Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A36

Our Verdict: If you are choosing between Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A36, display quality is the main reason to lean one way. The iPhone has a sharper 460 PPI display, its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, and 256GB to 1000GB storage; the Samsung mainly responds with its Super AMOLED panel, a larger 5,000 mAh battery, and a lighter 195g body. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Software may decide it too: the iPhone keeps you in Apple's iOS ecosystem, while the Samsung is the Android choice. The iPhone is the better fit for display quality, while the Samsung is the one to consider for portability.

Over a full contract, the A36 works out around £420 all-in, about £304 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max 5G.

Expert Rating
4.5
12 reviews
3.4
10 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1290 x 2796 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
460 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A17 Pro Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm)
Battery
4,422 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type
Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.3 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm
Weight
221 grams 195 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts
£27.25/mo (£20.00 upfront) £16.29/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£496.00 £264.99
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy A36 Samsung Galaxy A36
Expert Rating 4.5
12 reviews
3.4
10 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1290 x 2796 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 460 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A17 Pro Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm)
Battery 4,422 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm
Weight 221 grams 195 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts £27.25/mo
£20.00 upfront
£16.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £496.00 £264.99
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

24 Months

256GB

Black Titanium

Refurbished

1GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£27.25 per month, £20 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy A36
Samsung Galaxy A36

24 Months

128GB

Awesome Black

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£16.29 per month, £29 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A36 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A36 is cheaper on contract at £419.96 over the life of the deal from £16.29 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A36?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has the sharper display at 460 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A36 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A36?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A36 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A36?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £264.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A36?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy A36 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A36 use?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro , while the Samsung Galaxy A36 uses the Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A36?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy A36 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is more compact. It's 26g lighter at 195 grams, though the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is actually the more compact phone at 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm, the Samsung Galaxy A36 is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A36?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A36 is rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A36 run?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A36 runs Android 15. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.