Samsung Galaxy A36 vs Samsung Galaxy S24

Our Verdict: The contract comparison leans toward Samsung Galaxy A36 on entry cost, with £13.79/mo (£29.00 upfront) versus Samsung Galaxy S24 at £19.00/mo (£10.00 upfront). Screen quality leans toward Samsung Galaxy S24 for sharpness, with 416 PPI compared with Samsung Galaxy A36's 385 PPI. Camera and storage differences are modest from the listed specs, so they should not outweigh price, screen preference, or operating system for most buyers. Samsung Galaxy S24 is lighter at 167g, compared with Samsung Galaxy A36 at 195g, Samsung Galaxy A36 lists the larger battery capacity, 5,000 mAh against Samsung Galaxy S24's 4,000 mAh. Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 for the lower spend, but pick Samsung Galaxy S24 if its display, storage, or ecosystem advantages are the parts you will notice every day.

The A36 is the cheaper one to own: around £360 over a typical contract, £214 less than the S24.

Expert Rating
3.4
10 reviews
4.2
10 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.2"
Display
Super AMOLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1080 x 2340 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
385 416
Rear Camera
50 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
Battery
5,000 mAh 4,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Android 15 Android 14
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.4, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm 147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm
Weight
195 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance
IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
£13.79/mo (£29.00 upfront) £20.00/mo (£49.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£264.99 £259.99

Prices updated 25 July 2026

Samsung Galaxy A36 Samsung Galaxy A36 Samsung Galaxy S24 Samsung Galaxy S24
Expert Rating 3.4
10 reviews
4.2
10 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.2"
Display Super AMOLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1080 x 2340 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 385 416
Rear Camera 50 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
Battery 5,000 mAh 4,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB
OS Android 15 Android 14
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.4, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm 147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm
Weight 195 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts £13.79/mo
£29.00 upfront
£20.00/mo
£49.00 upfront
SIM-free £264.99 £259.99
Prices updated 25 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Samsung Galaxy A36
Samsung Galaxy A36

24 Months

128GB

Awesome Black

10GB

Data

£13.79 per month, £29 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Galaxy S24

24 Months

128GB

Onyx Black

100GB

Data

£20 per month, £49 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Samsung Galaxy A36 or Samsung Galaxy S24 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A36 is cheaper on contract at £359.96 over the life of the deal from £13.79 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Samsung Galaxy A36 or Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24's 6.2", the Samsung Galaxy S24 has the sharper display at 416 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Samsung Galaxy A36 uses a Super AMOLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S24 has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Samsung Galaxy A36 or Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 features a 50 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S24 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 Samsung Galaxy A36 or Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £259.99.

What storage options are available for the Samsung Galaxy A36 and Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is available in 128GB, 256GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S24 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Samsung Galaxy A36 and Samsung Galaxy S24 use?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is powered by the Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S24 uses the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Samsung Galaxy A36 or Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the more portable of the two: it's 28g lighter at 167 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Samsung Galaxy A36 or Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min), while the Samsung Galaxy S24 is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Samsung Galaxy A36 and Samsung Galaxy S24 run?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 runs Android 15 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 runs Android 14. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.