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Samsung is raising the bar for support among mid-range and budget smartphones, as the newly launched A-series (A16 and later) will offer an impressive six operating system updates. This latest generation not only enhances performance and charging speed but also includes significant camera enhancements and other features. While a detailed examination of the Galaxy A56 will be provided in a separate article, this piece will delve into its counterparts, the A36 and A26.
Samsung Galaxy A36
The Galaxy A36 introduces a notable change by incorporating the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, moving away from the previously used Dimensity and Exynos chips in recent iterations. The device starts with a base configuration of 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage (though some regions will see an 8GB RAM variant), with an option for an upgrade to 8GB RAM with 256GB storage.
While the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 may not dominate in performance, Samsung has equipped it with an enlarged vapor chamber (+15%) identical to that found in the Galaxy S24+, ensuring it has the thermal management necessary for optimal performance.
All three models in the A-series – the A56, A36, and A26 – share a unified screen size, with each featuring a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display boasting a resolution greater than 1080p. This represents a minor increase of 0.1 inches over the previous A35 model. The display’s brightness has also improved, now reaching up to 1,200 nits in high brightness mode and peaking at an impressive 1,900 nits.
The device features Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, with a durable polycarbonate frame. Maintaining its reputation for reliability, the A36 carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Samsung offers a variety of color options, most of which showcase an iridescent effect, except for the classic black variant.
Colors available for Samsung Galaxy A36: Black • Lime • White • Lavender
The rear camera of the A36 adopts a refreshed design featuring a single camera island, housing similar hardware as its predecessor. This includes a 50MP main sensor (f/1.8 lens with OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2), and a 5MP macro lens (f/2.4).
Noteworthy upgrades this year include a larger 12MP front camera and video HDR capabilities (10-bit recording up to 4K @ 30fps) for both rear and front cameras. In comparison, the A56 boasts a larger sensor (with 1.0µm pixels), a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and supports Low Noise mode for the selfie camera.
The battery capacity remains at 5,000mAh, but charging speed climbs from 25W to an impressive 45W. This allows for a substantial charge in just 30 minutes, achieving 66%, with a full charge taking around 68 minutes. Users can expect an impressive battery life, allowing for up to 29 hours of video playback.
Launching with Android 15 and One UI 7, the A36 will benefit from six OS updates and security patches for six years, a significant increase from the previous A35’s four OS updates and five years of security support. The device is also enhanced with artificial intelligence features such as Circle to Search, the Object Eraser for editing images, and user-friendly options for creating custom image filters based on selected styles.
The pricing for the Samsung Galaxy A36 mirrors that of its predecessor, with the 128GB model retailing at $400/€380, while the 256GB variant is priced at €450/£400, reflecting different market variations in storage options.
It’s important to note that the Galaxy A56 will be available in the U.S., a feature not offered with its predecessor. This may influence buyer choices regarding the A36; hence, more detailed specifications and pricing can be found in our A56 article.
Samsung Galaxy A26
The Samsung Galaxy A26 can be viewed as an evolution of last year’s A35, albeit at a more accessible price point and maintaining a level of similarity with the A36.
Powered by the Exynos 1380, the same chipset utilized in the A35, the A26 lags slightly behind the A36, with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3’s CPU touted as being 8% faster. Performance efficiency remains to be evaluated, and the A26 does not benefit from the larger vapor chamber found in its higher-tier siblings.
The A26 features similar memory configurations, with a base of 6 or 8GB RAM (dependent on region) and 128GB of storage, alongside an 8/256GB upgrade option. Notably, this model includes a microSD card slot, a feature that is absent in the higher-end A-series models. Software support remains on par, also promising six OS updates and six years of security patches (an improvement from the previous four and five years).
Once again, the three A-series devices share a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1080p+ resolution, marking an increase from the 6.5-inch screen on the A25. However, the A26’s display differs slightly, featuring a notch for the selfie camera rather than a punch hole, and the fingerprint sensor is located on the side instead of beneath the screen.
Regarding the selfie camera, this model uses a previous-generation 13MP sensor, therefore lacking video HDR capabilities. The rear camera setup remains similar, comprising a 50MP main camera (with OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens.
Samsung has refined the design of the A26, reducing its thickness from 8.3mm to 7.7mm, although its weight has slightly increased from 197g to 200g. The A26 is also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, matching the A36 and A56 in this regard.
Colors available for Samsung Galaxy A26
The Galaxy A26 maintains a battery capacity of 5,000mAh, consistent with the other two models, but it remains limited to 25W charging speed, lacking the enhancements present in the A36.
For pricing, the Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at €300 for the base model with 128GB storage, while the 256GB variant is priced at approximately €370/£300/$300, with variations in availability across different regions.
Source
www.gsmarena.com