Samsung Galaxy A36 Vs A56: Which One Deserves Your Money?
With so many phones launching every year, picking the right one can feel like a big task. Talking about Samsung, they release many phones every year but their A series stands out for offering amazing features at a friendly budget. Two of the most trendy models from this series right now are the Samsung Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56. At first glance, both phones look quite similar. But if you take a closer look, you will find some key differences that can help you to decide which one is the better choice for you.
Here we will compare the Galaxy A36 and A56 in simple terms. We will talk about the design, performance, camera, battery and more to help you decide which one should be the best device for you.
Table of Contents
Design & Build
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| Glass front & back, plastic frame | Glass front & back, aluminum frame |
| Dimension is 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm | Dimension is 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight is 195g | Weight is 198g |
Looks come first. In that case, the A36 and A56 follow Samsung’s modern and premium style. They have almost the same size, shape and thickness, making them sleek and comfortable in the hand. A36 is slightly taller and lighter than the A56, but it is too small to notice in daily use.
The main difference here is in the frame. A36 comes with a plastic frame, which feels good but is not as solid as the aluminum frame of A56. This difference makes A56 slightly premium and sturdy when you are holding the device.
These two phones are well-protected with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, making them resistant to minor drops and scratches. Plus, they are IP67 dust and water-resistant, which means they can survive in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. So accidental splashes or rain won’t be a big deal for these devices.
Display
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Screen-to-Body Ratio is ~86.5% | Screen-to-Body Ratio is ~87.7% |
| Peak brightness is 1900 nits | Peak brightness is 1900 nits |
When it comes to the display, the two phones are almost neck and neck. They come with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen and a 120 Hz refresh rate, which means you will get rich colors, deep blacks, and great viewing angles while watching videos, scrolling social media, or playing games. With a peak brightness of 1900 nits, these devices give you a smooth experience under sunlight.
Now, let’s talk about the one small difference, “HDR10+”. A56 supports HDR10+, which makes videos look a bit more colorful and detailed, especially when you’re watching HDR content on platforms like YouTube or Netflix. It’s not a huge difference for everyday use, but if you watch a lot of high-quality videos, you might enjoy that extra bit of clarity.
Both displays are protected with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and also support Always-on Display, so you can quickly glance at the time, notifications, or battery level without unlocking your phone. Overall, the two phones offer a stunning display, but the A56 has a slight edge if you care about HDR video quality.
Performance
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| Android 15, One UI 7, 6 major Upgrades | Android 15, One UI 7, 6 major Upgrades |
| Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) | Exynos 1580 (4nm) |
| Octa-core (2.4GHz + 1.8GHz) | Octa-core (2.9GHz + 2.6GHz + 1.9GHz) |
| Adreno 710 | Xclipse 540 |
The Galaxy A36 and A56 run on the latest Android 15 with One UI 7, Samsung’s smooth and featureful interface. And the good thing about these devices is that Samsung is promising 6 major Android updates.
Under the hood, there are some noticeable differences. The A56 comes with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, which is a solid mid-range processor built for smooth daily use. On the other hand the A56 is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 1580 chip, which can be said to be a bit more powerful than the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 with a higher clock speed and stronger CPU cores. Another difference is the GPU. Samsung A36 comes with Adreno 710 and A56 carries Xclipse 540 as GPU.
With a decent chipset and GPU, A36 will give you a smooth and reliable performance in running apps, switching between tasks, basic graphical work and casual gaming. But comparatively with Exynos 1580 and Xclipse 540 GPU, A56 can give you better performance in all these tasks or even let you do something more powerful than these.
Camera
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| 50MP (wide) + 8MP (ultrawide) + 5MP (macro) | 50MP (wide) + 12MP (ultrawide) + 5MP (macro) |
| Selfie Camera: 12MP | Selfie Camera: 12MP |
| LED flash, panorama, HDR | Best Face, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
Samsung A series always provides a decent camera on a budget. The scenario is the same here for both A36 and A56. Galaxy A36 and A56 are equipped with triple rear cameras, and the main sensor on these phones is a solid 50MP with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). A small difference here, A56 comes with a bit larger sensor size which means it can capture more light. This usually results in clearer, more detailed photos, especially in low light.
When it comes to ultrawide shots, the A56 again stands out with a 12MP ultrawide camera, compared to the 8MP on the A36. So if you love taking wide landscape shots or group photos, the A56 will give you sharper and more detailed results. There is a 5MP macro lens in both phones for close-up shots, though it’s more of a bonus lens than a main feature for most users.
Selfie-wise, these two phones are equipped with a 12MP front camera and support 4K video recording, which is great for vlogging or making high-quality video calls. However, the A56 allows 60fps on 1080p selfie videos that add more smoothness to videos. The A56 also comes with an extra feature called “Best Face,” which can help you capture better group shots by choosing the best expressions from multiple frames.
