Samsung Galaxy A36 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Samsung

6.8

Decent

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung

8.7

Excellent

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

Detailed Comparison

Design & Build

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
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

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The S25 Ultra adopts a flat titanium frame and flat display, addressing the #1 complaint about previous Ultra models. The result is a more comfortable, premium-feeling device.

Flat titanium frame is a game-changer for grip and feel — the best Ultra design yet

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Display

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

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 2600 nit peak brightness and anti-reflective coating is universally praised as the best smartphone display available.

2600 nit peak brightness with anti-reflective coating makes it the most sunlight-readable phone
120Hz LTPO refresh rate is butter smooth with excellent touch response

Battery Life

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

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The 5000mAh battery paired with Snapdragon 8 Elite efficiency delivers solid all-day battery life, though charging speeds remain conservative.

Easily lasts a full day with heavy use, and two days with moderate use
45W wired charging is adequate but slow compared to OnePlus and Xiaomi offerings