Features (A36 Specific): The A36 highlights “Awesome Intelligence” features like Gemini Live, Custom Filters, Object Eraser, Circle to Search, Instant Slo-Mo, and AI image portraits. While some of these might be software features that could potentially trickle down to the A35 with updates, the A36 is built to fully leverage them from the start. “Circle to Search” is particularly notable for its convenience in searching for anything on your screen.
Conclusion: Is the Samsung Galaxy A36 a Worthy Upgrade?
In the dynamic world of smartphones, incremental upgrades are common. The Samsung Galaxy A36 is a prime example of such an evolution. While the Samsung Galaxy A35 remains a very capable and respectable mid-range smartphone, the A36 clearly surpasses it in several key areas.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy A35 if:
- You are on a tighter budget and find a significantly better deal on the A35.
- Expandable storage via a microSD card is an absolute necessity for you, as the A36 does not offer this.
- You don’t prioritize the absolute latest performance benchmarks or the brightest display.
- You are content with 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security updates.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy A36 if:
- You want the best possible performance for gaming and demanding apps in this price segment, thanks to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset.
- A significantly brighter display for outdoor visibility is important to you.
- Faster charging speeds (45W) are a major convenience.
- You value longer software support, with 6 years of Android OS and security updates, making it a more future-proof device.
- You’re intrigued by the new AI features like “Circle to Search” and “Object Eraser.”
- You prefer a slightly lighter and thinner device with enhanced durability (Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both front and back).
Overall Recommendation: For most users looking for a new mid-range Samsung smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy A36 emerges as the more compelling choice. The improvements in performance, display brightness, charging speed, and especially the extended software support, offer a substantial upgrade for a relatively small increase in price, particularly when considering its availability at Mobihub Electronics in Nairobi. It’s a more future-proof device that will serve you well for many years to come. While the A35 is still a strong contender, the A36 represents a refined and more capable iteration in Samsung’s popular A-series. Sources