Back in my younger days (and that was a long time ago 😄), I used the Galaxy A7 (2018). It was my first and so far only Galaxy A series device. Although it wasn’t a flagship, I really liked the phone – especially for its long battery life. After switching from the Galaxy S7 Edge, I didn’t notice a huge difference, aside from the plastic body and a slightly less refined design. However, I used that device for only about half a year, as I convinced my parents to buy the revolutionary Galaxy S10+. I call it revolutionary because, in my opinion, those were Samsung’s golden years – that phone was what sparked my interest in smart technology.
I digress a bit, but I want to mention that since 2020, the Galaxy A series often seemed to me like cheaper and lower-quality devices – plastic bodies and backs, along with subpar processors and cameras, pushed me toward more expensive models. That changed in 2023, when the Galaxy A54 was introduced, bringing back a glass back. I increasingly saw reviews and comparisons with flagships online.
This year, I was intrigued by the updated Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 models. I became curious: what’s the real difference between the 2025 Galaxy A and Galaxy S series? Is it worth spending an extra £1000 to get the top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra? Or can a £350–£450 budget provide the same “Galaxy” experience? Let’s find out!
Design
The design of the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 differs from previous years. Not only has the camera island design changed (which used to resemble the Galaxy S series), but the size of the devices has also increased over the past two years – screen size now reaches 6.7 inches. These are large phones, which some consider a plus and others a minus. I’ve heard various opinions about the size – some users even feel forced to spend more to get smaller Galaxy S or Galaxy Flip models.
At first glance, the camera islands of both models look similar, but there are differences. The Galaxy A36 has camera modules integrated under a single piece of glass, while the Galaxy A56 has cameras separated by a black aluminum frame. The first option is more practical, as it’s easier to clean off dust and smudges. The camera modules are slightly raised above the back, much like in the Galaxy S25 series, but this neither disturbs nor greatly enhances the design.
Both models feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the display, which protects against minor scratches and impacts. The back is also made of glass. The Galaxy A36 has a chromatic back – the color shifts depending on the viewing angle. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A56 has a glossy, solid-color back. Both phones smudge easily with fingerprints, so to maintain aesthetics, you’ll need to clean them often – especially if you’re not using a case.
One important difference is the frame material. The Galaxy A56 has an aluminum frame, while the Galaxy A36’s frame is plastic. Is the difference noticeable? I asked my family and friends which phone feels more premium – most guessed correctly just from holding them. The material gave away the price point. Personally, I find the A56’s metal frame more solid and pleasant.
The phones have an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Still, I don’t recommend testing this in practice – they’re splash-resistant, not meant for long underwater use.
Samsung isn’t shy about color variety in the Galaxy A series. The A36 and A56 differ not just in back color but also in frame tint. The Galaxy A36 I tested came in “Awesome Lavender,” while the Galaxy A56 was in “Awesome Olive.”
Additionally, in Europe you can find:
- Galaxy A36: Awesome Lime, Awesome White, and Awesome Black.
- Galaxy A56: Awesome Pink, Awesome Light Gray, and Awesome Graphite.
As of June 2025:
- Galaxy A36 starts at £399 for the 256 GB model.
- Galaxy A56 starts at £499 for the 256 GB model.
Displays
The displays of these models are identical – I tried to spot differences but couldn’t. Both use Super AMOLED panels with FHD+ resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1900 nits. The screen quality is very similar to the Galaxy S24 FE I tested late last year, though I couldn’t confirm if they use the same panel. Likely not, given that the Galaxy S series usually features newer-generation E5 panels.
It’s worth noting that both displays are 6.7 inches. The bezels are thinner than last year’s but still asymmetrical – the bottom bezel is clearly thicker. Is that annoying? Maybe not, but I’d personally prefer fully symmetrical edges. Still, there’s noticeable improvement each year, so this may change soon.
The FHD+ resolution ensures sharp and clear visuals, and the colors are well-calibrated and vivid. The 120 Hz refresh rate delivers smooth scrolling, but it’s not adaptive – it only drops to 48 Hz, which may drain more battery compared to LTPO screens.
Both phones have 12 MP front-facing cameras embedded under the screen. This year I noticed a positive change – the silver ring around the camera cutout is gone, which previously disrupted screen uniformity. Although the megapixel count is the same, the sensors are physically different. With the naked eye, you can see that the Galaxy A36’s camera looks a bit greyer than the A56’s.
The fingerprint sensors are optical and embedded under the display. They work quickly but are less reliable than the ultrasonic scanners used in the Galaxy S series. One more notable downside is that they’re placed very low, requiring a bit of finger gymnastics to unlock the phone.
Cameras
It was in the camera section that I expected to see the biggest difference between the Galaxy A and Galaxy S series devices—and that’s exactly what I saw. On the back, both the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 have a 50 MP main camera, but their sensors are different. The Galaxy A56 features a better camera, despite having the same megapixel count. The ultra-wide cameras differ significantly: the Galaxy A36 has an 8 MP lens, while the Galaxy A56 has a 12 MP one. The third camera is a 5 MP macro lens, identical on both models.
The photo quality between the two models differs greatly. Photos taken with the Galaxy A56’s main camera are of good quality, although sometimes lacking detail, especially when zoomed in. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A36’s main camera quality is only satisfactory. Due to longer shutter speeds, photos often turn out blurry and of lower quality. The sensor captures fewer details, making colors look unnatural. The ultra-wide cameras show a similar pattern: the Galaxy A36 produces more noise and blur compared to the Galaxy A56.
