iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

iPhone 17 Air

At 5.5mm thick, the iPhone 17 Air redefines what a smartphone can look like. The all-aluminum construction is both a design statement and a compromise enabler.

• At 5.5mm, it genuinely feels like holding a credit card with a screen — the thinness is immediately striking and draws constant attention
• Despite the extreme thinness, the phone feels rigid and well-built with no flex under normal use
• Single speaker and reduced haptics are noticeable sacrifices for the thin profile — movies and music lack the immersion of other iPhones

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