Galaxy A36 Vs Galaxy S24+

Galaxy A36
Galaxy A36
Starting at

Refurbished price:£206.00

Versus £369.00 new

See options
Galaxy S24+
Galaxy S24+
Starting at

Refurbished price:£337.00

Versus £997.95 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy A36 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus are two distinct smartphones from Samsung's lineup, released in 2025 and 2024 respectively. While both operate on the Android platform, the Galaxy A36 is positioned as a feature-rich mid-range device, offering a strong balance of capabilities for everyday use, whereas the Galaxy S24 Plus represents a premium flagship experience with advanced performance and display technology.

The primary differentiators lie in their core processing power, display resolution, and camera system sophistication, catering to different user expectations and needs.

Scores

Durability

When considering the longevity of a smartphone, factors such as software support, physical durability, and ease of repair play a significant role. Both devices offer substantial software support, contributing to a longer practical lifespan.

  • Software Updates: The Galaxy A36 is expected to receive up to six Android operating system upgrades and six years of security patches from its release in March 2025. The Galaxy S24 Plus, released in January 2024, offers an even longer commitment with seven years of OS updates and security patches, ensuring extended access to the latest features and security enhancements. [14, 20, 30, 32]
  • Physical Durability: The Galaxy A36 features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, along with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, providing robust protection against daily wear and tear. [4, 14, 28] The Galaxy S24 Plus elevates this with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and an IP68 rating, alongside an Enhanced Armor Aluminum frame, offering a higher degree of resilience against environmental elements and accidental damage. [10, 23, 27]
  • Repairability: The Galaxy A36 has demonstrated a repairability score of 8.4 out of 10 in some assessments, indicating a relatively straightforward process for component replacement. [6, 8, 15] The Galaxy S24 Plus generally scores higher, with some assessments giving it a 9 out of 10, suggesting a design that facilitates easier repairs for common issues like battery replacement. [25, 33, 34, 35]

Year of Release

2025

2024

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

The performance of these two devices reflects their different market segments, with the Galaxy S24 Plus offering a more powerful experience for demanding tasks compared to the capable Galaxy A36.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy A36 is equipped with a processor that handles daily applications and multitasking smoothly, providing a responsive experience for general use and moderate gaming. [9, 29] The Galaxy S24 Plus features a current-generation flagship processor, delivering significantly faster speeds and enhanced capabilities for intensive applications, advanced gaming, and complex AI features. [3, 7, 16, 21, 30]
  • Memory and Storage: The Galaxy A36 comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and offers 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with the option to expand storage via a microSD card up to 1TB. [4, 9, 14, 23] The Galaxy S24 Plus provides 12GB of RAM as standard, paired with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, but does not support expandable storage. [3, 10, 16, 21, 23]
  • Battery Behavior: Both devices are equipped with large battery capacities, with the Galaxy A36 featuring a 5000mAh battery and the Galaxy S24 Plus a 4900mAh battery. [4, 19, 23] Users of the Galaxy A36 report that its battery can last through a full day or even two days of average use. [12, 24, 28, 29] The Galaxy S24 Plus also offers excellent battery life, with many users finding it comfortably lasts a full day of heavy use, and some even extending to two days with moderate usage. [20, 27, 31, 32] Both support 45W wired fast charging, with the S24 Plus additionally offering wireless and reverse wireless charging. [4, 11, 23, 30]

Memory (GB)

6 GB

12 GB

Screen quality

Both smartphones offer impressive display technologies, but the Galaxy S24 Plus provides a more refined visual experience with higher resolution and brightness.

  • Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy A36 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels), delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks suitable for media consumption and daily tasks. [4, 9, 14, 23, 28] The Galaxy S24 Plus also has a 6.7-inch display, but it utilizes a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with a sharper QHD+ resolution (3120x1440 pixels), resulting in crisper images and finer detail. [3, 7, 10, 16, 21, 27, 30, 32]
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Galaxy A36's display offers a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations, with a peak brightness of 1200 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. [4, 9, 11, 12, 28] The Galaxy S24 Plus boasts an adaptive refresh rate that can dynamically adjust from 1Hz to 120Hz, optimizing for both smoothness and power efficiency. It also reaches a significantly higher peak brightness of 2600 nits, making it exceptionally legible even in direct sunlight. [7, 10, 16, 27, 30, 32]
  • Viewing Experience: While both provide an immersive viewing experience due to their large AMOLED panels, the higher resolution and superior brightness of the Galaxy S24 Plus make it particularly well-suited for users who prioritize detailed content viewing and outdoor usability. [7, 10, 27]

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1440 x 3120

Audiovisual

The camera systems on both devices are capable, but the Galaxy S24 Plus offers a more versatile setup with enhanced features for photography enthusiasts.

