Built for India. Every specification is source-checked before it goes live.
GGadzela

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy S26

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

Samsung Galaxy M36
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy M36

₹25,990

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S26
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

4.7(224)

₹87,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy M36 is priced lower at ₹25,990, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹62,009.

Samsung Galaxy M36 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy M36 features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S26 offers 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz. Samsung Galaxy S26 has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy M36 runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S26 is powered by the Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm). Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy M36 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 has 50MP + 12MP + 10MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy M36 packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S26 uses 4300 mAh, 25W. Samsung Galaxy S26 has a larger 4300 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy M36 runs —. Samsung Galaxy S26 ships with Android 16, One UI 8.5. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy M36

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy S26

89%

Very Good

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

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

Samsung Galaxy S26

₹87,999

Pros

  • Most compact Samsung flagship
  • Exynos 2600 (2nm) for efficiency and performance
  • IP68 water resistance
  • 7-year update guarantee
  • Galaxy AI features

Cons

  • Only 25W charging — S26+ gets 45W
  • FHD+ not QHD+ like S26+
  • Smaller 4300 mAh battery
  • ₹87,999 is not inexpensive
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Starting Price
₹25,990
Lower price
₹87,999
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
March 2026
User Rating
—
4.7/5 (224 ratings)
Higher rating
Available colours
2 options
Sky Blue, Black
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Screen Size
6.7 inches
—
Resolution
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
Panel Type
Super AMOLED
—
Refresh Rate
120Hz
1–120Hz (adaptive)
Brightness
800 nits typical
2600 nits peak
Size
—
6.3 inches
Type
—
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Protection
—
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Processor
Samsung Exynos 1380 (5nm)
Samsung Exynos 2600
CPU Cores
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
—
RAM
6GB / 8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
12 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
128GB UFS 2.2
256 GB / 512 GB UFS 4.0
Expandable Storage
Up to 1TB via microSD
—
Architecture
—
2nm TSMC
AnTuTu Score
—
~3,100,000
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Main Camera
50MP f/1.8
—
Ultra-Wide Camera
8MP f/2.2
—
Macro Camera
2MP f/2.4
—
Front Camera
13MP f/2.2
12 MP, f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 30fps
—
Main
—
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS, Dual Pixel AF
Ultra-wide
—
12 MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV
Telephoto
—
10 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom, OIS
Video
—
8K @30fps, 4K @60fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
—
Charging Speed
25W wired
—
Wireless Charging
No
15W wireless
Capacity
—
4300 mAh
Wired Charging
—
25W fast charging
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
6.0
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
NFC
Yes
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
Body Material
Plastic frame and back
—
Dimensions
167.5 × 77.5 × 7.9 mm
71.7 × 149.6 × 7.2 mm
Weight
193g
167 g
Fingerprint Sensor
Side-mounted
—
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
—
Build
—
Armour Aluminium, Gorilla Armor 2
Water Resistance
—
IP68 (1.5m/30 min)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M36
Samsung Galaxy S26
OS at Launch
Android 15
—
UI
One UI 7
One UI 8.5
Update Promise
4 years OS, 5 years security
—
OS
—
Android 16
Updates
—
7 years OS + security
AI Features
—
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Call Screen, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Privacy Alerts)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy M36

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

Samsung Galaxy S26

12GB RAM / 256GB· Sky Blue
₹87,999
12GB RAM / 512GB· Black
₹1,07,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy M36 or Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy M36 and Samsung Galaxy S26 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy M36 starts at ₹25,990 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and offers 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz with Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm). 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 M36 and Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy M36 starts at ₹25,990 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹62,009. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy M36 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S26?
Samsung Galaxy M36 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 provides 50MP + 12MP + 10MP. 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 M36 or Samsung Galaxy S26?
Samsung Galaxy M36 comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 includes 4300 mAh, 25W. 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.
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.
Is Samsung Galaxy S26 available on Amazon India?
Yes. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is available on Amazon India in 12GB/256GB (₹87,999) and 12GB/512GB (₹1,07,999) configurations in Sky Blue, Black, White and Cobalt Violet. It is also available on Samsung Shop and Flipkart.
More comparisons

Related smartphone comparisons

M36
M56

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy M56

₹25,990 · ₹21,380

M36
M35

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy M35 5G

₹25,990 · ₹13,719

M36
A26

Samsung Galaxy M36 vs Samsung Galaxy A26

₹25,990 · ₹21,999

S26
S26+

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S26+

₹87,999 · ₹1,19,999

S26
S26U

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

₹87,999 · ₹1,39,999

S26
S25U

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

₹87,999 · ₹94,999

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.