Samsung Galaxy A36 vs. Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and consistent performance, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus emerges as the stronger contender. Its significantly longer active use score (16:34h vs 11:38h) and faster charging (56 min vs 68 min) outweigh the Galaxy A36’s slightly brighter display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A36 | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 02 | 2024, July 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 10 | Available. Released 2024, August 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm (6.41 x 3.08 x 0.29 in) | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.5 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 50 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.76" |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 10-bit HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes, 360˚ |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, 66% in 30 min, 100% in 68 min | 50W wired, 50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Lavender, Black, White, Lime | Black, Grey |
| Models | SM-A366E, SM-A366E/DS, SM-A366B, SM-A366B/DS, SM-A366U, SM-A366U1, SM-A366W | A142P |
| Price | € 232.99 / $ 243.29 / £ 189.00 / ₹ 28,898 | € 269.90 / ₹ 22,599 |
| SAR | 1.07 W/kg (head) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.53 W/kg (head) 1.29 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 41:28h endurance, 2000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class C | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Samsung Galaxy A36
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Samsung’s established software ecosystem
- 2000 battery cycles suggest long-term durability
- Shorter active use battery life
- Slower charging speed
- Less powerful CPU architecture
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Significantly longer active use battery life
- Faster charging speeds
- More powerful CPU for smoother multitasking
- Lower peak display brightness
- Less established brand reputation
- Unknown battery cycle count
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A36 boasts a peak brightness of 1233 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s 1097 nits. However, the difference is unlikely to be dramatic in most everyday scenarios. Neither device specifies refresh rate or panel technology (LTPO), suggesting both likely utilize standard 60Hz or 90Hz panels. The A36’s higher brightness is a clear win for outdoor use, but the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s color accuracy and overall viewing experience remain competitive.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests both phones will feature multi-camera systems geared towards social media sharing. The absence of high-resolution sensors or advanced features like optical image stabilization (OIS) in the provided data indicates a focus on computational photography. Image processing style will likely be a key differentiator, with Samsung traditionally favoring vibrant, saturated colors and Nothing aiming for a more natural look.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus leverages the Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro, featuring a more powerful CPU configuration (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) than the Samsung Galaxy A36’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55). While both are 4nm chips, the Dimensity 7350 Pro’s core architecture suggests a performance advantage in demanding tasks and multitasking. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 focuses on efficiency, potentially leading to slightly better sustained performance under heavy load due to thermal constraints, but the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is likely to offer snappier responsiveness in everyday use.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus demonstrably excels in battery performance, achieving an active use score of 16:34h compared to the Galaxy A36’s 11:38h. While the A36 offers a longer overall battery endurance (41:28h vs. unknown for the 2a Plus), active use is a more relevant metric for typical smartphone usage. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus also charges faster, reaching 100% in 56 minutes with its 50W wired charging, while the A36 takes 68 minutes with 45W. The 2a Plus’s combination of longer active use and faster charging provides a significant convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A36 if you prioritize maximum display brightness for outdoor visibility and value Samsung’s established software ecosystem. Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if you prioritize exceptional battery endurance, faster charging speeds, and a more streamlined, unique software experience. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is ideal for heavy users and those frequently away from power outlets.