Both the Galaxy A36 and A35 are excellent phones, but one is the better choice

Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A-series continues to evolve, with the 2025 lineup introducing the Galaxy A36, a successor to last year’s Galaxy A35.

While they may seem similar on the surface, some key differences may well make one a better choice over the other for you.

Let’s take a look at what sets them apart and which one offers the best value for money.

Battery & Charging

One of the most significant upgrades of the Galaxy A36 is its improved charging speed. While both phones come with a 5,000mAh battery, the A36 supports 45W super fast charging, compared to the 25W fast charging on the A35.

This means that while the A35 will take around 90 minutes to reach a full charge, the A36 can refill two-thirds of its battery in just 30 minutes, making it much more convenient for users who need a quick top-up before heading out.

If fast charging is an important factor for you, the A36 is the clear winner here.

Software

Samsung is pushing AI features heavily in 2025, and the A36 gets more of these enhancements than the A35.

The A36 includes Samsung new ‘Awesome Intelligence’ features like AI Select, Object Eraser (Automatic Suggestion), Filters (Adjust film styles), and Read Aloud, while the A35 offers only Object Eraser, Smart Select, and basic Edit Suggestions.

The additional AI tools in the A36, like AI Select and Read Aloud, enhance user experience by making content creation and accessibility features more intuitive.

If you enjoy AI-powered tools to improve your daily phone usage, the A36 is the better choice.

Display

Samsung has made noticeable improvements to the display of the A36.

It comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen that boasts 1,200 nits of brightness, making it brighter and slightly larger than the 6.6-inch, 1,000-nit panel on the A35.

This means better visibility outdoors, improved HDR content viewing, and a more immersive experience overall.

While both displays support a 120Hz refresh rate, the A36’s superior brightness makes it the better pick for those who frequently use their phones in bright conditions or enjoy consuming a lot of media.

Other differences

Apart from these major differences, there are a few other minor upgrades. The A36 is thinner at 7.4mm against the A35’s 8.2mm, and lighter at 195g against 209g, making it easier to hold.

It also uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip, whereas the A35 runs on the older Exynos 1380. While the improvement is small at about six percent, Qualcomm’s chipsets tend to be more power-efficient.

The A35 has a 13Mp front camera, while the A36 has a 12Mp sensor with Super HDR. While the A35’s selfie camera technically has more megapixels, the A36’s AI enhancements might make for better shots in dynamic lighting conditions.

Lastly, while Galaxy A36 retains the Key Island on its frame, it changes the design of the rear cameras, surrounding the three protruding lenses with an aluminium frame. Other than that, almost all other features of the two phones are nearly identical.

Price & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G starts at £339/$399 for the 128GB version. There’s also a 256GB model that cost £389, but is available only in the UK.

The phone is available to purchase directly from Samsung UK and Samsung US, or a third-party retailer like Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Galaxy A36 5G with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at £399 in the UK, which is £60 more than the Galaxy A35. However, this price increase seems somewhat justified by the faster charging, improved AI features, brighter display, and more storage. You can buy it from Samsung or a third-party seller such as Amazon.

In the US, it’s priced at $399.99 for a model with 128GB storage and 8GB RAM, and again, it’s available from Samsung, or third-party retailers including Best Buy and Walmart.

Verdict

If you’re looking for the best value-for-money mid-range phone and don’t mind slightly slower charging, then the Galaxy A35 remains a great budget option.

However, if you want the latest AI features, faster charging, and a noticeably brighter display, then the Galaxy A36 is worth the extra cost.

The A36 feels more future-proof, thanks to its Qualcomm chip, AI tools, and better long-term usability, making it a better investment overall.