Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better phone on every spec that matters: a sharper 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, 12GB of RAM, an S Pen, 8K video and IP68. The Galaxy A36 5G is a midrange phone with a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, 6GB of RAM and IP67, and it covers everyday apps well. Reviewers praise the Ultra's camera, battery and display but note heat under long gaming sessions; the A36 has too few ratings to judge. Buy the Ultra if you want a flagship that lasts years; buy the A36 if you want a solid Samsung for basic use.

• Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want flagship camera zoom, an S Pen, 8K video and top-tier performance for gaming, photos and AI features.
• Choose the Galaxy A36 5G if you need a dependable Samsung for calls, social apps and streaming and do not need a stylus, 8K video or flagship speed.