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Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy A26
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy M36
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy M36

₹25,990

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy A26 is priced lower at ₹21,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹3,991.

Samsung Galaxy A26 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy A26 features a — display. Samsung Galaxy M36 offers —. Both offer the same refresh rate.

Performance

Samsung Galaxy A26 runs the —. Samsung Galaxy M36 is powered by the —. Both phones share the same chipset, so raw performance will be near-identical.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy A26 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy M36 has —. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy A26 packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy M36 uses —. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy A26 runs —. Samsung Galaxy M36 ships with —. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy A26

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy M36

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

Pros

  • 6-year update guarantee is industry-leading at the ₹22K price — most rivals offer 2–3 years
  • Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search bring flagship-level intelligence to mid-range
  • 120Hz AMOLED delivers smooth, vivid display performance
  • Under-display fingerprint sensor looks cleaner than side-mounted alternatives

Cons

  • Exynos 1380 lags behind Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 on raw benchmarks and sustained gaming
  • No NFC — contactless payment options are absent
  • 25W charging is slower than competing phones at this price
  • Mono speaker — no stereo output

Samsung Galaxy M36

₹25,990

Pros

  • 120Hz AMOLED at ₹25,990 means scroll-smooth, saturated content experience
  • Wi-Fi 6 delivers noticeably faster wireless speeds at home and office
  • NFC included unlike many M-series rivals in this segment
  • 8GB RAM Plus (virtual RAM) allows more background apps to stay alive

Cons

  • Exynos 1380 sustained performance dips under prolonged gaming — throttling is noticeable
  • 25W charging is slower than the 33W–45W offered by several competing brands
  • Mono speaker setup lacks immersive stereo depth
  • Body feels plasticky compared to glass-back rivals at this price
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36 — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Starting Price
₹21,999
Lower price
₹25,990
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
—
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
2 options
2 options
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Screen Size
6.7 inches
6.7 inches
Resolution
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
Panel Type
Super AMOLED
Super AMOLED
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Brightness
800 nits typical
800 nits typical
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Processor
Samsung Exynos 1380 (5nm)
Samsung Exynos 1380 (5nm)
CPU Cores
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
RAM
8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
6GB / 8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
Storage
128GB / 256GB UFS 2.2
128GB UFS 2.2
Expandable Storage
Up to 1TB via microSD
Up to 1TB via microSD
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Main Camera
50MP f/1.8
50MP f/1.8
Ultra-Wide Camera
8MP f/2.2
8MP f/2.2
Macro Camera
2MP f/2.4
2MP f/2.4
Front Camera
13MP f/2.2
13MP f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 30fps
4K @ 30fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
5000 mAh
Charging Speed
25W wired
25W wired
Wireless Charging
No
No
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB Type-C 2.0
NFC
No
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
Body Material
Plastic frame and back
Plastic frame and back
Dimensions
162.9 × 77.5 × 7.7 mm
167.5 × 77.5 × 7.9 mm
Weight
192g
193g
Water Resistance
IP54 splash resistant
—
Fingerprint Sensor
Under-display (optical)
Side-mounted
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy M36
OS at Launch
Android 15
Android 15
UI
One UI 7
One UI 7
AI Features
Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Photo Remaster)
—
Update Promise
6 years OS, 6 years security
4 years OS, 5 years security
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy A26

8GB RAM / 128GB
₹21,999
8GB RAM / 256GB
₹24,999

Samsung Galaxy M36

6GB RAM / 128GB
₹25,990
8GB RAM / 128GB
₹27,990
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy A26 or Samsung Galaxy M36?
The Samsung Galaxy A26 and Samsung Galaxy M36 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy M36 starts at ₹25,990 and offers — with —. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy A26 and Samsung Galaxy M36?
The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 and the Samsung Galaxy M36 starts at ₹25,990 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹3,991. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy A26 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy M36?
Samsung Galaxy A26 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy M36 provides —. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy A26 or Samsung Galaxy M36?
Samsung Galaxy A26 comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy M36 includes —. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
How many years of updates does Samsung Galaxy A26 get?
Samsung guarantees 6 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of monthly security patches for the Galaxy A26. It launched on Android 15 and is committed to receive updates through Android 21. This is one of the longest software support windows available in the ₹20,000–25,000 bracket.
Is Samsung Galaxy M36 better than M35 5G?
The Galaxy M36 improves on the M35 5G with a brighter AMOLED panel, Wi-Fi 6 support, an updated camera sensor, and Android 15 out of the box with One UI 7. The M35 had a larger 6000 mAh battery, which is the main trade-off. For display quality and software freshness, M36 is the better pick in mid-2025.
More comparisons

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M36
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Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy M56

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M36
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Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy M35 5G

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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.