  • Rear Camera System: The Galaxy A36 features a triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 50-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro lens. It performs well in everyday photography, capturing decent detail and vibrant colors, though some users note color saturation can be strong. [4, 9, 14, 19, 23, 24, 29] The Galaxy S24 Plus also has a triple-camera system, comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, providing greater flexibility for different shooting scenarios. [3, 7, 10, 19, 21, 23, 31, 32]
  • Photography Performance: The Galaxy A36 delivers good results in well-lit conditions, with its main camera producing clear images. Low-light performance is adequate for its class. [24, 26, 28, 29] The Galaxy S24 Plus excels in various lighting conditions, capturing high-quality photos with good detail and dynamic range. Its telephoto lens allows for clear zoomed-in shots, and it benefits from advanced image processing and AI-powered editing features. [7, 10, 20, 31, 32]
  • Front Camera and Video: Both devices feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, capable of capturing detailed selfies and supporting video calls. [4, 10, 19, 23, 29] The Galaxy S24 Plus offers higher video recording capabilities, including 8K resolution, compared to the Galaxy A36's 4K recording, providing more options for high-fidelity video content creation. [14, 16]

Front camera

12

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond the core specifications, several practical elements differentiate the user experience between the Galaxy A36 and the Galaxy S24 Plus.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both devices support 5G connectivity for fast mobile data. The Galaxy A36 includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the Galaxy S24 Plus offers more advanced Wi-Fi 6e/7 and Bluetooth 5.3, providing faster and more stable wireless connections. [4, 16, 21, 23] Both utilize a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. [4, 23]
  • Biometric Security: Both smartphones feature an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking. [21, 23] The Galaxy A36 also includes face unlock. [23]
  • Design and Handling: The Galaxy A36 weighs approximately 195 grams and measures 162.90 x 78.20 x 7.40mm, offering a comfortable in-hand feel. [4, 23, 28] The Galaxy S24 Plus is slightly heavier at around 197 grams and has dimensions of 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm, featuring a premium build with a satin finish and a unified design. [10, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30] The S24 Plus also includes NFC for contactless payments, a feature not explicitly highlighted for the A36. [23]

Weight

195 g

197 g

Screen size (in)

6,74

6.7

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

USB-C

The Samsung Galaxy A36 and Galaxy S24 Plus cater to different user priorities, each excelling in its respective segment. Users frequently praise the Galaxy A36 for its impressive battery life, bright and smooth display, and Samsung's commitment to long-term software support, making it a dependable choice for everyday tasks and media consumption. [12, 24, 26, 28, 29] Some common criticisms include the camera's color processing, which can sometimes be oversaturated, and the absence of a physical microSD slot in some regions. [12, 28]

Conversely, the Galaxy S24 Plus is often lauded for its exceptional display quality with higher resolution and brightness, its powerful performance for demanding applications, and its comprehensive camera system with optical zoom and advanced AI features. [7, 10, 20, 27, 31, 32] Users appreciate its premium build and extended software update policy. [20, 30] However, some reviews note that while its camera is very capable, it might not offer groundbreaking advancements over its predecessor, and the AI features, while promising, can sometimes feel experimental. [20, 31]

Users prioritizing a robust and long-lasting device for general use, with excellent battery life and a vibrant display, may find the Galaxy A36 well-suited to their needs. It represents a strong eco-friendly alternative when considering a quality-assured refurbished option. For those who require top-tier performance for gaming, advanced photography, and a more refined visual experience, the Galaxy S24 Plus stands out. It is ideal for users seeking a premium device with the latest technology and a longer software support window. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether a user prioritizes flagship-level performance and advanced features or a highly capable and durable device for daily tasks.

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