The technical specifications show several similarities between the two Galaxy A-series phones, alongside differences in processor, camera, charging and connectivity. Both offer AMOLED displays, 120Hz refresh rates, 5G connectivity and 5,000 mAh batteries.
General
Both smartphones support 5G connectivity, dual-SIM functionality and in-display fingerprint sensors. Galaxy A36 is slightly lighter, while Galaxy A56 uses a more premium metal-frame construction.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|
| Model | Samsung Galaxy A56 5G | Samsung Galaxy A36 5G |
| Manufacturer | Samsung | Samsung |
| SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM support | Dual SIM, eSIM support |
| Network support | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Dimensions | 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 198 g | 195 g |
| Water and dust resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-display | In-display |
| Operating system | Android 15 | Android 15 |
| User interface | One UI 7 | One UI 7 |
Display and design
Both phones use 6.7-inch Super AMOLED displays with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rates. Galaxy A56 provides up to 1,200 nits brightness, while Galaxy A36 reaches up to 1,200 nits in high-brightness mode.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|
| Display size | 6.7-inch | 6.7-inch |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels | 1080 x 2340 pixels |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz | Up to 120Hz |
| Peak brightness | Up to 1,200 nits | Up to 1,200 nits |
| Colour depth | 16M colours | 16M colours |
| HDR | HDR | HDR |
| Display protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-display | In-display |
| Water and dust resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
Pro tip: Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if you want stronger processor performance and a higher-resolution ultra-wide camera. Galaxy A36 can suit users who prefer a slightly lighter phone with similar display and battery specifications.
Performance and software
Samsung Galaxy A56 uses Exynos 1580, while Samsung Galaxy A36 uses Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. Both processors use 4 nm manufacturing technology and support 5G, but Galaxy A56 offers the stronger overall performance platform.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|
| Processor | Exynos 1580 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
| CPU | Octa-core, up to 2.9GHz | Octa-core, up to 2.4GHz |
| Manufacturing process | 4 nm | 4 nm |
| GPU | Xclipse 540 | Adreno |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB | 8GB |
| RAM type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 |
| Operating system | Android 15 | Android 15 |
| User interface | One UI 7 | One UI 7 |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 256GB |
Camera specifications
Both smartphones feature 50MP primary rear cameras with OIS and 5MP macro cameras. Galaxy A56 has a 12MP ultra-wide camera, while Galaxy A36 uses an 8MP ultra-wide camera.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|
| Rear camera setup | 50MP + 12MP + 5MP | 50MP + 8MP + 5MP |
| Main camera | 50MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto camera | Not available | Not available |
| Macro camera | 5MP | 5MP |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Rear video recording | Up to 4K at 30fps | Up to 4K at 30fps |
| Optical image stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 10x |
Storage and connectivity
Both smartphones support 5G, NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB Type-C connectivity. Galaxy A56 provides Wi-Fi 6, while Galaxy A36 also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|
| Storage options | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 3.5mm headphone jack | No | No |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| OTG | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared remote | No | No |
Battery and other specifications
Both phones use 5,000 mAh batteries and support 45 W wired charging. Neither supports wireless charging, while both include stereo speakers, Samsung Knox security and IP67 water and dust resistance.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|
| Battery capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 45 W | 45 W |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Reverse wireless charging | No | No |
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Security | Samsung Knox Vault, fingerprint sensor | Samsung Knox Vault, fingerprint sensor |
| Water and dust protection | IP67 | IP67 |
| Samsung DeX | No | No |