Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 hands-on: Solid mid-range phones with flagship-like features

The Galaxy A35 and A55 from last year featured separately placed triple camera sensors. However, the Galaxy A36 and A56 come with a single vertical camera module that houses all three cameras under reinforced glass. When you run your finger across the camera module of the A56, you can feel the individual camera sensors, whereas the glass layer on the A36 is completely flat. Since the camera island is placed in the upper left corner, these phones won’t lay flat unless used with a case.

Samsung has also reduced the bezel size on both models compared to their predecessors. The right edges on both devices retain the noticeable bulge, which houses the volume rocker and power button.

Both phones offer IP67-rated dust and water resistance and feature Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection for the back and display. While the A36 has a plastic frame, the A56 features a metal frame. The build quality is impressive for mid-range models, but frankly speaking, it is not easy to distinguish between the two phones as they appear identical.

The Galaxy A56 and A36 weigh slightly under 200 grams. The good thing is both phones are quite slim as they measure only 7.4mm in thickness. The Awesome Lavender variant of the A36 that I received reflects holographic shades when light falls on the back, whereas the Olive edition of the A56 that I got has a more muted appeal.

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	Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (Awesome Lavender, 8GB, 256GB) | Awesome Intelligence – AI Smartphone: Circle…	Check Price on Amazon

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The Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 both feature a 6.7-inch display, which is slightly larger than their predecessors. They promise a peak brightness of 1,900 nits and achieve 1,200 nits in high brightness mode. Both models support an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. While both phones offer the same display size, they seem to feature different display panels, with the A56 sporting a better one. The display-integrated fingerprint sensor is positioned well and works fine. The upper speaker is lodged in the top bezel and the bottom-firing speaker produces a balanced audio output.

The Galaxy A56 gets the Exynos 1580 chip, while the A36 has the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 onboard. Both devices are not performance-focused chipsets but are good enough for daily use. The Exynos 1580 is a brand-new chip equipped with an AMD-based GPU and an NPU with 147 TOPS, which means it’s a major upgrade over the Exynos 1480 from last year. Both phones are equipped with LPDDR4x RAM. While the A36 has UFS 2.2 storage, the A56 gets the faster UFS 3.1 storage.

One of the major attractions of the Galaxy A56 and A36 is that they come equipped with One UI 7-based Android 15, like the Galaxy S25 series. Both devices are also promised to receive six years of Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates. There are plenty of preloaded apps from Samsung, Google, and other providers, but none of them show annoying notifications.

The Galaxy A56 gets its own version of AI features dubbed as Awesome Intelligence, which includes Circle to Search, AI Select, Custom Filter, Edit Suggestions, Object Eraser, and Read Aloud. On the other hand, the Galaxy A36 has a few of these features, such as Circle to Search, Custom Filters, and Object Eraser.

The Galaxy A36 and A56 are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that supports 10-bit 4K 40fps video recording. On the back, the A36 features a 50-megapixel (OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 5-megapixel (macro) triple-camera system, whereas the A56 sports a 50-megapixel (OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 5-megapixel (macro) setup. While the rear camera megapixel count remains the same as their predecessors, both phones deliver decent shots in various lighting conditions. Here are some sample shots captured using both phones.

The Galaxy A56 and A36 both pack a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging. A fun fact is that even the Galaxy S25 does not support 45W rapid charging, as it supports 25W charging because it packs a comparatively smaller battery inside a compact form factor. In terms of connectivity, both phones support eSIM, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 (A36) / Bluetooth 5.3 (A56), and NFC. The previous generation featured a hybrid SIM slot, which allowed users to add a microSD. The company has axed support for microSD cards on the A36 and A56.

The Galaxy A56 positions itself as the more capable model, featuring a metal frame, faster UFS 3.1 storage, a powerful Exynos 1580 chip, and a slew of AI features. The Galaxy A36, while slightly less premium with its plastic frame and Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip, still delivers a smooth experience with essential AI functions like Circle to Search and Object Eraser. Both devices pack a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, IP67 water resistance, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging, ensuring a well-rounded experience.

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	Samsung Galaxy A56 5G (Awesome Olive, 12GB, 256GB) | Awesome Intelligence – AI Smartphone: Best…	Check Price on Amazon

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In India, the Galaxy A56 and A36 have arrived in three configurations: 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, and 12GB+256GB. The A56 is priced at Rs 41,999, Rs 44,999, and Rs 47,999, respectively. It can be bought in shades like Olive, Graphite, and Light Gray.

On the other hand, the A36 costs Rs 32,999, Rs 35,999, and Rs 38,999, respectively. It comes in three shades: Lavender, Black, and White.