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Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36

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

Samsung Galaxy S26
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

4.7(224)

₹87,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy M36
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy M36

₹25,990

View details →
Expert verdict

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Performance

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

Camera

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

Battery

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Software & Ecosystem

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

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S26

89%

Very Good

Samsung Galaxy M36

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

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

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 S26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36 — Complete specification table

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

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S26

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

Samsung Galaxy M36

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy M36: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S26 or Samsung Galaxy M36?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy M36 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and runs Android 16, One UI 8.5 with a 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz display and Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm) 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 S26 and Samsung Galaxy M36?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and the Samsung Galaxy M36 starts at ₹25,990 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 S26 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy M36?
Samsung Galaxy S26 offers a 50MP + 12MP + 10MP 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 S26 or Samsung Galaxy M36?
Samsung Galaxy S26 comes with a 4300 mAh, 25W 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.
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.
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.
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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.