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The Galaxy A36 5G is newer and offers a longer announced software-support window, a larger display and faster wired charging. The Galaxy A55 5G has higher-resolution ultrawide and selfie cameras on paper. Which is the better buy depends on your local price and which features matter most; the published camera megapixel counts are not proof of better photos.

Galaxy A55 vs A36: key specifications

Samsung announced the Galaxy A55 5G on March 11, 2024, and the Galaxy A36 5G on March 2, 2025. The specifications below are Samsung-published launch figures; availability and specifications can vary by market or model.

Specification Galaxy A55 5G Galaxy A36 5G
Display 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, up to 120Hz 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, up to 120Hz
Chipset Exynos 1480 Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
Rear cameras 50MP main with OIS, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro 50MP main with OIS, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro
Front camera 32MP 12MP
Battery and wired charging 5,000mAh typical; 25W charging 5,000mAh typical; 45W charging
Announced OS/One UI upgrades Up to four generations Up to six generations
Announced security updates Five years Six years
Water and dust resistance IP67 IP67

Sources: Samsung’s Galaxy A55 announcement and Galaxy A36 announcement.

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What differs in everyday use?

The A36 has the longer announced support window

Samsung announced up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and six years of security updates for the A36, compared with up to four generations and five years for the A55. These are launch commitments, not confirmation of the software currently installed on a particular phone or the timing of an update rollout.

#1 Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G A556E 128GB Dual-SIM GSM Unlocked Android Smartphone (Latin Variant/US Compatible LTE) - Awesome Navy
  • USA Market Only Works on Tmobile / Mint / Metro PCS . Unlocked Worldwide GSM 5G + 4G LTE PHONE
  • LATIN VERSION ***** AMERICAN + LATIN BANDS Octa-core 2.75GHz, 2GHz Android 14, One UI 6.1 Chipset Exynos 1480 CPU Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • Rear Camera - Resolution (Multiple) 50.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 5.0 MP / Rear Camera - F Number (Multiple) F1.8 , F2.2 , F2.4 / Main Camera - Auto Focus Yes / Rear Camera - OIS Yes / Rear Camera Zoom Digital Zoom up to 10x / Front Camera - Resolution 32mp / Front Camera - F Number F2.2 Video Recording Resolution UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) @30fps Slow Motion 240fps @HD
  • Dual Sim (Shared Micro SD Slot) LTE 5G FDD Sub6 N1(2100), N3(1800), N5(850), N7(2600), N8(900), N20(800), N28(700), N66(AWS-3) 5G TDD Sub6 N38(2600), N40(2300), N41(2500), N78(3500) 4G FDD LTE B1(2100), B3(1800), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B20(800), B28(700) 4G TDD LTE B38(2600), B40(2300), B41(2500) / 3G Quad Band / 2G Quad Band
  • Size (Main_Display) 168.3mm (6.6") Resolution (Main Display) 1080 x 2340 (FHD+) Technology (Main Display) Super AMOLED Color Depth (Main Display) 16M Max Refresh Rate (Main Display) 120 Hz

The A36 has a slightly larger display and faster charging

Both phones have FHD+ Super AMOLED displays with refresh rates up to 120Hz. The A36’s screen is 6.7 inches, compared with 6.6 inches on the A55. Both have a 5,000mAh typical-capacity battery in Samsung’s specifications, while their supported wired charging rates differ: 45W for the A36 and 25W for the A55. These figures describe capacity and supported charging, not measured battery life or charging time.

The A55 has higher-resolution ultrawide and selfie cameras on paper

Both phones list a 50MP main rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 5MP macro camera. The A55’s ultrawide is 12MP and its front camera is 32MP; the A36’s are 8MP and 12MP, respectively. Megapixel counts alone do not establish which phone takes better photos, and Samsung’s launch materials do not provide a comparative camera test.

Rank #2
SAMSUNG Galaxy A56 5G 2025 with AI | 256GB, 8GB, Dual SIM | 6.7" 120Hz AMOLED, Water Resistant, Android 15 | International Model Factory Unlocked for T-Mobile, Global | 25W Charger Bundle (Graphite)
  • 25W Samsung Super Fast Charger Included, 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2340px, Fingerprint (under display, optical), IP67 dust and water resistance
  • 256GB, 8GB, No SD Card Slot, Exynos 1580 (4nm), Octa-core, Xclipse 540 GPU, Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 + 12MP, f/2.2 + 5MP, f/2.4, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, 5000mAh Battery, Bluetooth 5.3

IP67 is not permission to use either phone anywhere around water

Both launches describe the phones as IP67-rated. For the A36, Samsung specifies a laboratory test involving submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, advises against beach or pool use, and notes that resistance may diminish through normal wear. That test condition should not be treated as a guarantee against damage in other situations.

