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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

4.7(605)

₹1,39,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

4.4(17,242)

₹35,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is priced lower at ₹35,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹1,04,000.

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz display. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G offers 6.7" Super AMOLED, 120Hz. Both offer the same refresh rate.

Performance

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP camera system. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G has 50MP + 8MP + 5MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a 5000 mAh, 60W setup. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G uses 5000 mAh, 45W. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra runs Android 16, One UI 8.5. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G ships with Android 15, One UI 7. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

89%

Very Good

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

88%

Very Good

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

₹1,39,999

Pros

  • 200MP camera with 5× periscope telephoto
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — class-leading performance
  • Privacy Display feature is unique
  • S Pen stylus included
  • 60W fast charging is fastest in the S series
  • 7-year software guarantee

Cons

  • Starts at ₹1,39,999 — very expensive
  • Large and heavy at 214g
  • No 100W+ charging like OnePlus 13
  • No charger in the box

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

₹35,999

Pros

  • Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 for strong performance
  • 45W fast charging
  • IP67 water resistance
  • 6-year update commitment
  • OIS on main camera

Cons

  • No wireless charging
  • No expandable storage
  • 5MP macro instead of a telephoto
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Starting Price
₹1,39,999
₹35,999
Lower price
Network
5G
5G
Launched
March 2026
March 2025
User Rating
4.7/5 (605 ratings)
Higher rating
4.4/5 (17,242 ratings)
Available colours
Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue
Awesome Violet, Awesome Black, Awesome Iceblue
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Size
6.9 inches
6.7 inches
Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Super AMOLED
Resolution
3120 × 1440 (QHD+, 499 ppi)
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
Refresh Rate
1–120Hz (adaptive)
120Hz
Brightness
3000 nits peak
—
Protection
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Privacy Display
Yes (world first)
—
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
Architecture
3nm TSMC
4nm
RAM
12 GB / 16 GB LPDDR5X
8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 4.0
128 GB / 256 GB UFS 2.2
AnTuTu Score
~3,900,000
~655,225
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Main
200 MP, f/1.7, OIS, 100× Space Zoom
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Telephoto 1
50 MP, f/2.9, 5× optical zoom, OIS
—
Ultra-wide
50 MP, f/1.9, 120° FOV
8 MP, f/2.2
Telephoto 2
10 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom
—
Front Camera
12 MP, f/2.2
12 MP, f/2.2
Video
8K @30fps, 4K @60fps
4K @30fps
Macro
—
5 MP, f/2.4
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Capacity
5000 mAh
5000 mAh
Wired Charging
60W super fast charging
45W super fast charging (66% in 30 minutes)
Wireless Charging
25W wireless
—
Reverse Wireless
4.5W
—
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Network
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band
Bluetooth
6.0
5.3
NFC
Yes
Yes
USB
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
—
S Pen
Yes (included, with Air Actions)
—
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Dimensions
78.1 × 163.6 × 7.9 mm
162.0 × 77.4 × 7.4 mm
Weight
214 g
196 g
Build
Armour Aluminium frame, Gorilla Armor 2
—
Water Resistance
IP68 (1.5m/30 min)
IP67
SIM
Nano SIM + eSIM
—
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
OS
Android 16
Android 15
UI
One UI 8.5
One UI 7
Updates
7 years OS + security
6 years OS + security
AI Features
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Call Screen, Privacy Alerts)
Circle to Search, Galaxy AI, Gemini
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

12GB RAM / 256GB· Cobalt Violet
₹1,39,999
12GB RAM / 512GB· Black
₹1,59,999
16GB RAM / 1024GB· Sky Blue
₹1,89,999

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

8GB RAM / 128GB· Awesome Violet
₹33,999
8GB RAM / 256GB· Awesome Black
₹37,999
12GB RAM / 256GB· Awesome Iceblue
₹43,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy A36 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy A36 5G target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 and runs Android 16, One UI 8.5 with a 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz display and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G starts at ₹35,999 and offers 6.7" Super AMOLED, 120Hz with Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. 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 S26 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy A36 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 and the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G starts at ₹35,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹1,04,000. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy A36 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP camera system. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G provides 50MP + 8MP + 5MP. 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 S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy A36 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a 5000 mAh, 60W battery. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G includes 5000 mAh, 45W. 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 S26 Ultra worth buying over S26?
Yes, if camera versatility and S Pen productivity matter. The S26 Ultra has a 200MP camera (vs 50MP on S26), 5× periscope telephoto, 100× Space Zoom, integrated S Pen, faster 60W charging, QHD+ display, and Privacy Display technology. At ₹1,39,999 vs ₹87,999, the premium is for dedicated photographers and power users.
Is Samsung Galaxy A36 5G a good buy?
Yes. The Galaxy A36 5G is one of the best mid-range phones under ₹35,000. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is the fastest chip in this segment, 45W charging is fast, IP67 is essential for peace of mind, and 6 years of updates mean you can keep the phone until 2031. It is the top recommendation in the ₹30,000–₹40,000 segment from Samsung.
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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.