Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Galaxy A56: Which should you buy?

If you're after a more affordable Samsung phone, the manufacturer's new A-series devices are coming soon. At the top of the A-series are the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56. These represent the more "premium" side of the midrange, and make the least compromises when compared to its far pricier Galaxy S25 family. 

The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 are very similar phones, but there are a few key differences to consider. If you're on the fence, we'll run through everything you need to know about the pair. 

First, here are their specs: 

Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Galaxy A56: Price

Price is naturally a difference between the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56, with the former being the more affordable device. You'll pay $549 for the Galaxy A36 or $699 for the Galaxy A56. You can also get a 256GB variant of the Galaxy A56 for $799. The 256GB Galaxy A56 is exclusive to Samsung in Australia.

If you're looking at picking up an A-series device on a mobile plan, we're expecting to see Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone offer both devices. While pricing hasn't been confirmed, we expect that the Galaxy A36 will be about $4 per month cheaper than the Galaxy A56 on a 36-month repayment.

A Galaxy A36 will likely be a $19 per month handset repayment fee on a 36-month plan, while a Galaxy A56 will be about $23. Add this figure to your chosen SIM-only plan from Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone to work out roughly what you'd pay. 

Here are the cheapest SIM-only plans from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone: 

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#2	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small SIM Only Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $45.00/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45.00/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#3	Telstra	Telstra $74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan 50GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices $74.00/mth Min. cost $74 Link not supplied	$74.00/mth Min. cost $74	Link not supplied

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Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Galaxy A56: Camera

The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 have similar but different camera configurations. No matter which phone you pick, you get the same 50MP primary lens, the same 12MP selfie camera, and the same 5MP macro lens. 

The ultra-wide lens is the key difference: you'll get an 8MP ultra-wide on the Galaxy A36, or a 13MP on the Galaxy A56. This means the Galaxy A56 should take slightly better ultra-wide photos. 

Otherwise, we'd expect both phones to take very similar photos. 

Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Galaxy A56: Design

The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 are almost identical phones in terms of design. They use identical design language, but the Galaxy A36 has a plastic frame whereas the Galaxy A56 has aluminium. 

Otherwise, everything else is effectively the same. Both have 6.7-inch 1080p+ displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, IP67 water-resistance, and a Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on the front and back. 

Colour options are slightly different, however. Both come in black, but you can also get the Galaxy A36 in lavender or the Galaxy A56 in olive. 

Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Galaxy A56: Performance

The Galaxy A56 is powered by Samsung's in-house Exynos 1580 processor, while the Galaxy A36 uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. In benchmarks, the Exnyos 1580 is clearly the faster processor, but the biggest difference is gaming. When it comes to graphics performance, the Exynos 1580 can be up to three times as fast as the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. 

The Exynos 1580 is still a little faster when it comes to day-to-day tasks, but by a much smaller margin. If you're big on mobile gaming, the Galaxy A56 is going to be a better buy. Otherwise, the Galaxy A36 should still be fast enough. 

Processor aside, you'll get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage no matter which you pick. Both phones also have eSIM support and 5G connectivity.  

Both the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 will get six major operating system updates and six years of security updates, which is best-in-class when it comes to mid-tier Android devices. That's just a year less than Samsung promises for its flagship phones.

Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Galaxy A56: Battery

The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 both have a 5,000mAh battery. Samsung says both offer up to 29 hours of video playback per charge. There shouldn't be a difference no matter which phone you pick. The phones also both support 45W fast charging. 

Should I buy the Galaxy A36 or the Galaxy A56?

Given the on-paper similarities, the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 are both solid buys. The main question comes down to whether you'd like the faster processor and better ultra-wide lens in the Galaxy A56, or if you'd prefer to save $150.