Nothing Phone (3a) Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

The 6.77-inch AMOLED display is a highlight, with 120Hz refresh rate, 3,000 nits peak HDR brightness, and 480Hz touch sampling. A massive upgrade from the Phone 2a's 1,300 nits, it delivers excellent outdoor readability, rich colors, and smooth scrolling. FHD+ resolution is standard for the price class but perfectly adequate.

• 3,000 nits peak HDR brightness with 120Hz refresh — excellent outdoor readability and smooth scrolling
• 480Hz touch sampling rate delivers responsive input — particularly noticeable in gaming and fast scrolling
• Nothing OS monochrome aesthetic underuses the AMOLED's color capabilities — feels understated for such a vibrant panel

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

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

The 5,000mAh battery provides reliable all-day endurance with 50W wired charging reaching full in about an hour. GSMArena measured 13 hours 37 minutes of active use. Light users can stretch to two days. The notable absence is wireless charging — every single reviewer flags this as a missing feature at the $459 price point.

• 5,000mAh delivers reliable all-day battery with 13h37m active use measured — light users can get two days
• 50W wired charging reaches 60% in 30 minutes and full charge in about 1 hour
• No wireless charging at $459 — universally flagged as a missing feature when Pixel 8a includes it

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