iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

iPhone 16 Pro

Apple

8.5

Excellent

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Samsung

6.8

Decent

What Reviewers Agree On

Camera system is class-leading, especially the 48MP Fusion camera and 5x telephoto
A18 Pro chip delivers excellent performance with improved efficiency
Battery life is noticeably better than previous generation
Build quality and titanium design remain premium
Camera Control button is a genuinely useful addition

Deal Breakers

No USB-C 3.0 speeds on base storage models
Still no under-display Face ID

Pros & Cons

iPhone 16 Pro

Pros

Camera system is class-leading, especially the 48MP Fusion camera and 5x telephoto
A18 Pro chip delivers excellent performance with improved efficiency
Battery life is noticeably better than previous generation
Build quality and titanium design remain premium
Camera Control button is a genuinely useful addition

Cons

No USB-C 3.0 speeds on base storage models

Detailed Comparison

Design & Build

iPhone 16 Pro

The iPhone 16 Pro features a refined titanium design with thinner bezels and a slightly larger 6.3-inch display. The new Camera Control button adds tactile interaction. Reviewers unanimously praise the premium feel and craftsmanship.

Grade 5 titanium frame feels premium and keeps the phone remarkably light at 199g
Thinner bezels give the display more presence without increasing overall phone size significantly
Camera Control button is well-placed and adds genuine utility for quick photo access

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

The A36 5G punches above its weight in design, with a clean aesthetic that mirrors Samsung's flagship lineup. Build quality is solid for the price with a polycarbonate back that still manages to look sleek.

Clean, modern design that takes cues from the flagship S25 series — doesn't look like a budget phone
IP67 water resistance at $299 is impressive and increasingly expected at this price tier

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AI features (Apple Intelligence) limited at launch

What Reviewers Agree On

Design looks more premium than the $299 price suggests
Super AMOLED display is excellent for this price bracket
Battery life is strong, easily lasting a full day and into the next
Performance is noticeably sluggish for anything beyond basic tasks
Samsung's long update commitment adds value over time

Deal Breakers

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 delivers noticeably laggy performance in demanding apps
Camera quality falls well short of competitors like the Pixel 7a at similar prices
Only 25W charging with no wireless charging option

Still no under-display Face ID

AI features (Apple Intelligence) limited at launch

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Pros

Design looks more premium than the $299 price suggests
Super AMOLED display is excellent for this price bracket
Battery life is strong, easily lasting a full day and into the next
Performance is noticeably sluggish for anything beyond basic tasks
Samsung's long update commitment adds value over time

Cons

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 delivers noticeably laggy performance in demanding apps
Camera quality falls well short of competitors like the Pixel 7a at similar prices
Only 25W charging with no wireless charging option

Polycarbonate back keeps costs down but doesn't feel cheap in the hand

Color options are attractive and help differentiate it from the sea of black budget phones

Display

iPhone 16 Pro

The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display offers incredible brightness (up to 2000 nits outdoor), ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, and excellent color accuracy. It remains one of the best smartphone displays available.

Peak brightness of 2000 nits makes it easily readable in direct sunlight
Always-On Display is well implemented with minimal battery impact
Still no under-display Face ID — the Dynamic Island persists

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

The 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display is the A36's strongest feature. Samsung's AMOLED expertise trickles down effectively here, delivering punchy colors and smooth scrolling that outclass most budget competitors.

Super AMOLED display delivers rich, vibrant colors that punch well above the $299 price point
120Hz refresh rate makes the UI feel smoother than the processor sometimes allows
FHD+ resolution is sharp enough for the screen size — text and images look crisp

Battery Life

iPhone 16 Pro

Battery life sees meaningful improvement thanks to A18 Pro efficiency gains. Most reviewers report getting through a full day with moderate to heavy use.

Consistently lasts a full day with heavy use — about 2-3 hours more screen time than iPhone 15 Pro
MagSafe charging now supports up to 25W with Qi2, reducing charge times
Still no fast charging brick included in the box

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Battery life is one of the A36's genuine strengths. The 5,000mAh battery combined with the efficient (if slow) processor means the phone easily lasts a full day and often stretches into day two.

Excellent battery life — the combination of efficient chip and large battery means consistent two-day endurance for light users
Even heavy users will get through a full day without anxiety
25W charging is painfully slow by 2025 standards — a full charge takes well over an hour