Overall, these two buddies are great for everyday photography, but the Galaxy A56 gives you a bit more power and flexibility, especially if you’re into ultrawide shots and video content.
Battery Life & Charging
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| 45W fast charging | 45W fast Charging |
When it comes to battery life, the Galaxy A36 and A56 are equally strong. They pack a 5000mAh battery, which is more than enough to get you through a typical full day of use. Samsung has also included 45W fast charging on these phones, which is great to see in this price range. You can get over 60% charge in just 30 minutes, and a full charge takes around 68 minutes.
There’s no noticeable difference in charging or battery performance between the two. Both phones are built to keep up with your busy day, and you won’t have to worry about constantly searching for a charger.
Storage
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| No card slot | No card slot |
| 128GB / 256GB (up to 12GB RAM) | 128GB / 256GB (up to 12GB RAM) |
| UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.1 |
Both phones give you plenty of storage options to choose from. You can go with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, and RAM goes up to 12GB, which is more than enough for multitasking, gaming, or storing photos and videos. There’s no microSD card slot on either device, so you won’t be able to expand storage later. That’s why it’s better to go for the 256GB version if you plan to keep a lot of media or large apps.
The A56 takes a slight lead here because it comes with UFS 3.1 storage, which is faster than the UFS 2.2 used in the A36. Faster storage means apps load quicker, and your phone feels smoother overall, especially when switching between apps or transferring files.
Sound & Other Features
| Galaxy A36 | Galaxy A56 |
| Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack | Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack |
| Under-display optical fingerprint | Under-display optical fingerprint |
| Accelerometer, gyro, compass, virtual proximity sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass, virtual proximity sensors |
The A36 and A56 are designed for a modern experience. The stereo speakers give you louder and more immersive sound, perfect for watching content or gaming. However, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack on either, so if you’re still using wired headphones, you’ll need to grab a Type-C adapter or go wireless.
Security is taken care of with an under-display fingerprint sensor, and both models include all the key sensors you’d expect in a mid-range phone, like a gyro, compass, and accelerometer. “Circle to Search” is a smart feature for every device. It allows you to simply circle anything on your screen and instantly search it on Google.
Side-By-Side Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A36 VS A56
Here is a side-by-side comparison between Samsung Galaxy A36 vs A56.
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A36 | Samsung Galaxy A56 |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch Date | March 2, 2025 (Released March 10, 2025) | March 2, 2025 (Released March 10, 2025) |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm | 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 195g | 198g |
| Build | Glass front/back (Victus+), plastic frame | Glass front/back (Victus+), aluminum frame |
| SIM & Water Rating | Dual SIM + eSIM (IP67) | Dual SIM + eSIM (IP67) |
| Display | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1900 nits | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1900 nits |
| Screen Size | 6.7″, ~86.5% STB ratio | 6.7″, ~87.7% STB ratio |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels (~385 ppi) | 1080 x 2340 pixels (~385 ppi) |
| OS & UI | Android 15, One UI 7 | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) | Exynos 1580 (4nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2.4GHz + 1.8GHz) | Octa-core (2.9GHz + 2.6GHz + 1.9GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Xclipse 540 |
| Storage Options | Up to 256GB, up to 12GB RAM, UFS 2.2 | Up to 256GB, up to 12GB RAM, UFS 3.1 |
| Card Slot | No | No |
| Main Camera | 50MP + 8MP + 5MP | 50MP + 12MP + 5MP |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Speaker | Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack | Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 45W wired (100% in 68 min) | 5000mAh, 45W wired (100% in 68 min) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| NFC | Yes (region dependent) | Yes (region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| Extras | Circle to Search, under-display fingerprint | Circle to Search, under-display fingerprint |
Which One Should You Buy?
Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 is like a tug of war. They look quite similar on the surface. But when you look closely, the differences become clear.
If you’re someone who wants a solid all-rounder with reliable performance, a great camera, and smooth everyday use and your budget is tight, the Galaxy A36 will be the best choice for you. It is well-built, has a beautiful display, and offers the same battery life and charging speed as its bigger sibling. But if you’re after that extra boost in performance, faster storage, better ultrawide shots, and a slightly more premium build and can spend some more money, the Galaxy A56 is for you. It’s more future-proof, especially for users who do a lot of multitasking, gaming, or mobile photography.
You can buy both the Galaxy A36 and A56 from Apple Gadgets. Buy through our website, mobile app, or by visiting our physical outlets in Dhaka. Get genuine products and great service within a budget.
Borhan Uddin Alif is a writer with 3 years of experience, focusing on technology, marketing, and storytelling, and enjoys exploring various niches and topics.