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Galaxy A55 vs A36 price difference

There is no reliable single current price difference to quote without choosing a country, currency, storage tier, device condition and sales channel. The available official reference prices are from different markets and dates, so they are not a like-for-like comparison.

Rank #3
Samsung Galaxy A55 5G A556E 128GB Dual-SIM GSM Unlocked Android Smartphone (Latin Variant/US Compatible LTE) - Awesome Ice Blue
  • USA Market Only Works on Tmobile / Mint / Metro PCS . Unlocked Worldwide GSM 5G + 4G LTE PHONE
  • LATIN VERSION ***** AMERICAN + LATIN BANDS Octa-core 2.75GHz, 2GHz Android 14, One UI 6.1 Chipset Exynos 1480 CPU Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • Rear Camera - Resolution (Multiple) 50.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 5.0 MP / Rear Camera - F Number (Multiple) F1.8 , F2.2 , F2.4 / Main Camera - Auto Focus Yes / Rear Camera - OIS Yes / Rear Camera Zoom Digital Zoom up to 10x / Front Camera - Resolution 32mp / Front Camera - F Number F2.2 Video Recording Resolution UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) @30fps Slow Motion 240fps @HD
  • Dual Sim (Shared Micro SD Slot) LTE 5G FDD Sub6 N1(2100), N3(1800), N5(850), N7(2600), N8(900), N20(800), N28(700), N66(AWS-3) 5G TDD Sub6 N38(2600), N40(2300), N41(2500), N78(3500) 4G FDD LTE B1(2100), B3(1800), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B20(800), B28(700) 4G TDD LTE B38(2600), B40(2300), B41(2500) / 3G Quad Band / 2G Quad Band
  • Size (Main_Display) 168.3mm (6.6") Resolution (Main Display) 1080 x 2340 (FHD+) Technology (Main Display) Super AMOLED Color Depth (Main Display) 16M Max Refresh Rate (Main Display) 120 Hz
  • Samsung Gulf listed the A55 at AED 1,449 for 128GB and AED 1,549 for 256GB in its 2024 UAE launch announcement. Those are historical launch prices, not confirmed current UAE prices. Samsung Gulf’s A55 announcement.
  • Samsung Electronics’ March 2026 U.S. MSRP file lists the unlocked 128GB A36 at $399.99 and marks that SKU EOL. This is not a current street price or evidence of current retail stock. Samsung’s March 2026 U.S. MSRP file.

To decide which is cheaper where you live, compare current listings for the same country, storage capacity, condition and unlocked or carrier-specific status. Confirm the exact regional model as well: Samsung notes that availability and specifications can vary by market or model.

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Which Galaxy phone should you buy?

Choose the A36 if its local price works for you and you value runway and charging

  • You want the longer announced software and security support periods.
  • You prefer the larger screen or faster supported wired charging.
  • You are comfortable with its lower published ultrawide and front-camera megapixel counts.

Consider the A55 if you find a better same-market deal or prioritize camera specifications

  • You want the higher published ultrawide and front-camera resolutions.
  • You find an A55 listing that is meaningfully less expensive than a comparable A36 listing.
  • You are comfortable with its shorter announced update commitments and slower supported charging.

Neither chipset’s name alone establishes which phone performs better in a particular app or workload. Samsung’s cited launch materials do not provide comparative benchmark results, so use an independent test that matches your intended use if performance is the deciding factor.

Best Value
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, 128GB + 6GB RAM, Awesome Black - Unlocked (GSM Only) (Renewed)
  • GSM Unlocked: GSM unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, Metro, etc.)
  • The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charger and charging cable that may be generic.
  • Display: 6.4" Screen, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
  • Accelerometer, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
  • Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) Mali-G68 MC4 | 5,000mAh battery
Rank #4
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, 128GB, Awesome Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • Equipped with a 6.4″ Super AMOLED display that supports a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate and offers up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, the Galaxy A54 5G delivers vibrant visuals, rich contrast, and excellent readability even in bright outdoor conditions.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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