After a somewhat underwhelming Galaxy S25 series, Samsung’s new Galaxy A36 and A56 are generating significant buzz. These mid-range smartphones offer compelling upgrades that make them worthy contenders, even if you own last year’s models. Here’s a closer look at what makes these phones stand out.
Key Differences Between the A36 and A56
Unlike the incremental updates between the A35 and A55, the Galaxy A36 and A56 offer more discernible differences, justifying the price gap between the two. The most immediate differences lie in their design and build.
Both phones sport a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, but the A56 boasts a premium brushed metal chassis, a significant upgrade over the A36’s plastic frame. While the bezels have been slightly reduced on both models, the signature raised “Key Island” remains, providing easy access to the physical buttons. Both phones maintain a slim profile, making them comfortable for one-handed use.
The A55’s somewhat awkward in-hand feel has been addressed, with both the A36 and A56 offering a more comfortable grip. The rear camera modules are vertically aligned on both, but the A56 features a flat metal surround, while the A36 has a plastic one. The design language clearly echoes the Galaxy S25, yet retains a distinct A-series identity.
Samsung has revived a popular color scheme for the A-series. Several color options feature an iridescent finish reminiscent of the Aura Glow on the Galaxy Note 10. This subtle yet striking effect adds a touch of elegance. While the iridescent finish is tempting, Samsung offers a range of other appealing colorways, making the choice more difficult than usual.
Performance and Power
The Galaxy A36 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, while the A56 features Samsung’s Exynos 1580. Initial impressions suggest comparable performance for everyday tasks within the One UI 7 interface. However, a noticeable difference emerges when using the cameras. The Exynos 1580 in the A56 enables significantly faster switching between the main and wide-angle cameras, reportedly twice as fast, thanks to a combination of processing power and AI enhancements.
While gaming performance remains to be fully tested, Samsung suggests the A56 will be the better choice for mobile gamers. This claim seems plausible given the observed camera performance. Both phones offer 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, along with a 15% larger vapor chamber for improved cooling compared to their predecessors.
Camera Capabilities
Both models feature a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS and a 5MP macro lens. However, the A56 benefits from a 12MP wide-angle camera, while the A36 has an 8MP wide-angle. The A56 also boasts exclusive features likely enabled by the Exynos chip, including an upgraded AI ISP, Best Face mode, and Auto Trim for video, which automatically generates highlight reels. The inclusion of the impressive image editing tools from the Galaxy S25 is a welcome addition to the A-series.
Software and Updates
On the software front, both phones run Samsung’s One UI 7 based on Android 15, which has been lauded for its improvements. While Galaxy AI features aren’t heavily emphasized, Circle to Search and the excellent object eraser within the Gallery app are notable inclusions. The Now Brief is absent, but the Now Bar is present on the lock screen. Importantly, Samsung guarantees six years of major software and security updates.
Fast Charging and Pricing
A major upgrade for both the A36 and A56 is the inclusion of 45W wired charging. Samsung claims a 30-minute charge will replenish the 5,000mAh battery to approximately 65%, reaching a full charge in 68 minutes. This surpasses the wired charging speed of the standard Galaxy S25 and matches the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra. Wireless charging, however, is not supported.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 is priced at £399 (approximately $505), while the Galaxy A56 costs £499 (approximately $635). Pre-orders begin on March 2nd, with a release date of March 19th. While a U.S. release hasn’t been officially confirmed, it’s highly anticipated given the previous A-series releases.
