Samsung Galaxy F36 vs. Galaxy A54: Which Samsung Mid-Ranger Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained battery life and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the slightly better choice. Its measured 980 nits peak brightness and proven 11:15h active use score provide a more consistently enjoyable experience, despite the F36 offering a similar core performance profile.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy F36 | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, July 21 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, July 29 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, silicone polymer back (eco leather) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.7 mm (6.47 x 3.07 x 0.30 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 109.1 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MP5 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Luxe Violet, Coral Red, Onyx Black | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SM-E366B, SM-E366B/DS | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | ₹ 16,999 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 0.46 W/kg (head) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.38 W/kg (head) 1.01 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy F36
- Potentially lower price point
- Same Exynos 1380 performance as A54
- 25W fast charging
- Unknown display brightness and quality
- Battery life is unconfirmed and potentially lower than A54
- Camera specifications are currently vague
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Brighter 980 nits display for outdoor use
- Proven 11:15h active use battery life
- 119h endurance rating indicates long-term reliability
- May be more expensive than the F36
- Shares the same Exynos 1380 chipset, not a flagship processor
- 25W charging isn't the fastest available
Display Comparison
Both the Galaxy F36 and A54 utilize the Exynos 1380 to drive their displays, but the A54 boasts a measured peak brightness of 980 nits. This is a crucial advantage for outdoor visibility, making the A54 more usable in direct sunlight. While the F36's display specifications are currently unknown, the A54's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a VA panel, offering deeper blacks. The absence of LTPO technology on either device means refresh rate scaling isn't as efficient as on flagship models, potentially impacting battery life during dynamic content viewing.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specific details are lacking. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison difficult. It's reasonable to assume the A54, being positioned slightly higher in the lineup, may benefit from a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially a larger primary sensor. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is likely a marketing feature with limited practical utility, and should not be a deciding factor for serious photographers.
Performance
The core performance is identical: both phones are powered by the Exynos 1380 (5nm) with an octa-core CPU configuration (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). This means similar performance in everyday tasks and moderate gaming. However, the F36's thermal management is an unknown factor; the A54's performance will likely be more consistent under sustained load due to Samsung's established thermal design expertise in the A-series. RAM configurations are not specified, but LPDDR5 or LPDDR5x is expected on both, influencing multitasking capabilities.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, with an active use score of 11:15h and an endurance rating of 119h. While the F36's battery capacity is unknown, the A54's proven performance suggests a more efficient power management system or a larger battery. Both devices support 25W wired charging, meaning 0-100% charge times will likely be comparable, around 1.5-2 hours, depending on the charger used.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy F36 if you need a capable all-rounder at the lowest possible price point and aren't overly concerned with having the brightest display or longest possible battery life. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prioritize a brighter, more visible screen in outdoor conditions and value the demonstrated endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating a more reliable battery performance over time.