Galaxy A36 Vs Galaxy S25

Galaxy A36
Galaxy A36
Starting at

Refurbished price:£206.00

Versus £369.00 new

See options
Galaxy S25
Galaxy S25
Starting at

Refurbished price:£435.00

Versus £766.13 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy A36, released in March 2025, and the Samsung Galaxy S25, launched in February 2025, represent distinct offerings within Samsung's smartphone portfolio. While both devices operate on the Android 15 platform, the Galaxy S25 is positioned as a flagship model with advanced features, whereas the Galaxy A36 provides a balanced experience for everyday use. The primary distinctions lie in their performance capabilities, display technologies, and overall build quality.

Scores

Durability

The practical lifespan of these devices is influenced by their release timelines and software support policies, with the flagship model typically receiving extended support.

  • Software Longevity: The Galaxy S25 is designed to receive up to seven years of major Android operating system updates and security patches, ensuring long-term software relevance. The Galaxy A36, as a mid-range device, is expected to receive up to six Android upgrades and six years of security updates.
  • Build Durability: The Galaxy S25 features an Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, contributing to its robust construction and offering IP68 water and dust resistance. The Galaxy A36 utilizes Gorilla Glass Victus+ for its front and back, paired with a plastic frame, and provides IP67 water and dust resistance.
  • Expected Practical Lifespan: Users prioritizing the absolute longest software support and enhanced physical durability may find the Galaxy S25 offers a slightly extended practical lifespan. The Galaxy A36 remains a durable and well-supported device for several years, suitable for those who may upgrade their devices more frequently.

Year of Release

2025

2025

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

The performance capabilities of the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy S25 cater to different user demands, primarily due to their internal components and optimization.

  • Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy A36 handles daily tasks such as web browsing, social media, and light gaming smoothly, providing a responsive user experience for most applications. The Galaxy S25, equipped with a more advanced processor, offers a significantly higher level of performance, ensuring demanding applications and multitasking run with greater fluidity and speed.
  • Multitasking and Gaming: The Galaxy S25's architecture, including its 12GB of RAM across all models, allows for seamless transitions between numerous applications and provides a robust experience for graphically intensive games. The Galaxy A36, typically available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, performs well for general multitasking but may show limitations with very heavy workloads or high-end gaming.
  • Battery Behavior: The Galaxy A36 features a larger 5000mAh battery, which generally translates to longer usage times between charges for average users. The Galaxy S25 has a 4000mAh battery, and while optimized for efficiency, heavy users might find themselves charging more frequently.

Memory (GB)

6 GB

12 GB

Screen quality

Both Samsung devices offer vibrant displays, but with distinct differences in technology and capability that impact the viewing experience.

  • Display Technology and Brightness: The Galaxy A36 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, providing deep blacks and vivid colors with a peak brightness of around 1200-1500 nits, making it suitable for media consumption and outdoor visibility. The Galaxy S25 utilizes a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, which offers superior brightness, reaching nearly 2500 nits, enhanced color accuracy, and better outdoor visibility, particularly in direct sunlight.
  • Resolution and Clarity: Both phones typically offer Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels), ensuring sharp text and clear images for everyday viewing. The Galaxy S25 may offer a slightly higher pixel density due to its smaller screen size, contributing to a finer visual experience.
  • Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both devices feature a 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The Galaxy S25's display is adaptive, meaning it can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, optimizing power consumption based on content.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1080x2340

Audiovisual

The camera systems on the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy S25 are designed for different levels of photographic ambition and offer varying capabilities.

  • Main Camera Performance: The Galaxy A36 features a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), capable of capturing clear and detailed photos in good lighting conditions. The Galaxy S25 boasts a more advanced 50-megapixel main sensor with superior image processing, resulting in exceptional detail, dynamic range, and enhanced low-light performance.
  • Versatility and Zoom: The Galaxy A36 typically includes an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 5-megapixel macro sensor for varied shots. The Galaxy S25 offers a more versatile setup with a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens, providing optical zoom capabilities for distant subjects.
  • Video and Audio Experience: Both phones are capable of recording 4K video at 30 frames per second. The Galaxy S25 generally offers more advanced video features and processing. For audio, the Galaxy S25 often provides improved speaker sound quality compared to its predecessors, enhancing the media consumption experience.

Miscellaneous

Beyond core specifications, several practical elements differentiate the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy S25, impacting daily usability and overall experience.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both devices support 5G connectivity for fast mobile data. The Galaxy S25 typically incorporates newer Wi-Fi standards, such as Wi-Fi 7, and more recent Bluetooth versions, potentially offering faster and more stable wireless connections. Both phones utilize a USB-C port for charging and data transfer.
  • Charging and Power Features: The Galaxy A36 supports 45W wired fast charging, allowing for quicker power-ups. The Galaxy S25 supports 25W wired fast charging but adds the convenience of fast wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare, enabling it to charge other compatible devices.
  • Design and Handling: The Galaxy S25 is notably lighter at 162g and has a more compact form factor (146.9mm x 70.5mm x 7.2mm), making it comfortable for one-handed use. The Galaxy A36 is larger with a 6.7-inch display and weighs 195g, offering a more expansive screen experience. The Galaxy S25 features an in-display fingerprint sensor, while the A36 also includes an optical in-display fingerprint scanner.

Weight

195 g

162 g

Screen size (in)

6,74

6.2

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy A36 and Galaxy S25 cater to different user priorities, each excelling in specific areas. User feedback for the Galaxy A36 often highlights its robust battery life, bright Super AMOLED display, and solid performance for everyday tasks, with some users noting initial heating concerns that were largely addressed by software updates. Its larger screen size is also a frequent point of praise. Conversely, the Galaxy S25 receives acclaim for its premium, lightweight design, exceptionally bright Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, and powerful performance that handles demanding applications with ease. Common criticisms for the S25 include its smaller battery capacity and slower wired charging speeds compared to some competitors, and some users felt the generational upgrades were incremental.

Users prioritizing extended software support, a more compact and premium build, and superior camera versatility will find the Galaxy S25 well-suited to their needs. Its advanced processing power makes it ideal for those who engage in intensive multitasking or mobile gaming. On the other hand, users who value a larger display, longer battery life, and faster wired charging, alongside a capable camera system for general photography, may lean toward the Galaxy A36. It offers a strong balance of features for daily use in a slightly larger form factor. Both devices offer a quality-assured refurbished option, providing an eco-friendly alternative for consumers.

See all articles

Our recent comparisons