Both phones support two modes for the main camera: 12 MP and 50 MP. The 50 MP mode captures more detail, but the image may lack stability. The Galaxy A36 takes significantly longer to process high-resolution photos, and the shutter button becomes very slow.
Some camera features have trickled down from the Galaxy S25 series. The “Custom Filter” feature lets you create your own favorite photo filter from sample images—making it easy to apply different styles and moods. If you don’t like a filter, you can simply remove it in the Gallery app. Maybe gloomy London days will start to feel like sunny Spain? 😄
The video resolution is nothing surprising. The Galaxy A56 can record in 4K at 30 frames per second with all cameras (except macro), while the Galaxy A36 is more limited—its main camera can record in 4K 30 fps, but the ultra-wide one only supports Full HD (i.e., 1080p). Video quality is better with the Galaxy A56, but both phones need improvement in contrast and dynamic range handling, as brightly lit areas can wash out details.
Performance and Battery
The processor is a critical component of any device—it affects not only performance but also essential processes like photo capture and AI features. We all know that the Galaxy A series typically uses older, less powerful processors compared to the flagship line. The Galaxy A36 features the 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip, while the Galaxy A56 uses Samsung’s Exynos 1580, also built on 4nm technology. And yes—this time, Exynos outperforms Snapdragon. The performance gap is clear: the Galaxy A56’s processor is up to 37% more powerful than the A36’s. You can feel this in real-world usage—apps launch faster, the camera takes pictures more quickly, animations are smoother, and gaming performance is better.
As these devices are mainly aimed at younger users, especially kids and teens, I tested a variety of games. Most of them ran well and smoothly, though the phones do get warm, especially during more demanding games.
It’s also worth noting that the Galaxy A36 has 6 GB of RAM, while the A56 has 8 GB. Still, performance is not on par with higher-end models; both devices can occasionally lag and heat up. Whether that’s due to the processor, older RAM type, or unoptimized software is hard to say.
This year, neither the Galaxy A36 nor A56 supports microSD cards, so physical storage expansion isn’t possible. Thankfully, Samsung offers both 128 GB and 256 GB models, which should be enough for most users.
Both devices feature 5000 mAh batteries and charging speeds have increased to 45W. This is a nice upgrade, but major competitors offer much faster charging. Like most models in this segment, these phones don’t support wireless charging. Since long battery life is often a marketing highlight, it’s worth noting that both devices can last up to two days. The Galaxy A56 is slightly more efficient, but overall battery life should be very similar.
Galaxy AI
Alongside the Galaxy A36 and A56, Samsung introduced artificial intelligence features, branded as “Galaxy AI” or “Awesome Intelligence” tailored for the A series. However, the features are significantly scaled down compared to what’s available on the Galaxy S25 series.
“Photo Assist” offers tools like Object Eraser, Best Face, Suggested Edits, Custom Filters, and Auto Video Crop. The Object Eraser works on both the Galaxy A36 and A56, but its performance is noticeably worse than on the Galaxy S25 series. Even the interface differs, and the function feels more like an older photo editing tool rather than a true AI experience. The object removal quality is weaker and comes with certain limitations that no longer exist in the S25 series. Best Face helps enhance group photos—fixing closed eyes or unwanted facial expressions. Auto Video Crop highlights the best moments in a clip.
The devices also include “AI Select,” allowing you to select any on-screen content and quickly use it. If it’s an image, you can save it to the gallery; if it’s text, you can copy it to the clipboard.
The A series has also included “Circle to Search” as of last year. Just circle an object on the screen and Google will instantly find a match. You can also recognize songs or translate foreign language text into any language. I use Circle to Search every day and often miss it when using other devices.
One UI
The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 come with the One UI 7 user interface running on Android 15. These are among the first devices to receive One UI 7, while most Samsung users are still waiting for the update. Most features available on more expensive models are also present here, though some capabilities remain limited.
For example, in the Galaxy S25 series, animations run more smoothly—especially on the Always On Display. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A56 and A36 have less fluid Always On animations due to older screen technology and their fixed refresh rate. These models also do not offer the option to change the Always On wallpaper. The “Now Bar” feature appears higher up on the lock screen than on the S25 series, because of the different fingerprint sensor placement. Additionally, the “Now Bar” does not show Google Sports results on these devices.
Furthermore, these phones have limited assistant-calling capabilities—the side button can only summon Samsung’s Bixby assistant. They also lack Gemini integration with Samsung apps like Notes, Calendar, and others.
Samsung promises up to 6 years of OS and security updates for the Galaxy A36 and A56. That’s a welcome change, but it raises the question of whether these devices will still run smoothly a few years from now. I seriously doubt it—the processors are unlikely to keep up with future OS changes. It’s likely that performance will begin to degrade after just two years, and six years is a very long time for mid-range phones.
Verdict: Pros and Cons
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The Galaxy A36 and A56 have received notable updates and improvements. They now offer a more comprehensive set of Galaxy AI features. If Samsung were to improve the camera quality and replace the macro lens with a telephoto one, the user experience would improve even more.
If Galaxy AI features are not important to you and you’re looking for a more budget-friendly device, the Galaxy A36 and A56 are worth considering—especially now that their prices have dropped from the original launch price.
Is it worth paying more for a Galaxy S25 model? That depends on your needs, but I personally would spend more if choosing between them.
Thank you, @Sonora!
I 100% agree with your opinion because I also use the Galaxy S25 Ultra as my daily driver. It was definitely a downgrade, but it was interesting to test those Galaxy A devices to see what Samsung offers in its more affordable lineup. 
